<p>I has been depressed since the sixth grade, according to my therapist. Now, I'm a Freshman in college, I can't concentrate, I'm always moody, I get angry easily, I feel suicidal, and every time I'm in a stressful situation, I get anxious while dealing with the problem or avoid dealing with it. I've been feeling like my depression has been slowly creeping up on me again and now I'm scared. I know I have to tell my parents and that scares me. I think I have to be institutionalized, so I want some advice from people who have been in similar situations. I'm not exaggerating and I don't want to feel this way anymore when I'm only 19.</p>
<p>Please help me. I'm open to alternatives to being institutionalized</p>
<p>You may or may not need the hospital. Your therapist is in the best position to make that determination. But you only have one life, so if you are suicidal I hope you do whatever it takes to stay alive while you get treatment.</p>
<p>I know many people who have been hospitalized, as I work in the mental health field. I know some people whose lives have been completely turned around in a positive direction. For others, it keeps them alive while they work on their stuff. If you’ve been dealing with this since the 6th grade, maybe it’s time for a thorough assessment and medication evaluation. You don’t have to keep feeling this way.</p>
<p>The first step is to tell your parents, or call your therapist and give him/her permission to talk to them.</p>
<p>We are parents, not mental health specialists (and even if we were, offering treatment options over the Internet wouldn’t be ethical), so we really can’t offer you alternatives. You and your therapist and your psychiatrist need to figure those out (if you don’t have a pdoc yet, get one!). </p>
<p>We can, however, offer some support. I am sure you are a valuable human being who is well loved by parents, other family, and friends. Sure it’s scary to tell them, but if your parents are knowledgable about your illness, they already know that for the vast majority of people, it is episodic and recurrent. They will not be disappointed in you that the disease is back. Tell them, and let them help you figure out your treatment options.</p>
<p>The first thing you need to do is tell your parents. It will be scary for them to hear, but that is often because when you ask for help, all the things that could have happened if you * didn’t ask for help * will go through their minds. They will be relieved that you are taking this step to take care of yourself.
If it helps, emphasize that you are going to the hospital to treat a serious illness, instead of " being institutionalized" which has a much more sinister ring to it. Imo.
Being in a very structured environment has its advantages. You can plunge completely into therapy, and be in a safe place while you get back on track, and find medication that works for you if that is going to be part of your treatment.</p>
<p>There are alternate things you can do to help, like physical exercise, nutrition & meditation as well as talk & medication therapy, but when you are in a crisis situation it is not appropriate to use those methods on their own and hope that things will fall back into place. It is totally appropriate to ask for hospitalization if you feel it will be beneficial to you.</p>
<p>Generally if someone is at the point where they are considering it, they are open to the support it can offer.</p>
<p>If you are at college, go to the counseling center and let them know and have them give you some advice. You are not the first college student to go down this path. Regardless, let your parents know. It’s important that they know. </p>
<p>Though there may be alternatives, like are, that is not for any of us to say. We are not there with you and we do not want to underestimate this. You need someone right there to help you through this. Please get help as soon as you can, like right now.</p>
<p>Please, please, please go to the Counseling center or call a hotline. If you’re having suicidal thoughts, you can’t mess around.</p>
<p>As for being “institutionalized”, it’s not worth losing your life over irrational fears. Someone with 8-10 years of training is going to help you infinitely more than any Internet forum.</p>
<p>Run don’t walk to the school’s medical facility. I’m no expert but you seem to be in crisis. The stress of the classroom has likely aggravated the condition. Please don’t let the situation deteriorate any more. God Bless.</p>
<p>My son is a sophmore in college and has been depressed since he was 16. He’s been in therapy and on antidepressants, and it has been a roller coaster ride for both of us. Every so often he’ll have what I call “episodes”, times when he won’t shower, eat, is overwhelmed, angry about things that have happened, is unable to get out of bed or function normally. Eventually the episodes pass, but several months ago, his roommates were so worried about him, he ended up in the psych ward. He was given an evaluation, diagnosed and advised to make an appointment with the school’s health center. He always thought being institutionalized would bring him some relief, but while he was in the psych ward, he saw firsthand how some patients were restrained and others were incoherent or delusional. One patient banged his head on the bed railing continuously. It scared him and made him realize he didn’t belong there. </p>
<p>He’s now on different antidepressants and sees a psychiatrist and therapist on campus. He’s managing his symptoms and while he still has some days that are tougher than others, he’s also learning what he needs to do to get better. We’ll probably have to make other arrangements when he returns home for the summer, but for now, he has support close by. </p>
<p>Like the others have said, please go to the campus health center as soon as possible. They can help. Whether you tell your parents is up to you. I understand what my son is going through, but his dad doesn’t, so we leave some things unspoken. Having as much support as possible does make a world of difference when it comes to managing depression. I wish you all the best.</p>
<p>I called the hotline and I feel comfortable now. I can’t go into counseling office at my college because it’s Spring Break, but I’m making a doctor’s appointment for this week.</p>
<p>Great that the hotline was helpful. You know you can call them again, as needed, even just to report in or give an update.</p>
<p>It’s real progress just to decide definitely that you will make the doctor’s appointment.</p>
<p>Now you’re starting to take good care of yourself. Keep in that direction.</p>
<p>Since you have taken these good steps, are you feeling more comfortable now to advise your parents? If you let them know, now you can include a description of how you’re handling things.</p>
<p>The word “institutionalize” refers to long term residence in an institution, as used to happen in big state hospitals for the “insane” or developmentally challenged.</p>
<p>I think you are considering being “hospitalized.” Hospital stays are often short, even a few days, with the maximum stay usually under a month. The programs can be really helpful. Quite a few people your age need hospital help at one time or another. You wear regular clothes, go to school, therapy, maybe art activities, gym during the day and eat meals together etc. If you do need this at some point, don’t be afraid of it.</p>
<p>Glad the hotline was helpful but hoping you get some in-person help and that you are honest with them, so appropriate support can be given. There are lots of paths for treatment and if you get help, you really will feel better.</p>
<p>You’re not the only person to feel this way. Help is out there. Good for you, taking steps to get it. Hold on. You will feel better than you do today!!</p>
<p>I would add that this would also be a good timeto get a checkup, especially if you havent had one for a while.
Hormone or thyroid issues can affect mood and energy level.</p>
<p>I am glad to hear that you are feeling a little more settled. Please tell your parents. I am sending hugs and kisses to you and I hope that you feel better soon.</p>
<p>Always keep in mind that your depression is the same as any physical illness. Get it treated in the best way just as you would diabetes or any other chronic condition. If that means a hospital stay, do it. An exacerbation of your depression won’t wait for a convenient time nor will attempts at little fixes work any better than those for other illnesses. Follow recommendations of the professionals. Keep ahead of problems. Tell your parents. You will be much better off and able to enjoy your life. Kudos for calling the hotline and best wishes.</p>
<p>I was once hospitalized for severe depression. I was stabilized on meds by a psychiatrist and a social worker worked with me on a post-discharge treatment plan (setting up appointments with a therapist and a psychiatrist at home, and arranging a leave of absence from school to reduce the amount of stress I was under). That’s it. I was in and out of the hospital in 5 days. No actual therapy took place. </p>
<p>If you are capable of making those kind of arrangements yourself, and if you are not an immediate danger to yourself, better not to incur those exorbitant hospital bills…</p>
They will be relieved that you are taking this step to take care of yourself.