Okay, this is my second mental health post in two days. I feel this needs to be said.
If you feel like you may have symptoms of depression, anxiety, OCD or an eating disorder. You need to ask for help. Asking for help is not going to make you seem weak like some people think it will. If you don't ask for help and you don't have that support system there for you, god knows what might happen to you. Asking for help might not even be going to the doctors to try and get a referral to see a counsellor, it could just be telling a parent, a friend, anyone that's close to you but you need to make someone aware of what you're feeling. I know I definitely left it really late, I'd been having panic attacks and having low moods 2/3 years before I even told my parents about it, I told them when things started to get debilitating which isn't good because when it came to seeing a counsellor, it was harder for her to help me because I'd let things get so bad. Also, maybe getting a diagnosis could give you some kind of closure, I wasn't prepared to start recovery until I knew exactly what was going on which turned out be general anxiety disorder, social anxiety, panic disorder and depression (yey for things! -.-).
I'm going to put down some symptoms of depression, anxiety and ocd, if you feel like you have a lot of the symptoms, you must tell someone before it develops into to something more serious. The sooner you see someone about it, the quicker they can prevent it from developing.
Depression:
If you feel like you may have symptoms of depression, anxiety, OCD or an eating disorder. You need to ask for help. Asking for help is not going to make you seem weak like some people think it will. If you don't ask for help and you don't have that support system there for you, god knows what might happen to you. Asking for help might not even be going to the doctors to try and get a referral to see a counsellor, it could just be telling a parent, a friend, anyone that's close to you but you need to make someone aware of what you're feeling. I know I definitely left it really late, I'd been having panic attacks and having low moods 2/3 years before I even told my parents about it, I told them when things started to get debilitating which isn't good because when it came to seeing a counsellor, it was harder for her to help me because I'd let things get so bad. Also, maybe getting a diagnosis could give you some kind of closure, I wasn't prepared to start recovery until I knew exactly what was going on which turned out be general anxiety disorder, social anxiety, panic disorder and depression (yey for things! -.-).
I'm going to put down some symptoms of depression, anxiety and ocd, if you feel like you have a lot of the symptoms, you must tell someone before it develops into to something more serious. The sooner you see someone about it, the quicker they can prevent it from developing.
Depression:
- continuous low moods or sadness.
- feeling hopeless and helpless
- having low self-esteem
- feeling tearful
- feeling guilt-ridden
- feeling irritable and intolerant of others
- having no motivation or interest in things
- finding it difficult to make decisions
- not getting any enjoyment out of life
- feeling anxious or worried
- having suicidal thoughts or thoughts of harming yourself.
- moving or speaking more slowly than usual
- change in appetite or weight (usually decreased, but sometimes increased)
- unexplained aches and pains
- lack of energy or lack of interest in sex (loss of libido)
- changes to your menstrual cycle
- disturbed sleep (for example, finding it hard to fall asleep at night or waking up very early in the morning)
Anxiety:
- restlessness
- a sense of dread
- feeling constantly "on edge"
- difficulty concentrating
- irritability
- impatience
- being easily distracted
- dizziness
- drowsiness and tiredness
- pins and needles
- irregular heartbeat (palpitations)
- muscle aches and tension
- dry mouth
- excessive sweating
- shortness of breath
- stomach ache
- nausea
- headache
OCD:
- fear of deliberately harming yourself or others
- fear of harming yourself or others by mistake or accident
- fear of contamination by disease, infection or an unpleasant substance
- a need for symmetry or orderliness
- fear of committing an act that would seriously offend your religious beliefs
- cleaning
- handwashing
- checking (such as checking doors are locked, or that the gas or a tap is off)
- counting
- ordering and arranging
- hoarding
- asking for reassurance
- needing to confess
- repeating words silently
- prolonged thoughts about the same subject
- "neutralising" thoughts (to counter the obsessive thoughts)
Please remember, there's always help whether you think there is or not. I'm going to list some links below for free self-help or counselling available in the UK.
ChildLine - ChildLine have a one to one instant messaging service where you can speak to a professional counsellor about any problems you may be facing. Or you can ring their confidential freephone number to speak to a counsellor: 0800 1111.
Samaritans - Call 08457 909090. The Samaritans are best known for being a suicide hotline, but they're there to listen to any problems regarding, stress, anxiety, depression or suicide.
PAPYRUS: Prevention of Young Suicide - PAPYRUS run a suicide hotline called HOPELine UK, Hopeline is a number you can call if you're just not coping with whatever life is throwing at you. If you're not coping, feeling suicidal, feeling as if you're putting yourself at risk, the professionals at Hopeline are there to help. Calls are free from BT landlines: 0800 068 41 41. Or you can text them on 07786 209697.
I honestly hope this post has been of some help. I'm always here for you to talk to if life just isn't going the way you'd planned, I'll be here to listen. :-)
Thanks for reading,
Rachel. xo