teen depression & suicide
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Here are some additional
questions and some answers:
3. “Should I get help?” There’s nothing
wrong with getting help. In fact, if you
are hurting or distressed and you do
get help, it really means you have the
courage, strength and conviction to do
something about it. It means that you
are determined to control your life, and
not let others do it for you. It means that
you are committed to living your life the
way that is right for you.
4. “What will people think if I get help?”
While there may, indeed, be someone
who chooses to be short-sighted enough
to give you a hard time for getting help,
think about the alternative. Would you
rather continue on as you have been,
feeling as bad as you have just because
some goof throws some garbage at you
about it? Or would you like to rid yourself of the bad feelings you have been
experiencing?
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5. I have heard some things that concern
me:
• “Maybe I feel this way because I
deserve to feel so bad.” As long as you
do your best and strive to be better,
you do not deserve to feel bad. Even
if you make a mistake, it doesn’t mean
you don’t deserve a second chance.
• “If I have these kinds of problems, then
I can’t work or be successful.” Having
these kinds of problems in no way
determines your abilities and potential.
• “Having these kinds of problems means
I am stupid and weak.” These kinds of
issues, in no way, mean you are not
smart or that you are weak. There
| Illinois Spring/Summer 2013 | abusemagazine.org
are thousands of very bright and very
strong people who are dealing with
these very same emotional issues.
• “There is no recovering from these
kinds of problems.” This is simply not
true. The key is how bound and determined you are to work through your
issues constructively and not cave into
the pressure or tendency to give up or
react in destructive ways.
• “Someone mentioned I might need
therapy. No Way! Therapy is a waste
of time and I am not crazy.“ Therapy
is simply two people communicating in
such a way as to explore the deeper
feelings of a person. Then, processing
those feelings, and then exploring solutions and ways to change one’s life for
the better. It can be very effective and
it does not mean you’re crazy..
• “If I tell someone about how I am
feeling, I will have to be put in the
hospital or be on medications for the
rest of my life?” Hospitalization is only
a possibility if you either want it, or
you are at risk of hurting yourself or
someone else. Medications may be of
help to you and you should not automatically refuse to consider them.
Sometimes meds are used just for a
short time. But even if it is recommended that you use them long-term,
it is no different than people who take
meds for heart problems or diabetes.
Whatever you’re feeling, there is hope, and
a brighter day ahead. And you can make it
happen.