Is it normal that i feel very mentally ill?

Even if over the internet on a site like this, I need someone to tell me something. Anything. Anything that could possibly give me insight into what is wrong. Sometimes I wonder if anything truly is wrong. I don't know, but I'm going to give you some pieces of my life and as far as all hell that I know. I know this is tedious to read, but I need to put this on something nearly tangible in hope that maybe someone can relate. I'm an 18 year old female. I've had problems with depression and when I was 13, I took Paxil for it and spent 3 weeks in a mental ward. I didn't stay there constantly, however I was there during what my school hours would have been. Throughout my life, I've been confronted with a bleak outlook on life that I've just dealt with. The meds helped, or it may have been marijuana. I couldn't tell, because I had started smoking at the same time I started taking meds. Smoking made me so happy and every day I would come home looking forward to it. One day, I was very high and had a panic attack. I was never the same, constantly feeling dissociated. A couple years after this panic attack (I had stopped smoking, but did so sometimes in hope that maybe it would feel the same again) I smoked too much. I blacked out and forgot where I was and my vision toppled. Ever since that night, I've had blackouts that I've grown accustomed to and dealt with. I assume it's transient global amnesia after looking into it. I had a boyfriend of 3 years that I was absolutely in love with. He broke up with me in July of last year. It was a terrible time in my life where I became more dissociated than ever and began drinking a lot. I still dream about him, but I do love the new person I'm with now that I've been with for 7 months. A month ago, I had a surgical abortion. I'm an atheist, and didn't think it would affect me much, but things aren't always what they seem. It seems I can't feel anymore or talk to people. Life is so distant to me. It's as if I skipped several years in time and woke up in a totally unfamiliar place. Every morning, I wake up with a broken heart. About what? I don't know. I have trouble sleeping at night quite often due to a fear that something is watching me. I fear that I'm going to roll over in my bed and faces will be staring at me from the other side of it. I feel like my whole life I've been followed and watched by something. I think about death often and write about my observations of life. Two old friends of mine killed themselves in the past 3 months. It makes me feel like death is too common and I've grown to take it lightly. I feel as though life is just a clock, and what's the point of waiting? The others are beating me in the race of life as it is. Forgive me for going on, but I'm hopeless at this point. I feel I've lost my mind, and no one will listen or help, which I guess I can't blame them for not wanting to waste their time on.

Voting Results
51% Normal
Based on 43 votes (22 yes)
Help us keep this site organized and clean. Thanks!
[ Report Post ]
Comments ( 10 )
  • Terahbell

    I have depression too, also it runs in my family so I know what it's like, you are not alone.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • tbiM20

    Sorry for commenting so much but I have one more thing. Us internet folks are in no way a replacement for a trained doctor. And seeing a doctor isn't always a bad thing! Nothing is WRONG with YOU, your body is just giving you a bunch of signals and you need someone to help you understand them.

    BTW, it may feel like a thousand different problems, but it could have a simple solution. For example, you know you have a history of depression. The anxiety attack (or the cause of it, or even how it was later handled by those around you) was a traumatic experience. So was the overdose of THC (the chemical in weed that gives you that high), and then the breakup. Each event deepened your depression, and your body has created these coping mechanisms. (i cannot tell you if this is actually the chain of events. Only you and a doctor can. Remember you're an adult; I know psychologist can be a stressful experience but don't feel "trapped" bc you're an adult and going voluntarily!)

    Comment Hidden ( show )
      -
    • Thank you so much for taking the time to put all that! I'm going to try to have a better outlook, and maybe even go to the doctor when my finances are in better shape.

      Comment Hidden ( show )
  • tbiM20

    Depression, anxiety, lots of stuff could be going on. It is COMMON but it is not HEALTHY. You can - and usually do - have postpartum depression after an abortion. Your horomones are going crazy and they're like "wtf is happening?!?!?"

