How do I convince my parents that I have a serious mental illness?

[marie_s17]

I am 17 now and I  have been suffering from depression and anxiety for about two years. I have also had bulimia in th past, which I am currently recovering from, but I find it difficult to  eat like a normal person would or go outside and interact with people because I´m not happy with my appearance. I feel sluggish, tired and unmotivated all the time and my grades, which used to be very good, are starting to fall. I used to enjoy going to school but now I want to cry just thinking about going there every morning and I have panic attacks multiple times a week. I also used to have a good group of friends but they are all acting really distant. I am currently seeing a therapist but I don´t think it´s helping because she hasn't given my a proper diagnosis and my parents just get really angry with me for being in "a bad mood all the time". I´ve told my mother multiple times that I think I have depression but she constantly denies it and my dad just wants me to get over it. The fact that they are constantly annoyed with me and think I´m ungrateful and lazy makes everything 10 times worse.

[Daddysays]

Do you have access to a counselor at school? Try talking to your local Mental Health community center. Dial 311 and they can direct you to free counseling in your area. Try finding a hobby or something to distract you . Music helps a lot also. Try keeping a journal of what you were doing or feeling when the depression hit.