What should I do in my situation?

Posted by 210030sa @210030sa, Jul 15, 2020

First thing is first, I couldn't decide of a category for this so if this is moved I apologise. So I am currently 16 years old. Back when I was 9 a hurricane blew a tree in my house and was very close to hitting my mother. It was a scary night. After that I had PTSD and behavior issues. I couldn't control myself. I was diagnosed with PDD as a young child and when I turned 16 my psychiatrist said that I had mild Asperger's. After the hurricane I was put on lexipro for PTSD. This is where things went wrong. I started doing lots of things that I shouldn't have like doing too much of something, such as eating, gaming, and I was always running around in my bike. After my PTSD had been treated I was at a horrible weight because after the hurricane I was always hungry (I think it was the medicine but I am not sure because I was 9-12[I don't remember exactly]) after I started gaining weight the depression and behavior issues skyrocketed and I gained 50 pounds a year and it was only increasing. I started to do bad in school in 5th grade, which I'm guessing was lack of motivation (very serious). And in 5th grade the last friend I had moved away. I was then alone throughout middle school, and not having friends for years is very painful and can change a person. I had gotten to a point where I hardly went to school. (Also another thing to mention, I'm capable of getting A and A+ and was constantly told I was smart and I managed to make it into the advanced classes only to fail them later on and I also skipped a grade which only made my social issues worse, but my mind state was so bad I did nothing with it hence why my grades went down. 5th grade is when I got my first C. Every year later my grades went down and down.) I was a big burden on my parents because my feelings were so strong I couldn't control myself or how I was feeling. Nothing really helped so I saw a psychiatrist and was put through almost all of the SSRI and SNRI that was supposed to help with depression. Throughout those medicine, nothing seemed to help. In middle school is also when I started to get bullied which only made me worse. During tests I would always get a 90-100 but even though I aced everything, the homework really brought things down. At 14 I got a job and started making friends online(because I had none in person and online was the only escape). I was and still am averaging 16 hours a day online which is very bad for my health. I never ate the right foods. I was always eating, even through the night. My triglycerides and some vitamin levels were horrible and I managed to have a fatty liver- similar disease because of the food I ate(I never drank alcohol, and refuse to). So after I got a job I had some money, but because of my severe depression I spent every cent I earned in an attempt to make myself feel better (still happens now). Also I didn't know it at the time but I believe I had social anxiety because I could never start a conversation with someone new. So with the money one of the first things I had gotten was I bought computer parts and build my own computer. That is when I really started to try to make things better but only made things worse. I had played Minecraft from 2013-2020 (currently, and I know it's lame but it's the only thing I know besides watching videos all day long). I made some good friends many times but I ended up losing some because I was too sad and they didn't want me. I did stupid things like cutting myself for reasons I don't remember or understand. I posted those online. Now through the years I had made many friends but almost every time I made a friend I lost them in a very harsh way. (I say almost because of the friends I have currently online). So high school came around. I had finally made a friend and was introduced to a friend group. (And I should also mention I always felt left out, always, and it was the worst feeling because it felt almost like I still had no friends). My friends from high school were very nice although I only really am friends with one, because I feel left out with the rest of the group, including the friend who introduced me into it. In high school I started with advanced classes and did good for half a year (averaging 98 across all classes) but at some point I broke down and stopped doing homework causing my grades to plummet horribly. I started doing stupid things in high school, which I know I should not do but I do/did it anyways to try and make myself feel better. I started vaping and at first it was to look "cool". I had never breathed it in, just pulled it into my mouth. Later on I got to a point where I started vaping and getting off it was a pain. (I managed to literally quit in 1 day). But I also made trouble for my teachers. And the friend group I had I felt left out of so I felt that I only have one friend. I always managed to start the year good In attempt to fix things, but later in the year it would all go downhill again. I quit my job for reasons I don't even remember. I was working at a fast food restaurant and I was eating horribly but I managed to lose 25 pounds in a month. After I quit the money disappeared because I was so sad that I didn't care about my life and spent all my money that I had for random people I met online because I didn't feel like living. In sophomore year is when I started stupider things. I was in very bad health and I believe I weighed up to 320 pounds at one point (currently). Junior year I started to get better with depression. Miles better. But it wasn't happy feeling, or good feeling. Junior year is also the year where I finally managed to control my behavior better, and acting more civil. I have irrational thoughts when I am in such a bad mind state. Hence why I did so many dumb things. And currently it is summer and I am genuinely worried about my future. I know what field I want to work in, what degree I want, etc. But I feel hopeless as if it's going to go wrong because of my grades from messing up so bad. And the thing I really came here for is what should I do now that I am a senior. At the moment I managed to sweat to my knees with playing video games all day. I took a shower and 10 minutes later I was the same as before I took it. Soaked in sweat. My health is bad and I don't know what I should do for my future. And I don't know what I should work on first, college planning or my health. What should I do?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Healthy Living Support Group.

