where do I start…. well maybe I should start with the fact that I have GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder) and have been diagnosed so for about the past 3 1/2 years.  And when my anxiety gets really bad I get majorely depressed.  And for about the past 3 1/2 years I have noticed the sypmtoms of depression in my younger sister (who is by the way about 3 1/2 years younger than me and from now will be referred to as C.)  I have pointed this out to my mother and she tried bringing her to a therapist about 3 years ago before I started college when my sister threatened to run away from home.  But my sister didn't speak to the therapist at all.

And just recently when I came home for Thanksgiving break I found out my sister had by skipping school for the past two weeks.  Her reason to parents for this was because she was depressed.  My mom did make an appointment with a pyschiatrist for her, but C. didn't want to go and my Mom even if she forced her to go C. wouldn't say a thing to him/her.  Now, I am worried that my sister might do something to harm herself (like suicide, cutting, etc.).  I have several times over the past few years recommended to my Mom that maybe we try Family Counseling but, you see, the problem is that my sister most likely won't go and my father still won't admit I have an issue because maybe then he'd have to admit he had some issues (the rest of us swear he has OCD, plus he was treated in the past for PTSD).  But he's my father and it took both him and my mother to raise me and my sister so it's crucial that we together on some of the inner family issues that are obviously effecting me and my sister.  Mental illnesses don't just effect that person they also effect those closest around them.  I just don't know how to get my parents to see that maybe Family Counseling would start to help my sister and relieve some of my anxiety b/c i have noticed that when I'm at home vs. at school I am a lot more keyed up.  Ughhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!