I am almost certain that I have PTSD, but Im afraid to tell my mom..help!?

I am 99% sure that I have PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) and anxiety. My thoughts seems to be chronically disturbed with images of death because at my school ( i am 15 by the way) we had a freakish, scary assembly about the columbine shooting, and how a girl named rachel scott knew she was going to die young because of feelings she had in her head. she ended up being shot at 16. ever since (and this assembly was a year ago) I have had the sense that i will die too. its such a scary way to live every day. I have done reseach on anxiety disorders and PTSD and Im almost certain that i have that, but I am afraid to confront my parents because its such a rational statement. I dont know what their reactions will be, and i need help. is there anyone else to talk to besides my mom and school counselor? i just need reassurance and help please

Hi there.
You certainly do have anxiety, and given the information you write here, these are big reasons for you to feel anxious, frightened, and unsafe.
It is a scarier world out there than what your parents had to deal with.

I doubt that you have PTSD, but the anxiety is stressing you out, and you need help understanding it, and some ways to cope with the anxiety. This is where your mom or dad comes in (or a respected teacher or school counselor). These people can get you to a counselor who will listen to your worries and help you figure out how to deal with things and feel better!
Really!

P.S. who is the dim bulb who voted thumbs down on all these helpful answers? you must be bored and mean-spirited.

the best person to talk to is your mom. she can get you help with a psychologist who deals with things like this. good luck sweetie. i wish i could be more helpful.

Please tell her! And ask her if you can go to a psychotherapist or something. She's the first person on Earth that can help you.

I agree talk to your mom and go and see your doctor...this is very serious.

please talk to your mom. It may be the best step that you can take to get the help you need. good luck and I hope you feel better soon.

you need to speak with someone dont be afraid you may just be shocked to how understanding your mom could be

There is always help. I don't know if I would use the PTSD label yet. However, anxiety is defiantly a possibility. You could start with the telephone book and call to find out how and where help can be found. I would look under social work first.

what you have is anxiety and obsessive thoughts.

so,
what are you eating?
what exercise are you getting daily (for up to an hour a day)
what relaxation techniques are you practicing twice a day for 20 minutes each day?

gotta learn what these 3 questions mean and how to manage stress and anxiety.

good luck

(see my profile)

ask your doctor to refer you to therapist, tell the therapist. It's confidential, neither the doctor nor the therapist will tell your parents, and they'll help you be able to tell them yourself.

The best person to tell would be your parents. I don't know them or anything but I doubt that they will have a problem with it. If anything they will want to help you feel better and find you the help you need. At this point, your parents are your best bet because this isn't the type of thing you can talk to your best friend about and feel better the next day. This requires professional help that your parents can get for you.

First of all, everyone is going to die someday. When I was lost, I was terrified of dying. This is one way the Holy Spirit tells you you are lost, so that you may seek Him and be saved. Once saved, your body may die someday, but your soul will live forever. If you are a nonbeliever, then you have a reason to be scared of dying.......

Just tell her you are having a hard time coping with things...and you would like to talk professional....At least you are wise enough to know you need some help.If your mom doesn't take you seriously talk to your school counselor and have them talk with you and your parent....keep your head up kid...things will get better.

Why don't you talk to a friend's mom, a close relative or teacher. There is no reason to continue to be afraid. You will feel so much better if you get help. Many people suffer from anxiety. A lot of scary things happen in this world today.

You have to tell someone you trust. Your parents, school counselor, a friend. It's also very good to see a doctor.

Yes, I know the idea is uncomfortable, but you should at least tell your mom. I don't know about you, but the school counselors at my school were all weirdos, and I wouldn't consider talking to them lol. Unless yours seem OK, then it's an option, really. But I would rather talk to my mom first. You don't necessarily have to tell her about the PTSD part first, just say you've been experiencing a lot of anxiety for a while and that you feel bad all the time. And kind of scared. Just say you've been worrying a lot, and if she asks why, tell her about it. She might say it's no big deal or tell you you're worrying over nothing, but insist that it is getting to you and you don't know what to do.

Are you comfortable with the idea of seeing a counselor or therapist outside of school? Might be a scary idea, but they can actually be extremely helpful with these sort of things. I saw a counselor at my college after a rape, and it was the best thing I've ever done for myself. Any kind of mood state that interferes with your day-to-day living is worth getting help for. And counselors won't ever make you feel like your problem is silly. You don't necessarily have to see a doctor either, even a social work type of counselor may be able to help. Family members are a first option for a crisis, but sometimes they think they know you too well, or are too close to you, to really be understanding (ironic huh? lol). Plus, counselors are specifically trained to know exactly what to say to validate that you aren't crazy, stuff that people close to you might say w/out thinking.

I hope you can talk to someone close to you about this and think about seeing a counselor. It doesn't even have to be long-term, just talking helps relieve a lot of anxiety. Journals/writing are good to get it out of your head too.... Hope you find something that works, best of luck. =)

Hi kiddo: You can't continue feeling like that! It's not good for yourself, as you already know. There must be an adult that you know, that you can talk to...I am 62 and I know that I could talk to my mom, but not my dad when I was a kid at home. Do you have older siblings, a neighbor woman you can confide in? Do you have a family physician you can confide in? Perhaps you can have your mom take you there and ask her if you could talk to him/her in private?

It's too bad you feel the way you do. I am sure that your parents will understand. You would be surprised how we, as parents, react to different things. What you are talking about is not at all irrational. Pick the right time and just ask your parents if you can talk to them about something that has been bothering your for quite some time. Believe me, they would gladly talk to you about this or any other subject. That's just the way we are.

Please let me know how you are doing.

Linda at lndhrln!@yahoo.com