    Tones/voices: tenitis causes tones in your ears. And it is a known thing that your mind can perceive "white noise" (like static, a fan, or tenitis whine!) as voices. It's like an optical illusion, except with your hearing! No joke (kinda weird but interesting isnt it?)

    Hallucinations have a variety of causes. Anything from a mild concussion, to schitzophrenia, to plain old bad eyesight.

    Worrying about things at night, I get that too, especially after a horror movie or ghost show. Actually, I've watched some documentaries on our fear of the dark or something over our shoulders (interesting stuff). I personally found I like sleeping on my side with my back to a wall, facing the door, and I don't have a mirror in my room.

    Evaluating life after someone dies is normal. However, if you are considering suicide you should seek professional help! Call the 1-800 hotline if you want.

    You are not crazy, you are not skitzophrenic... You are just overwhelmed. Only a trained psychologist can pinpoint exact causes, and give you a solution. Ask your family! Tell them you're feelings, ask them to support you. Get someone close to you to come with you to the psychologist's office. It's not necessarily a psychological cause, either; my bf is bipolar because of the lithium imbalances in his body, which is a chemical cause which is treatable!

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • Animosity

    Thank you all for the support! I feared criticism. The reason i'm confused is mainly that i feel there's more than depression going on. I feel like i'm honestly going mad. Maybe that's just a symptom of something else less serious and i'm not actually crazy, but hell if i can put a finger on it.. Nights are awful. Tones play in my ears, i listen to people argue in my head.. A couple have names but at this point they're all new voices that i hear. I've considered schizophrenia, but that's severe and rare and i don't hallucinate severely. I don't know what to call this.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
      -
    • tbiM20

      I do that too. Do you ever feel youre involved in the conversation? Will little bits repeat and change occasionally (like rephrase a sentence)? Do you ever catch yourself saying a word or two aloud? Is it more prominent, louder, or more confusing after a particularly stressful event?
      If yes, idk what to call it except an overactive imagination. You're mind is still on a roll from the energy/stress of the day so its creating these sounds. Try winding down before bed by reading, watching the discovery channel, or a nice hot bath or shower. Usually works for me, but if not then try playing some softer instrumental music as you go to sleep. Vivaldi, maybe, or some blues. Your mind will focus on the exterior noises more than the "in your head" voices.
      If no, the same still applies. Also can be memories (which.your mind can alter, so the voices change, especially if its a voice you haven't heard in a while) or see below about tenitis.

      Comment Hidden ( show )
  • CheyChey

    you have a lot going on but i identified a lot from what you wrote like that happens to me especially the waking up with a broken heart for no apparent reason. thing is these feelings aren't normal the moment an 18 year old girl like yourself starts thinking of suicide just the thought of it it's sad, suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. your abortion fueled this sadness that was already in you & thing is you can't just snap out of it right?! seek professional help i know such a generic answer but it's better than not trying at all, at least you have someone you love which is great not many people have that.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • I have bipolar 1 severe and ocd and dysthymia. I constantly question my sanity. I attempted suicide on my 18th birthday. I was in a mental ward for 20 days. I was on the wrong medication for months, so I was falling asleep as I was walking. Things happen... life is short enough, especially since death is nothingness forever for all we know.. and forever is a long time. especially compared to 60-90 years. Life is just a blip of what you can do, why end it when its already so short, that is my way of thinking at least.. but its normal to struggle, be strong, goodluck!

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • joybird

    You are dealing with an awful lot at the moment so of course it's going to take time to regain your emotional strength. I don't think any woman can go through an abortion without feeling a loss - athiest or not. There is a deep sadness that the time was not right for you and if circumstances had been different you could've kept your child.

    Time will heal all your hurt but it may help you to talk to a professional.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • darkberry.

    No. It's not normal as you've probably guessed. If you really want to get hold of your life, go to a doctor. It'll take time for you to get better, but it is possible and it will happen, leave it any longer and you will drown in this. Get help and try your hardest to correct it! Seeming as this site has messaging, you can message me any time!

    Comment Hidden ( show )