Reader’s Question

I am nineteen years old, live in Wyoming, and I have been experiencing horrible things… I am suicidal because I feel so lonely, empty and constantly tired and all of those similar things. Some days out of nowhere these effects hit me hard. I don’t know what to do anymore. I can’t focus on anything because my mind is always wondering off into nothing. I get frustrated and irritated at just about everything. I can barely remember the last time that I was really really happy. I can’t remember the last day that I didn’t cry. I think I need help but I don’t know how or where to begin. I need help, I know I do. I took all the quizes from the website and they all said it was major or severe.

Our Clinical Psychologist’s Reply

You are describing a chronic, severe depression. Help and treatment is available in your community — it’s just a matter of getting started. You begin by deciding to seek treatment and it sounds like you have already decided to get help. Next, look in the Yellow Pages of the phone book to see if your community has a mental health center. Thanks to President Kennedy in the 1960′s, almost all counties in each state in the US has a mental health center. Call for an appointment and mention your suicidal thoughts. If they can’t see you quickly, then call your family physician or OB/GYN physician. The physicians are trained to identify and treat depression as well. You will likely be prescribed an antidepressant medication and even when you have the medication, continue your appointments with the mental health center. Studies tell us the best way to treat depression is a combination of an antidepressant medication and therapy or counseling.

You can find additional depression information on my website at www.drjoecarver.com under the Articles section. This website has information and articles on depression and quizzes as well. Importantly, this is very treatable but you need to get started now. If you have intense suicidal thoughts you should go to the emergency room at your regional hospital. They can often provide referrals to immediate mental health care.