I'm just not sure
So, basically, as a result of some stuff that's been going on in my life I've been a little down lately. I thought that overall I was handling it pretty well. I wasn't using my old go-to of bottling everything up and I really do think I've made lots of progress in that regard. I've been talking to one of my teachers regularly about everything and he's given me some really good advice and helped me realise some things about myself.
One of those things is that I have very little self-confidence and somehow I never really noticed it before. I guess I always just thought I was modest. But anyway, my point is that I have been having more moments lately that last for longer when I'm feeling happier. But I've been thinking and now I've got myself scared.
I'm starting to get a little worried that I might have some form of depression and anxiety. I don't like associating those names to how I'm feeling but I think they might be relevant. Over the last six months I've been considerably more 'down' than usual and had so much less self-confidence and I've always been someone who jumps to the worst conclusion and overthinks everything. I literally make myself sick to the stomach sometimes worrying about things that aren't worth worrying about at all.
Sometimes I'm upset and I don't even know why. Also I've been having trouble with my sleeping.
I don't know what to do
Comments
Hi @Tink28! I'm sorry that you've got a lot of stressful things going on in your life and are struggling with your self-confidence. 
I too have struggled with self-confidence, especially in high school, and it can really impact on your life and decisions. I think it's really great that your teacher is supportive. Well done for plucking up the courage to seek support! Some teachers can be great mentors.
You sound like you're going through a lot of different feelings right now. Which issue would you like to tackle first?
I think that the other advice in this thread is great. 
I would just like to add a few suggestions.
Something that has helped some people is tracking their mood for a few weeks, along with what they did that day. It can help people find things that can make them feel better or worse. Do you think that there is anything that can make you feel better? It could help to write them down so that you can have coping strategies on hand. Additionally, people are predisposed to focus on the negative rather than the good times, so potentially discovering more positive days can help them feel better too. There are apps like Daylio that can help with this.
I also tend to overthink a lot of situations and worry about possibilities that don't end up eventuating. What has helped me is evaluating my thoughts. Challenging my thoughts can often improve my mood. These three articles are really helpful, especially if your thoughts make you feel bad about yourself.
I hope that you can feel better soon. I believe in you. 
I think the first thing I want to say is that I guess, yes, I know that depression and anxiety are common things and that giving it a name shouldn’t worry me but it makes me feel all panicky to consider giving it a name like that. I’m not really sure why. I guess because where I live there is only one GP option and not one that I’d go to to talk about something like that. And I’m scared about having to tell my parents something like that.
But yes. I would like to talk about what’s been on my mind if that’s alright 😊
I guess firstly the major thing is that two weeks before the school year this year my parents separated. That has been incredibly difficult for me and is kind of the thing that started it all I guess. Then added to that is the fact that I then started year 11 at a new school under the new curriculum. Since then there’s been too many little things to count I think.
I’ll definitelt check out all of the links and let you know how I go with them.
Thank you ❤️
im really glad youve been talking to a teacher for help and advice thats really brave of you.
would you like to talk about some of the things happening in your life thats causing you to feel low? maybe we could share some adice too?
I'm incredibly sorry to hear that you haven't been at your best lately. I want to congratulate you on seeking help and sharing your concerns online because that takes courage. It's also good that you've been speaking with a trusted adult about the issue.
Firstly, it is important to identify the reason why we are sad. Sometimes the reason is right underneath our noses, and we have yet to discover it. I believe it is best to take some time to relax and surround yourself with supportive people. Dealing with emotions can be stressful, there's no doubt in that, so it is important that we familiarise ourselves with healthy coping mechanisms and other cognitive skills that are likely to enhance our well-being until we find out what's causing all this unnecessary sadness. Consciously engaging in activities that make you happy, like watching tv shows, making art, gaming or hanging out with friends can take your mind off negative thoughts, even if it's just for a little while.
However, other times there is no particular reason for why you're feeling sad, and this may indicate more serious issues concerning your mental health. If you're experiencing sadness, but the feeling does not pass or is difficult to get over, then this is a major indicator of depression. There is absolutely no problem associating those words' with how you're feeling, but if you strongly believe that you have depression/anxiety, I recommend completing this quick checklist. It might reveal a few things about your mental health, and if your results are high, I urge you to visit your regular GP or doctor.
https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/anxiety-and-depression-checklist-k10 (A trusted website)
All the best ❤️
I followed the link and completed the checklist.
While I know that realistically giving a name to what I’m feeling shouldn’t worry me it really does. There is only one GP in my town and he’s not the kind of person I would go to with something like this.
I’ve included a screenshot of my result. I’m considering sending this same screenshot and the link that I followed to the teacher that I’ve been talking to but I’m not sure if that’s a good idea or not
Forwarding the results to the trusted adult that you speak regularly with wouldn't be a bad idea. The more he knows about the situation, the better help and support he'll be able to provide on the matter. While the results do not assign a legitimate diagnosis, it does give you an idea of how serious your circumstances are. As @scared01 mentioned before, there are GPs, psychologists and other health professionals ONLINE who are there to help you through these kind of things.
Also, don't be scared to tell your parents about the situation. Confiding in them about your concerns regarding your mental health is very important - your parents are the ones who would be able to give you a lot of support. I get that telling your parents about issues in your life sounds difficult - it may be a struggle to approach them about it. You don't need to tell them now, but it might be a good idea to consider doing so in the future 🙂
I wish you all the best in Year 11 - I'm not nearly as old as you, so it's harder for me to understand the senior struggles involved. Hopefully though, with persistence and focus you'll be able to make it through the year, but please remember: Your mental health and well-being ALWAYS comes first.
Hey there @Tink28
I'm sorry to hear that things have been difficult for you lately. What's really good is that you have recognised that something isn't right and that you don't feel as self confident as you would like to and that you notice yourself overthinking. Its horrible when your mind just fixates on something and sends you into a negative spiral of thinking. Whether or not it is able to be professionally diagnosed as depression or anxiety, its something that with self awareness and the right the support you can work on finding ways of coping with it and building a set of skills you can use to combat it.
I'm really glad that @scared01 mentioned Headspace and also seeing if your GP works alongside any psychologists. Are their any Headspace centres in your area you could get in touch with? Also yeah that's fair enough if you don't feel that comfortable talking to your GP about your mental health, some GP's can be a bit intimidating!! In order to get a Mental Health Care Plan so you can see a counsellor or psychologist you need to speak to a GP briefly about your mental health but this would not be like a therapy session. They might even ask you similar questions to what was on the K10 that you just completed in order to see where you are at. They also might ask you some questions in regards to your safety. This is just to ensure they can help you find a good psychologist that will match your needs. How would you feel about doing that?
Has anyone else had any positive experiences with talking to their GP about a Mental Health Care Plan?
