Q

I’m a 19-year-old girl on the threshold of real life, and I’ve been experiencing mild to moderate emotional instability in recent years. I’m leading a pretty normal life (at least on the outside, doing what should be done), but I’m feeling depressed and anxious often enough that it calls for attention and treatment.

I’ve spoken to my parents about it, but they’re fiercely against the idea of therapy, afraid that it’s going to ruin my name in shidduchim. I do think that a large contributing factor in my struggles is the environment I’m in, meaning marriage will in some ways provide a reprieve (although I’m not ready for marriage at this point).

I’m wondering what you think about getting help myself, behind my parents’ back, with the risk of consequences like anger and resentment on my parents’ end.

I hope you’re able to help — I’m pretty sure that I’m not the only one going through this. (I also hope my mom reads this, LOL).