What To Do When You Need Help

There are times in our lives when we all experience some highs and lows. Usually these feelings come and go, and are related to our every day experiences. For some people, however, those feelings persist without reason. These people feel the lows when they should be feeling great, and then it can be hard to shake that feeling. For these people, one of the hardest things to do is realize that they need help and admit that things are not right in their life. After that, however, comes the daunting task of finding and asking for help; admitting to those important to you that something is wrong.

1) The first step in getting help for any form of mental disorder is admitting that something is wrong and then finding the people that can help you deal with and correct this problem. The first place to turn when you are feeling vulnerable and out of sync is to the people who you feel are close to you:

· Friends
· Family members (Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, brother, sister)
· Close non-family “parent” types (i.e. friend’s parents)
· Any trusted adult figure (Pastor, teachers, a coach)

2) The second step in finding help is knowing where to turn once you have let someone know about your problem. Usually, one of those people you would have spoken to has actually encountered some form of ongoing emotional problem themselves. Finding someone who has dealt with an emotional burden usually leads to a wealth of information regarding where to receive help and treatment for your own problems. Another important factor in determining how to treat your own mental health issues is insurance. If your parents have health insurance, finding out what treatment options are available through that company usually can help you focus on where to turn for help. There are many options for help in dealing with your problems:

· Local community groups can assist you in providing support or help.
· School counselors and nurses are very good places to go for information regarding mental health. Usually these individuals will be able to direct you to professional help in your community.
· Calling the state or local department of mental health can also provide information on where to go and what to do.
· There are also mental health hotlines and suicide hotlines that are open at all hours in order to provide a trained individual with which to speak.

3) The final step in getting help is to put all of that information to use and seeking out the trained mental health professional for therapy. The hardest part is admitting you need help, and once you do that getting the necessary help should be much easier.