How do I seek medical help and for a diagnosis?

@Judith47 For medical help, make an appointment with a doctor. As you are a teen, the details might depend on how old you are and where you are, because different places have different laws.

At first, the doctor will usually do blood tests for medical conditions that might have been causing you to struggle all these years. Your parents do not need to believe in mental health at this stage. Problems with, for example, vitamin absorption, hormones, or neurotransmitters can cause symptoms that seem very similar to various mental illnesses. A doctor will want to check these possibilities first.

If all the tests are negative, the doctor might want to refer you for psychological therapy. It's at this stage that your parents' beliefs about mental health might be an issue for your doctor to discuss with them.

For more help with making arrangements to see a doctor, there are telephone helplines in many places. For example, in the US there's a national helpline on 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-662-4357), and here in England the national helpline is on 111. If you are in some other location, try searching the Internet for a local helpline. Some helplines are specifically for teens, and some are for everyone.

Your school or college might also provide ways you can get help with this.

If you're finding the process difficult, listeners here at 7 Cups can help by chatting with you about your situation. Listeners cannot give medical advice, though. To find a good listener, go to Browse Listeners and look for one who has a lot of experience and a lot of good comments, and who also has a Chat Now button.

Charlie