About Kimberly Expertise Hi, I have suffered through years of depression and the many disorders that
come with it. It is a very scary experience and hard at times to get through
the day. But I have now gotten to the other side of the pain and found hope
and courage and life. I want to be a person you can feel comfortable talking
to, and in talking with me that you can feel at ease knowing that I have
been there and I do understand. I want to be a friend and listen and I will
do my very best to ease the feelings you feel and help you in your journey
to a better happier life. You are not alone and I would love to be there to
help you fight.
Experience My greatest accomplishment is knowing that I have been there and today, I'm here to help others in their healing. The biggest accomplishment lies in those who write for help in so doing they are taking a huge step in their healing!
I am currently a student in Psychology, and have been certified in Crisis prevention since 2001.
Expert: Kimberly Date: 6/2/2008 Subject: do i have depression? or just low self esteem?
Question I just turned sixteen and i am a girl. Not too long ago, I got my black belt. Obviously, I was very happy about it. When I got home though, I started feeling really blue. I was worried because it didn't seem normal. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that I was like that for some of every day, for maybe a year or more. I am extremely emotionally sensitive and I don't take criticism well even though I try very hard. I have a tendency to cry when I am criticized, or when I have difficulty doing something and become frustrated. I get weepy for no reason at times. I constantly feel very inadequate (that is the most persistent symptom, and it very rarely goes away, and not for very long), each and every day, and my self-esteem isn't great. I have a lot of negative thoughts about myself. I am very hard on myself. I'm a bit obsessed with what my friends think of me(wether they like me or not) and if people are talking about me. That is probably because I had a bad incident in grade 6 where all my friends were always talking about me and then the whole class started making fun of me. I had to change schools. Now I have amazing friends. They are all really kind and supportive. Still, often I have to try really hard to be able to let go and be really happy. That doesn't happen often. Most of the time I put on a front, to convince everyone that I'm fine. I've gotten really good at it, I can, to some extent, convince myself. I do very well in school, and my family life is good, and I do a LOT of excercise. More than an hour a day, for taekwondo. (I participate in tournaments and such)That does make it better, but only for an hour or two after. It helps my sleeping, because otherwise I have a lot of trouble falling and staying asleep. Is this all just normal teen hormone stuff? I always thought it was, but I'm scared it's something worse and it won't go away. I really want to be happy like everyone else seems to be. Lately, the sad/weepy/depression part is getting worse. What should I do? especially during the summer when I can no longer train nearly as often, and there is less to do? I need to distract myself, but it's hard, and sometimes I'm really emotionally tired and sick of things and don't want to do anything. I want to go see my school counsellor but it is nearly the end of the year. Also i'm a bit scared and I don't know what to say. what should I do?
Answer Elise,
I would definitely see your school counselor, because he or she can help get you a referral to a therapist outside of school that can help with any illnesses and or disorders a professional near you may find. I think that while you have low self esteem, I think you are also dealing with depression with possible other disorders, however, it would be best to see a professional near you (I can not diagnose) whom can get a history and talk about symptoms and issues that are affecting you and contributing to your emotions and symptoms. It is also possible that chemicals are off balance and so medications can be administered to help with that too.
So before the end of the school year go in and ask to see your school counselor and you are welcome to print your question and present that to him or her, and take it from there.
Don’t be afraid, depression is not or doesn’t have to be a part of your life.