@210030sa
I'm glad you're here, welcome! It sounds like you have endured a lot and it sounds like you are pretty strong to have made it though so much.
Just curious...What are you thinking of going into as a college major? You sound pretty bright.
Also do you have a church or other groups you are a part of?

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@jolinda

@210030sa
I'm glad you're here, welcome! It sounds like you have endured a lot and it sounds like you are pretty strong to have made it though so much.
Just curious...What are you thinking of going into as a college major? You sound pretty bright.
Also do you have a church or other groups you are a part of?

Jump to this post

I was thinking general computer engineering. I'm not sure what I want as a minor but cyber security is an option. I'm not really part of any groups, I don't do much things and don't know where to start.

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@210030sa computers do sounds like a good option for you! From what you have said you sounds knowledgeable and interested in working with them.

Have you talked to your parents about what you have going on? Would therapy be an option or is there an adult you trust, teacher or relative, to help you work through everything?

I commend you for reaching out here.
JoDee

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@210030sa
I have personally found great comfort in my faith. It calms me, centers me maybe it is something to consider?
As far as computer engineering, you couldn't pick a better field to go into right now. Do you think with all of the online gaming you've done that you'd be good at designing your own game? There are a lot of online tutorials and open source languages you could learn to code in.

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@jodeej

@210030sa computers do sounds like a good option for you! From what you have said you sounds knowledgeable and interested in working with them.

Have you talked to your parents about what you have going on? Would therapy be an option or is there an adult you trust, teacher or relative, to help you work through everything?

I commend you for reaching out here.
JoDee

Jump to this post

I have tried therapists but that never seemed to help me. What I'm worried about is my future from all my mistakes. Also I feel many times better than what I used to be, at the moment it's just hopelessness and worry and uncertainty and confusion, etc.

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@jolinda

@210030sa
I have personally found great comfort in my faith. It calms me, centers me maybe it is something to consider?
As far as computer engineering, you couldn't pick a better field to go into right now. Do you think with all of the online gaming you've done that you'd be good at designing your own game? There are a lot of online tutorials and open source languages you could learn to code in.

Jump to this post

I haven't done too much coding but I do know the basics. About faith I used to be part of church groups but they were really small and never lasted long.

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@210030sa

I have tried therapists but that never seemed to help me. What I'm worried about is my future from all my mistakes. Also I feel many times better than what I used to be, at the moment it's just hopelessness and worry and uncertainty and confusion, etc.

Jump to this post

@210030sa the mistakes are in your past. You learn from them and move on with your life. If you have any arrests, I would think that since you were young and a minor that they should not show up in any background checks done by future employers.

Start thinking about where you would like to go to continue your education, visit that school in person (if you can due to covid) to see if you like it, and then apply if you do. You can take general courses at first to see what direction you'd like to go with your classes.

I also strongly suggest that you see your doctor. It sounds to me like you have some anxiety and your doctor could prescribe some medication for you. It would help so much with many of your struggles and make continuing your education much easier

Blessings,
JoDee

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@jodeej

@210030sa the mistakes are in your past. You learn from them and move on with your life. If you have any arrests, I would think that since you were young and a minor that they should not show up in any background checks done by future employers.

Start thinking about where you would like to go to continue your education, visit that school in person (if you can due to covid) to see if you like it, and then apply if you do. You can take general courses at first to see what direction you'd like to go with your classes.

I also strongly suggest that you see your doctor. It sounds to me like you have some anxiety and your doctor could prescribe some medication for you. It would help so much with many of your struggles and make continuing your education much easier

Blessings,
JoDee

Jump to this post

I don't have any arrests but I admit I have done stupid things. But the thing is most colleges won't accept someone who did really bad in his classes. I believe I averaged a C in junior year because halfway through I couldn't get myself to keep going with the work. As for the anxiety I'm not sure what it is but nothing really helps much for it.

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There are ways that schools will accept you. You may be on academic probation, which means, that you have to maintain a certain GPA in order to stay in school. A community college may be the best place to start rather than a 4 year school.

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Hi @210030sa, I've added your discussion to the Depression & Anxiety group as well. See here https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/depression-anxiety/ I think you'll find several of the discussions in that group helpful, for example:
- What does it take to moving from low self-esteem - to self acceptance https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/what-does-it-take-to-moving-from-low-self-esteem-to-self-acceptance/
- What is Self-acceptance? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/what-is-self-acceptance/

I think if you re-read your first message and imagine that you are giving advice to yourself, you might find that you've answered some of your own questions. For example, this is what I see.
1. You posted your message to the Healthy Living group.
You recognize that you need and WANT to improve your health. You're already on your way.
2. You've already had success with managing your behavior. You have the will and the determination to apply strategies to help yourself.
3. Do you have to choose between college planning or your health? I think you can do both. Take small steps, but make them move toward your goal of living healthier. That includes healthy food choices, physical activity and doing things you enjoy. Perhaps planning for college will give you that joy and purpose.

Do you see a therapist? Have you heard of cognitive behavior therapy?

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