I just turned 17. I am 5′ 5″ and standing at about 191 lbs. (slightly overweight). Like most teenagers, I am suffering greatly.

I was taking birth control since mid-March, but then I decided to stop taking it in the beginning of September. Soon after I apparently got pregnant. I just found out on October 20th that I am indeed pregnant. Thankfully, the baby’s father wants to step up and be a part of my and my child’s life. But he is having a lot of issues with his own life. He is 16 and recently got in trouble with the police. He has also participated in the peer pressure of smoking. I myself have chosen to live a drug-free life. I am currently being strung between my parents over the issue of child support money. Neither of my parents know that I’m pregnant yet but I’m close to cracking under all the pressure. I am starting to fall behind in school because I am constantly exhausted and cannot handle being under the demands of a senior year curriculum with the outside life I had from everyone. I don’t have many friends and I see my boyfriend as my outlet to everything. It is really bothering me how poorly I am treated by those around me and it is very depressing. I have struggled with issues of depression in the past because of my parents and their parents. I am trying my hardest to continue being strong through all the stress but it’s getting really hard. I am supposed to be taking vitamins at this point in my pregnancy and it stresses me out that I don’t have enough support to be healthy. I am hoping with everything within me that everything goes ok and that I can make it through it all. I am a wonderful person, but I am so withdrawn because of my emotional problems.

Don’t get me wrong because I am completely in love with my boyfriend. He and I got engaged in the 2nd month we were dating, but it ended 5 months later. After one month of heartbreak and agony, he decided he wanted to be with me again. We feel perfect together, but since he’s been making some bad choices, my mom has forbidden me to see him. This is another stress adding to my problems.

I have had my permit since last December, but have yet to get my license that was promised to me by my dad. My dad has a tendency to let me down a lot. I don’t know how to tell either of my parents because I know it will only get worse as they go to court fighting over my siblings and I.

That’s my life in a nutshell!