Hey there,

Thanks so much for taking some time to send us an e-mail this evening. It sounds like you are having a tough time coping with the depressed feelings you have been going through lately. Reaching out for some help was a great step to take, because going through depression all by yourself can be overwhelming. It takes a lot of strength, courage, and self-awareness to be able to open up to others. These are all great traits to have; a lot of people appreciate someone who has these types of qualities.

It really stinks to hear you hold such a negative opinion of yourself. Having read this message, we were already able to point out a few great qualities you possess. Imagine how many great qualities the people who know you must be able to point out. We are always our toughest critics; we all have a tendency to point out our own flaws and make a bigger deal out of them than they really are.

Whenever a sibling you are really close to moves away it can be a tough transition to go through. We understand you are upset because she isn’t around as much, but think about how great of an opportunity going to college is for your sister. Have you tried keeping in touch with her? Luckily, Facebook, cell phones, Skype, and instant messaging all make keeping in contact with our loved ones very easy and affordable.

What you are going through is tough, so what have you been doing to cope? Listening to music, going for a walk, watching a funny video, or hanging out with friends/family can all go a really long way at helping you feel better about yourself and your situation. It helps to have a variety of coping strategies, so here is a link with even more suggestions: http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/21/lawyers-file-appeal-to-stay-troy-davis-execution/?hpt=hp_t1.

Being a teenager is tough; with so much going on and so many pressures around you, it really is normal to feel overwhelmed or confused by it all. The important thing to remember is that you possess a lot of great qualities. Being strong-willed, caring, self-aware, and courageous are all great qualities for someone to have. We know you are having questions and concerns about your body, but so do all teenage girls. Your body is changing and will look very different in a few years that you do now. The important thing is to not lose touch of who you are as a person. Angelique is a good person, so don’t let that change.

We are always here for you. Please keep in touch; let us know how things are going or if there is anyway we can help or support you even further.

Best wishes,

Abe, Counselor