How do you deal with social anxiety disorder?

How do i tell my dad that i think i have SAD(social anxiety disorder) and depression? ?

• I've never had a really close relationship with my dad, but I feel like I need to get help with these issues. How do I say it? I've never been open with him. I don't think it'd really do anything to tell him. He wouldn't understand and laugh in my face. He'd just judge me about it and think I'm just lying and wanting attention. I go through phases where I just get depressed for no reason. They last for about a month or so. They occur about every other month or two. I'm only a freshman in high school and don't find this normal. And as for my other issue, I think I may have social anxiety disorder. I'm really insecure. I can't go out of my room without fearing I'm being judged. I hate it. I'm always really scared people are judging everything about me. Every time I hear someone laughing I assume it's about me. I can't stand feeling this way! I'm always afraid of opening up to people and telling them how I feel cause I'm afraid they'll just think I'm faking it and wanting attention. How should I tell my dad about these issues? No one knows I feel this way. And I want help, I want to get rid of this anxiety. Whether it's by medicine, therapy, doctors, whatever.

• Answer:

  Hi MeganH. Rather than tell your dad what you think you have, why don't you consider telling him that you feel unwell, giving as few details as possible, and propose seeing a doctor/physician. If you do say what you believe your problems are, then you will have to get into unnecessary detail, which may present you with the difficulties you outline. It is really for the physician to either make formal diagnoses of your illnesses, or a psychiatrist. Once you have the diagnoses, then your dad will have to accept that you are not being untrue or attention seeking. Take care.