A
male
age
30-35,
anonymous
writes:i saw this psychyatrist because i was flunking out of grade 10 and my parents wanted to know what is wrong with me. bnasically im just depressed all the time and she wanted me to put me on meds but i said no and now months later im not any better. im leaning tords them but my moms against it, my dad doesnt say anything. can i get medication without them or no?
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reader, anonymous, writes (3 September 2009): I think antidepressants are really a Godsend for a lot of people, but I think you may want to actually talk to a psychologist first, who cannot prescribe medication without a Psychiatrist or Medical doctor's perscription. You may want to be tested on a number of things to rule out other problems, the psychologist can determine this.
Sometimes talk therapy is enough to help you get rid of depression, also getting enough sleep, quality sleep and eating healthy, lots of protein, no sugar (sugar is hidden in many of our processed foods) and fresh vegetables and fruit may be all you need to feel better.
Young people have to be very careful about taking certain antidepressants, so talking to a child psychologist is important...some of these have a very different effect on kids and can actually make things worse. This is not true for adults, kids really are a special case, and this may be the reason why your mom is saying no.
If I were you, I would ask for further evaluation from a child psychologist before you go on the meds, you can wait a bit to find out if other things will help you.
A
female
reader, pinktopaz +, writes (3 September 2009):
Tisha, the point that I was trying to get across was why his mom may be saying "no." I know it works for a lot of people, my mom has been on antidepresents since her mothers died, and she's been waaaay better. As for my cousin, I think she's addicted to antianxiety pills, she misses a day and thinks she's going into cardiac arrest.
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female
reader, Tisha-1 +, writes (3 September 2009):
 Before people dismiss antidepressants out of hand, let me do my little testimonial. My GP, not a psychiatrist, did an assessment of me and put me on one. I had clinical depression. I was 40 lbs. overweight, unhappy, not able to focus on projects, lost joy in things I used to enjoy, blah blah blah. I was a mess, frankly.
This little med (I'm on the lowest dose, btw) has completely turned my life around. I'm now in the best shape I've been in probably 20 years, I have focus and joy and I have my old self back. No loss of libido, either. I think my brain chemistry was out of whack, and it's been set to rights. It's a physical feeling, like the sun is shining again. I don't know how to explain it.
Now, a good friend of mine is on a bunch of meds and she has a lot of side effects. She's also been on them for a long time and I don't know if she'll ever feel "normal" like I do. So she's the flip side of that same coin.
I think each person should be individually assessed by a good doctor, and that other people should be very cautious about condemning all antidepressants and antianxiety drugs out of hand. I know, there can be side effects, I know there are bad stories out there. But dammit, there are a lot, and I'll bet money that there are more success stories than disasters.
You should use every tool you have at your disposal to get yourself well. That includes the evaluation of possibly using meds for you. But you should tackle this from a holistic point of view. (Look it up if you don't know that word.) Eat right. Don't use drugs or alcohol. If you are hanging out with people who do and who push it on you, time to distance yourself from these people, as they may be bad for your health. Get your butt out there and do some physical stuff. I don't care, jog around the park, go bicycling, play soccer, just DO something (like that Nike ad), get your heart rate up and MOVE. Get the amount of sleep you need. I know it's tough for teenagers because the hormones go all wonky, but you need to sleep enough hours to keep your brain happy and soothed.
Don't expect that just popping a pill will cure everything. It's a tool in your belt, one of many tools you should be using to get yourself out of it. I needed the jumpstart and now it's down to good choices and healthy habits. Boring for a teenager, I know, not terribly cool, but you don't want your life screwed up because you flunked out of 10th grade. You can overcome something like that, but why start out your adult life with a disadvantage?
I'd ask for a second opinion from your GP. It can't hurt to be assessed again and you might find some actual physical thing is causing the issue.
Good luck.
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female
reader, pinktopaz +, writes (3 September 2009):
Relating to Ginseng, there are a lot of side effects and addiction to such medications. Also, there is a tendency for suicidal thoughts with those types of medications. I think too many people are doped up on medication these days anyway. However, it is effecting your life, especially your school and that's what's most important. However, you can try St. John's Wort, it's an herbabl supplement that helps elevate your mood. Lucky for you, you're male so you don't have to worry about it lessening the effectiveness of your birth control ;) So look it up and give that a try.
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reader, anonymous, writes (2 September 2009): Be warned about anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medication. I have a friend that has been taking these for about two years now and she cannot get off them. The side effects of getting off them cold turkey can yield in a heart attack or even cardiac arrest. With the experiences my friend have had from the USA, seems that you can get 'addicted' to them. Since health care as it stands in the USA is non-existing and require health insurance of sorts, prolong usage of such drugs will cost you an arm and a leg, possibly even your liver. Before you take those prescribed meds, I suggest you do research on them first, read the forums of other people who've used them and make a decision then.
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male
reader, softtouchmale2003 +, writes (2 September 2009):
 You can talk to school counselors if you think you're suffering from clinical depression.
Its not unheard of. Its actually one of the most common problems in today's society.
For some people, meds work fine and there's no issues. Sometimes you only need them for a short while.
Since you see this problem, its primarily your responsibility to ask for help more than anyone else. The school can probably help you get what you need even if your parents are ambivalent towards it.
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reader, anonymous, writes (2 September 2009): I'm not 100% on this, but i'm pretty sure you can. I've filled prescriptions at my pharmacey before I was 18, for my mom and for myself without her being there and no one questioned me. I'm not certain if the the doctor will be able to give them to you, but it's certainly worth a try to find a way up there and ask him for the perscription.
You should try agian though to sit your mom down and talk to her about the way you feel and why you think the meds would help. Tell her you're just not happy and you really need to be in order to focus, have friends, and do well. As your mother, i would hope that she would do everythig possible to keep you happy and healthy. good luck
~Sy.
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