Drugs

[Variol (Farseer) Elmwood]

consider even checking with your parents

Thanks bung',
I've been thinking about this all morning, but I was reluctant to suggest it.
I do hope that is an avenue for you DS.

[Dragonshadow]

My parents are, in some ways, part of the issue. Not least that they never beelive I was having issues from when I was 12. They didn't beleive my sister either, not even when she tried to kill herself. My mum seemed a litle annoyed that I decided to take counselling, and I didn't even dare say to my dad. THey also maintain that since seeing someone did not help my sister, it will not help me. So no, they would never agree to pay for it.
The uni counselling is free, and right now is my only option. I can't afford to pay for it myself.

[Gangrell]

This really is a tricky subject, especially when it comes to anti-depressants. I also went to counceling back a few years ago in my early teens, I had an ungodly bad case of depression. Unfortunately, the psychiatrist I was seeing was less than... convincing about the medication she was offering me.

One was an anti-depressant, which kinda perked me up, the idea of it. Then I remembered the side effects of it, you know, being possible death (something to do with an alergic reaction with the blood, was called Tegretol I think), she tried to convince me otherwise with a rather lame line of reasoning. Since that point, I just struck it out on my own to deal with it.

Which, either way, can be very difficult.

My depression was incredibly, incredibly trying. Course it helps if you have friends and the like to help you through it. Doing it yourself, trying to figure out your issues yourself is painful, there's no easy road.

Anti-depressants might help, they might not, it's totally dependant on a person's brain chemistry. I know people who have just sunk deeper into it, others, got along fine with it.

Best advice I can offer is always keep an open mind, remember you have friends and always communicate with people. That, more often than anything, is the best way to deal with difficult issues DS.

ps - Sorry for any spelling errors, running on no sleep and I'm too lazy to check

[SpiritWarrior]

Originally Posted by Dragonshadow My parents are, in some ways, part of the issue. Not least that they never beelive I was having issues from when I was 12. They didn't beleive my sister either, not even when she tried to kill herself. My mum seemed a litle annoyed that I decided to take counselling, and I didn't even dare say to my dad. THey also maintain that since seeing someone did not help my sister, it will not help me. So no, they would never agree to pay for it. The uni counselling is free, and right now is my only option. I can't afford to pay for it myself.

Well, I have a little more time now to respond as I would have liked.

I would not get hooked on anti-depressants if you can avoid them. You seem like a smart, perceptive person. I am sure you can pull yourself out of this and work through your issues. The first step is recognition of a problem or issue - once we have that, we can heal any emotional damage. I have never recommended anti depressants to any of my clients as I see them as painkillers that numb the warning signs. As a rule of thumb, counselling yes, drugs no.

Milk that uni counselling for all you can, steer the conversation back to the issues that plague you, regardess of whether the counseller wants to talk about antidepressants. I think alot of this will fade off as you hit your 20's..not to sound cliche but many people underestimate the effect of teen hormones and how they can affect mood and overall state of mind. Your problems will not dematerialize when you reach a certain age, but the "haze" that makes them difficult to navigate will certainly lift.

Chill here at IW for people to talk to, like I said, the most important step in dealing with any emotional baggage is the recongnition that it exists. After that, the rest is actually pretty easy.

[Bungleau]

Sage words being spoken... and sorry to hear that parents are part of the problem. I suppose I can see myself in their shoes... I don't know how many times I see my kids get all flustered about something as I'm thinking "WTF? *THIS* is an issue? C'mon... let's get to something *serious*!" Sounds like I'll have to temper that as time goes on...

Did a quick google for "free counselling services in London" and came across this listing. It also includes one for a Depression Alliance, run by sufferers themselves. Mayhap there's something of use there, DS.

There's always a way... someone's always willing to help.

*edit* Interestingly, I just noticed that listing is from UKPsychics.com... snarky comment left for another day.

[Dragonshadow]

Thanks Bung. Small problem - I live over two hours away from London I'm in a city called Portsmouth, which is down on the south coast.

And yeah, I know I'm still a teenager (just) and hormones are in aprt causing this - Hell it started when I hit puberty and just never went away. I know that I will be better in the end. Maybe not completly better, but you know, better. I have been before. I had a nice year and a half or so before I came to uni. So it is possible.

And Spirit - Good plan. The counsellor didn't bring up drugs until near the end of the session, but I have a feeling it will crop up again a few times.

[Variol (Farseer) Elmwood]

Portsmouth sounds nice. My dad was there for a few years, working on a tunneling project.

[Dragonshadow]

It is fairly nice yes. My main problem is I grew up in an area with lots of woods and fields. Portsmouth is a city. The lack of greenery is hard to deal with some days.

[pritchke]

A counsellor said this. I would say no to the drugs as they are not going to fix anything in your life.

The other problem is if you actually have a mental illness which is the cause of your depression the drugs this counselor recommends could mess you up even more.

I would seek a good doctor and explain the situation and what he recommends. He would most likely defer you to a specialist in such matters, a Psychiatrist.

I believe this counsellor is at best a Psychologist and in my view only a Psychiatrist should be prescribing or recommending medications. A psychologist may hold a doctoral degree (Ph.D.) and be called "doctor"; but, is not a medical doctor (M.D.). and should not be recommending drugs for depression.

Seek medical advice on any and all drugs and don't be taking over the counter stuff either without medical advice. Some of these counsellers and psychologist have there heads so far up there behinds that giving out and prescribing over the counter meds gives them a feeling of power and it may not be what you need and could F*** you up even worse.

Anyway that is my two cents. Hope it all works out, and remember it is important to get correct treatment not just any treatment so seeking extra advice is not a bad way to go.

Just read more of this and if just talking to someone about your problems helps then tell him so and that you don't feel you need drugs.

Also before drugs there may be a more natural herbal tea, or herbs that you may be able to find that has a similar effect than a drug and is much better for you. Even with herbs you still have to do a bit of research on your own. You could still ask your doctor or counseller their view but I find most know little about herbs unless they have tried some themselves and found it works for them. But most are usually open to trying a herbal treatment before drugs.

[Ziroc]

I personally think depression meds (the SSRI types at least) are dangerous for many--they DO help a few, but in children, we see what has happened--school shootings etc..

The thing I would say is a depression pill is only a temporary bandage to a larger problem (as for many, depression is temporary). You need to solve/figure out what the cause is, and try to solve it and/or deal with the emotional side of it with a certified medical counselor. They can help you face the issues that could cause the depression.

Many Doctors wanted to put me on these depression pills (because of my chronic back and hip pain I deal with 24/7) but I declined, because I knew I had to just deal with the situation, face it and work through it. Still have to. It does suck being in pain all the time, but I do have pain meds which at least keep it to a minimum...