#mhahannah

[mental-health-advice]

(Semi-urgent) I've been having really bad mental illness symptoms lately and fear I need to get a psych evaluation. Any advice on how to mention this to my parents? ---Icarus

Hello there lovely!

So sorry we couldn’t get to this sooner. We have a waiting list of 4-6 weeksbut we are trying our best to cut that down. I am sorry to hear that you arehaving some bad mental illness experiences. That must be incrediblydistressing.

To get a psychiatric evaluation you normally have to be referredby your local doctor. To get this I would make an appointment at your localDoctor’s Surgery and tell them there how you have been feeling and the symptomsyou are experiencing and what help you want. I live in the UK so the onlyadvice I can give you is from here and how our system works. Normally when youneed to speak about your mental health with a GP you need to be over 18 unlessyour parent’s come too. Which is why you are probably asking about talking toyour parents about your difficulties.

I think a good first step to letting your parents know iswriting a letter. This way you will, probably, be less anxious, and you can geteverything you want to get out out. They will probably come and speak to youabout what you have written but you will not need to speak as much. Write inthe letter that you want help and you would love their support in getting help.

Alternatively you could speak to a school counsellor and tellthem your worries and your symptoms. You can ask them to speak to your parentsabout how you are feeling and what they can do to help. This way a lot of thepressure is off you and you do not need to explain too much to your parents. Idid this when I was 15 and it got me into Mental Health Services and took awaythe anxiety about talking to my mum about what I was experiencing.

Of course you could always talk to your parents face-to-face.I would suggest that you would have a plan of what you are going to say in whatorder. This way it will make it more clear to you what you are saying and toyour parents. Start by getting them to sit down with you and reassure them itis nothing to worry about you just need their help and support.

Look at this website about telling your parents that you are depressed (I don’t know what you are experiencing but this would fit most mental health problems. 

I think it is fantastic that you want to get help, that issuch a massive step to take and I am so proud of you for taking this step.

I hope that this has helped!

I wish you a speedy and safe recovery!

Love,

Hannah

[mental-health-advice]

This is a message for Hannah! I just read your answer on the psychiatric hospital ask, although it wasn't my ask I want to say Thankyou so much for writing that so perfectly I have read it and it has convinced me that's it's going to be okay to tell my psychologist about my dark thoughts and hopefully will lead me to getting some extra help. Thankyou so much you are amazing and also everyone else here is amazing I love you all <3

Hello lovely!

I am so glad that myanswer helped you! I am so proud of you for going to tell your psychologistabout your thoughts, this is an amazing achievement!

Thank you for yourkind words, they have really made me smile.

If you ever need us weare all here for you.

We love you!

You got this!

Love,

Hannah

[mental-health-advice]

Is it possible for someone with anxiety to ever live a completely normal life again?

Hello there lovely!

I am so sorry to hear that you have been struggling withanxiety.

I do not know the extent of your anxiety but it is totallypossible to live with it, and even recover from anxiety. There are many peoplewho are high-functioning and have to daily deal with their anxiety the bestthey can. They may be able to do this alone or they may have had to havetherapy to help them cope with anxiety.

If you feel like your anxiety is debilitating then I mustinsist that you talk to a local doctor about local therapy or even medication.Medication is normally short term as they are normally sedatives and themedication will likely be a PRN meaning you would only take it when you need it.For example if you were about to have a panic attack. However, therapy is alonger-term solution as you can explore where your anxiety is rooted and whatmakes you anxious and why. Therapy has really helped me in my life and I highlyrecommend it to people who have similar experiences to me, one of them beinganxiety.

If you want help with day-to-day anxiety here are some tipsthat have helped me in the past;

Ground yourself. Focus on 5 things you can see, 4 things youcan hear, 3 thing you can touch, 2 things you can smell and 1 thing you cantaste.

Count slowly to ten. Repeat if necessary.

Take a time out. If you are panicking and you need somealone time then it is totally okay if you take some time away and do somethingyou enjoy. For example listening to music, reading a book, watching a film,knitting etc.

Talk to someone. If you can feel a panic attack coming thenI would highly recommend you talking to someone who can help you. Be thatface-to-face or on the phone both is good! This can be a family member, afriend or even a helpline. (Here is a list of helplines.)

Look at our page about anxiety and what can help (clickhere).

Once again I want to make abundantly clear that you can livewith anxiety. And anyway what is a normal life? There is no such thing. Livingwith anxiety is hard but entirely possible and with the right treatment you canrecover from it. There is hope and there is a light at the end of the tunnel!    

Keep strong!

I wish you a speedy and safe recovery!

Love, Hannah