How depressed should you be before taking anti-depressants, how much can they help? Any quick way to get them?

Question

I've been a sad kid my whole life and ever since I hit high school, I've dealt with depression in secrecy. My parents think I'm sad but they think its just a 'teen phase' and that I'm just a f*cked up kid. And since theyre traditional East Indians, they wouldnt understand any of this. How do anti-depressants treat depression, when should you take them, and is there any quick, secret way to get them? I'm only 16. I dont want to make a big mess out of this and want to keep it secret.

Answer 1

there is no quick way for your problems to be solve.
get to a doctor and ask for help

Answer 2

Cognitive Therapy works much much better than anti-depresants, and it has no Negative, unhealthy side effects as Anti-depressants drugs do.

Talk to a Cognitive Therapist. Many Psychologists use cognitve therapy, sometimes called cognitive behavior therapy, both are very effective. One must only learn how to practice this for themselves, antidepresants once started, must be taken the rest of a persons life and are Quite expensive.
And after one begins taking those meds, they are given a negative "label" they have to live with the rest of there lives. It is aweful, especially for teens.

Do a search on Cognitive Therapy on your computer as well.

Answer 3

Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses around.

Everyone goes through "feeling depressed" from time to time, in response to crappy things happening in their life etc. It is recognised as the illness "Depression" if you go through longer periods where you don't feel better.

There are 3 different "types" of people with Depression.

Some have a single period of Depression, where they can take medication, reduce thier dose after several months and can live relatively Depression-free for the rest of their lives.

Some people have Depression periodically... they have a period of Depression, take medication, get better, get off the meds, and then have another period... sometimes months or years down the track, requiring further treatment.

Some people have ongoing Depression where they will probably require medication for the rest of their lives.

Depression is caused by an imbalance of chemicals in the brain - the natural "happy drugs" your brain produces are not being made naturally in the right amount.

Medications are a lot better with fewer side effects than ever before. However, it is also a good idea to treat yourself in non-medical ways as well... eg looking at managing stress levels in your life, having good supportive friends, eating well, excercising, seeing a counsellor, etc. You may also wish to discuss with your doctor alternative therapies such as naturaopathy and homeopathy if that is what you are into.

Depression can also be caused by other types of health problems, such as underactive Thyroid (the part of the body responsible for metabolism) or Anaemia (not enough active red blood cells in the body).

Mental illness is very much mis-understood and stigmatised by lot of people in the community, with people seeing it a source of shame etc. A lot of people don't understand that similarly to if you are sick in the lungs or leg etc, having mental illness also requires medical monitoring and treatment.

In most Western countries (including Australia, England and most states of the US), your parents do not need to know about your going to see a doctor as long as your doctor deems you are old enough to be responsible to make medical decisions... the law understands that well-meaning parents can prevent young people getting the right medical services they need.

If you are in Australia, you can apply to Medicare to get your own medicare card (no cost), so you won't even have to borrow your parents card. Getting a Health Care Card (for cheaper medicines) is a harder if your parents earn too much money. Either way it would be good to see a different doctor from your family, because while doctors are supposed to keep all information confidential, the risk of your parents finding out is even less if they don't know the doctor.

If in doubt, check out your local Youth Service, Community Health Centre or your school counsellor for more information.

You can also check out websites such as Beyond Blue for more information about Depression. Kids Help Line offers free counselling to young people all around Australia, either by their toll free phone number 1800 55 1800 as well as web counselling via their site.

Good luck!

Answer 4

If you have been depressed for a long time, you really need to get some help from your Dr. If you have a family Dr, I suggest you talk to him/her about your depression.There is no secret, safe way to get antidepressants,as they have to be prescribed by a Dr who knows the correct type & dosage to give you. Don't hide this and don't be ashamed...this is nothing to be ashamed of. Depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain...it doesn't mean you are crazy or anything like that. I really feel like you should discuss your feelings with your parents & make them aware of how it's affecting your everyday life. If you feel like you can't, then at least talk to your family Dr about it. Don't try to deal with this alone & don't be afraid to get help. Hang in there & good luck.

Answer 5

never take drugs it only makes the pharmaceutical companies rich.
If you get depressed, do what i do. I ask my self did I have a stroke or heart attack today or get in a bad accident or did any of my loved ones fall to such a state. then go further and say to my self why should I be depressed. I do not live in Iraq or Darfur or some third world country where they have no food or water.
Snap out of it. I really do not have a reason to be complaining about my life. good luck. be happy. after all it really is just a choice. I know because i can get very depressed at times. almost to suicide. but then my rational mind kicks in and i come back to reality.

Answer 6

provided that there is no longer something you could bodily do to help your melancholy. all and sundry is depressed for a reason and it is your physique's way of attempting to place it good by skill of taking anti depressants your in basic terms numbing the soreness. i think of the final way is to combat the melancholy head on stay solid and handle the undertaking until your in a difficulty the place issues are extra desirable. sturdy success x

Answer 7

Ok--legit depression--you cannot just "snap" out of it. There is no on/off switch.

I think you need to talk to your parents and most importantly a doctor. You may also need a someone to talk to as in therapy. I wish I had done this at your age--maybe I wouldn't be in the situations I'm in.

Don't wait--take care of it--take care of you.

Answer 8

man u should not be sad u have to think possitive ignore what ppl say about u. i now if i let things get to my head i would be commiting suicide (dont do taht) hang out with frineds dont take those drugs they just ill u slowly in the inside. drugs dont calm u down u calm urself down by doing what u think is fun with some one u love or like to hang out with. PEACE.