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Depression And AnxietyFeelingsDepression And Anxiety<div class="ExternalClassB1394463EAE843CDBDA03EC1ECE76613"><p style="font-family:georgia;font-size:16px;">​<span>I am suffering from depression and anxiety, also with extremely low self-esteem due to past experience of bullying at school, I have took a few online tests and they have diagnosed me with borderline and avoidant personality disorders. I am usually skeptical of the effectiveness of counseling, but I really hope I can get better. Thank you for your time. </span></p> <span style="font-size:16px;"> </span></div><div class="ExternalClass1A392AE994A845AAAA97686B813756AE"><div><div class="ExternalClassB1394463EAE843CDBDA03EC1ECE76613"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:tahoma;font-size:16px;"><span>Thanks for reaching out today.  Depression and anxiety are not fun to deal with.  A good rule of thumb is that if it is affecting your daily functioning, it’s time to bring outside help in.  You mentioned you did some research online, but know that a true mental health evaluation can take several appointments and hours of going over behavioral, educational, medical, and mental health histories that you provide.  Be leery of online tests as a clinical psychologist is not making the diagnosis, and sometimes similar characteristics can fall under a number of different diagnoses.</span></p> <span style="font-size:16px;"> </span><span style="font-family:tahoma;font-size:16px;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:tahoma;font-size:16px;"><span>Bullying just stinks, and our histories do play a part in how we feel and how we act in the present.  Sometimes in cases like this the depression can be just situational.  It might not necessarily be an imbalance in the chemistry in the brain and rather be based on past experiences.  It is definitely treatable though.  </span><br></p> <span style="font-size:16px;"> </span><span style="font-family:tahoma;font-size:16px;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:tahoma;font-size:16px;"><span>With counseling, it depends on what you are looking for.  Some counselors allow a lot of venting, others will focus on the past and processing through it, some may be very driven with focusing on ideas you can do in the present to combat the depression, some might give you concrete homework or tasks to work on in between sessions.  It’s ok to interview them so to speak, and don’t get discouraged if it takes 1 or 2 before you find the right fit. </span><br></p> <span style="font-size:16px;"> </span><span style="font-family:tahoma;font-size:16px;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:tahoma;font-size:16px;"><span>There are some great ideas on our “Tips” Section in YLYV too.  The nice thing is that you have control over what strategies you want to try to combat this.  Feel free to email, call, chat, or text anytime.  We are glad that you are looking into help for yourself. </span><br></p> <span style="font-size:16px;"> </span><span style="font-family:tahoma;font-size:16px;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:tahoma;font-size:16px;">Laura, Crisis Counselor</span><br></p> <span style="font-size:16px;"> </span></div></div> </div>21

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