Reader’s Question

I am 16 years old, and some of the time I can’t even make myself get out of bed for school. My mood changes from irritated to sad then back to happy again throughout the week. I often (daily) talk to myself, and I also pretend like I am having a conversation with people and I play their roles. I not really “hearing” or “seeing” anything that isn’t really there. I just pretend. Sometimes I pretend I’m somebody really famous. Also the smallest things make me mad. Once, I threw everything off my dresser and broke some things just because I lost a game.

Is this all normal? I wonder if I have some kind of mental illness or if I am just very depressed.

Our Clinical Psychologist’s Reply

Adolescence can be a turbulent, emotionally upsetting time. So, it’s normal for all adolescents to have some emotional instability and some peculiarities of behavior. But some of the things you describe certainly don’t sound typical.

Fortunately, most people don’t attach the same kind of stigma they once did to the various types of mental illness that can occur during adolescence. Hopefully, that is the case for you too. It would probably be in your best interest to visit with a qualified mental health professional. Some of the things you describe are often features of a mood disorder, although it’s hard to know whether depression is the sole issue, so it’s important to have a thorough assessment.

The challenges of adolescence are difficult enough even without the complications of depression or other mental health concerns. So don’t hesitate to seek help, and keep in mind that you have every right to feel hopeful that your problems will resolve with good professional care.