Hi,
Recently I've been feeling really low. My dad has a new girlfriend which I'm happy about cause he's finally moving on but my mum is very jealous and angry and she shouts at me because I've met my dads girlfriend and I like her. My mum keeps telling me to either choose her or my dad. My mum is an alcoholic and she's been sober for 3 years she told me the other day she's in a danger zone basically telling me that she could pick up a drink again. Im getting really upset about it. Also I have been going out with my boyfriend for 8months now and it has been amazing I love him so much and I've basically moved in with him and his mum and dad but I keep on feeling like he's going to cheat on me. I keep crying at night and through the day because I'm annoyed I keep thinking all these bad thoughts. My childhood wasn't the best I have grown up with an alcoholic and its been so hard some days I used to stay off school to try and make sure my mum wouldn't drink but she always did and I could never stop her. My brother and sister both moved out of our family home a few years back and now so have I. Im the youngest I'm 17, 18 in July and I feel like I'm a screw up. I have hardly any friends I see anymore, I'm constantly skint and I feel so low. I have been thinking of seeing a therapist but I feel asthough I'm to shy, my boyfriends worried about me because I bottle everything up, I also smoke canabis which I know can make the depression worse but I feel as though it helps, it helps me forget about everything in my past and what's worrying me today. Am I going through depression? Or am I just being silly? Mel

You are at a very low point and thinks you should see your doctor or some counselling would really help. Your not being silly depression really does hurt everything has come to a head and its all too much to try to deal with and your so young I had a similar childhood and I went off the rails big time that mad things worse and only prolonged things . You Really Really need to stop the weed It is the worst thing you can take out of all the drugs out there I used to smoke myself to forgetfullness too but trust me it has a serious affect on mental health. I'm Bipolar so I know the affects on your mind.. I think you are having a period of depression and taking the first step to see the doctor is the first step to being a happy 17 year old, just talking about it is a big relieve . You must be honest with them though or your treatment could be wrong and that can make things worse Ask for counselling , it really works for some but if you have thoughts of ending it all please go to A+E and ask to see the crisis team they are great and you will be on the road to recovery much sooner. Please Please look after yourself and I'm so so sorry you feel like this but you don't have too... I really hope this helps you let me know how your getting on and you can ask me anything at all... xxx Justine xxx

Hi... I am so sorry you feel this way, but I'm not surprised.Your carrying the weight of the whole world on your shoulders, too much for someone so young,now's the time to off load.

Your Mum's an acoholic but has not drunk for 3 years, but threatens too.You cannot be responsible for what she knows will happen if she takes a drink... she's an adult, and knows the score.You cannot be expected to choose between your mum or your dad nor should you, this is your mum's problem... she feels she's losing control and is trying to regain it with threats,don't rise to the bait, just tell her you love them both, that this will not change, and then walk away.

I am so glad you have the love of your boyfriend and his family,perhaps you could confide in them a little, tell them your concerns and worries, I'm sure they'd be very supportive lifting your burdon a little.

If you have no reason to suspect that your boyfriend will cheat on you, then you must let it go... it will come between you eventually.You feel this way because I think you feel that you've been let down your whole life one way or another,that's understandable,you have to move on from this now, like your dad and your brother and sister... your mum knows she has to sort her self out as well, you've done as much as you could do, it's now down to her.


Try your very best to empty your head of all the weight that's in there dragging you down, speak to your boyfriends parents if you can,or maybe you have a very close friend you could confide in.There are councillers for this but maybe you'd rather not.
Something that works really well is to write everything down on paper that bothers you, then look at each problem separately and decide what you can do about it,this will make you feel much better by writing things down your actually emptying your head.You can do this on a daily basis, dealing with each individual problem at a time, it does work.

The lists that you have made can also be taken to your doctor,very often people forget what to say when sat in a doctors surgery, by giving the doctor the list you won't leave anything out, I think you need something to help you relax and to help you sleep, things will seem so much better after you have caught up on your sleep.

The problem with canibis is that it recreates the worries that you are trying to forget, a bit like booze it helps you forget until it wears off, so you continue to drink or take drugs... the circle needs to be broken for you to recover.

Please tell your doctor everything, he's there to help and it is in total confidence, I think you are very low right now and need a pick me up, just temporarily to see you through this bad patch.
I'll be thinking of you...

Takecare.