Ok I'm 16 years old and my life is very full and hectic with divorced parents and constant fighting between relatives and family. Lately I've been having nightmares everytime I fall asleep and and restless sleeps. I wake up even more tired than when I went to sleep. I throw up in the mornings and sometimes in the afternoons and have constant dizziness. I know all these are stress induced but I have no idea how to stop them or slow them down. I am on no medecation. Lately I've been losing alot of hair. I'll brush my hair and when I'm done I'm picking it off of my shirt and out of my brush because alot of strands come out. I was wondering if there's any way to slow this down or stop it altogether without medecation or if anyone knows of any perscription medecations for a first timer on this that have weak side affects or are really helpful and work for this kind of problem. Thanks for any help at all.

You need to start with your family doctor, he can advise you of what med would be good for you. All of the symptoms you list can be stress/panic related, but talk to your family doctor and don't let this go on any longer.

Yes, your symptoms sound severe enough that you need a doctor's help ASAP. Go to your primary doctor, or if you can, depending on insurance, go to a therapist. You primary doc won't spend nearly as much time as a therapists will, so push for a therapist or some sort of counseling. He or she will talk to you for anywhere from a half hour to an hour. They can recomend if you need medication or not. Therapists can't prescribe meds, but often, there is a psychologist or psychiatrist in the same office that can. If the therapist feels you need medication, he'll send you to the psych.

As for the medications.... well, they are an experiment by the doctor. One medication can do wonders for one patient, yet be nothing but harm for another. The meds typically take 4-6 weeks to start working, although, some of the newer ones can start working almost immediately. HOWEVER, be firm about the side-effects that you will tolerate. I refused anything with sexual side-effects. Normally, I knew what drugs I would take and often suggested them to the doctor. (I actually knew more about most meds than the doc. Search the web... visit www.rxlist.com for drug info) Be sure to ask if certain side effects that you don't want to tolerate are going to be a problem. Also, remember that you may not experience the side-effects listed.

Oh... good news.... hair lost from stress grows back when the stress is gone. Considering that you are already having problems with hair-loss, make sure the hair loss is not a side effect of any med that the doc may prescrib!