Getting Help?

[AwkwardTurtle22]

I guess I don't often come on here but things have just been getting worse and worse. I think I should tell someone, like someone at my school. But if they find out about my cutting they might have to tell my parents. I'm constantly tired but I can't sleep at night. I guess I've known for awhile that I'm (maybe) depressed. Usually I don't tell people because I feel like a big burden to them and in a way I get attached to them. So since that happened before, I have never told anyone about my problems. But now things are just getting out of hand. And I really don't know what to do?

[Desuetude]

Do you have a guidence counselor at your school that you could go and talk to? If not then are there any drop in centres or such around your area? Maybe you could research some. If you like in the UK you could see your GP. I don't know how old you are but if you are older than 16 then the doctor isn't allowed to tell your parents anything, it's all meant to be kept confidential.

What you should do is first ask them to tell you what their rules about confidentiality are so you'll know where you stand with them. Really, you don't even need to tell them about the cutting, if you start off with how you feel they might be able to help just by you being able to vent to someone. I told my school youth worker I self harmed and she said she wouldn't tell my parents, she didn't (although my parents found out another way anyway). You need to be able to trust them, tell them what's wrong and not lie. Lying will not help you and it won't get you anywhere, believe me.

It's great that you've realised that it's time you need to do something about how you feel, I know it might take a little courage to seek someone out but if you want to change how you feel and have a chance at being happy then it really is for the best.

[AwkwardTurtle22]

Well my school social workers' rule is that everything is confidential unless you are planning to harm yourself or someone else. So self harm would break confidentiality. I can't burden anyone :(