Dear Gramps,

I don’t know what this is, whether it is depression or not. I am just scared at the moment. I don’t know what’s happened to me. I’m always fighting back tears when I am out with my friends and my partner. I am always starting arguments with him and upsetting him and my friends with things I may say. I have stopped eating and am losing weight. I just don’t feel myself at the moment. Can you help me and give me some answers or should I go to the doctors? Please help me, I’m only 16 its scaring me and others around me!

love, Charlotte

Dear Charlotte,

First, you must realize that Gramps is not a health care professional, so we can offer no clinical advise. But I could ask a couple of questions? Are you a member of the Mormon Church? If you are, your first line of defense would be an intimate interview with your bishop. Let him know all your problems and exactly how you feel. He could offer very good advise, and would be able to advise whether or not professional help would be desirable. If so, I’m sure that he would recommend that you visit LDS Social Services, and would give you an introduction to them. They are professional people, and could possibly treat you themselves. If not, they would be in a position to recommend competent and trustworthy professionals.

If you belong to some church other than the Mormon Church, I would offer similar advise. Your minister is your spiritual counselor, and would be able to lend a sympathetic ear and give you expert advise. He would, in all probability, be able to recommend competent professional help as well, if he thought that it were needed.

Gramps