What can I do about my depression?

Question

I have been depressed for more than 6 months. I don't know what to do about it. I can't afford to see a psychiatrist or a therapist. I don't want to leave the house and I miss doing the things I used to enjoy. It is really affecting me because I am in college. It is really hurting my grades. I don't see the point to my life at the moment. I can't go to my parents about it because they will not understand. I have already used up the mental health services available to me at my school. I feel like I want to hurt myself. I want to seek help outside of my school but I can't. I have insurance, but it is through my parents. I can't go see a doctor with out them finding out. What should I do?

Answer 1

It sounds like your depression is affecting you so much that you cannot afford to NOT get help for it. I would suggest approaching your parents about your concerns--many parents, once educated about this, are very supportive. Going through your insurance is going to be the most affordable way to get mental health services and also to be able to pay for medications, if needed. Also, you may seek out low fee therapists or psychiatrists, either through a public facility or possibly a teaching institution. Your school's counseling office may have a list of numbers of places you can go.

There are so many treatments out there for depression that are effective, tolerable, and safe. Why go through doing poorly in school and having that affect your future if there's a possibility that your life could be so much better?

Answer 2

Are you sure you have used up the services provided at your university?

Call the telephone operator and ask for a referral to a crisis center, who can talk with you over the phone and give you a referral to those resources available in your area. And you could call the local State or County Mental health center and ask for help, but if a minor you will need parental permission. Many of those mental health centers have crisis centers and you could just show up and let them know the extent and during of your depression.

If needed, call your family doctor and tell the doctor what is happening. The doctor can approach your parents if needed, make a referral to a psychiatrist or psychologist under your parents' insurance, and your family doctor can prescribe one of the many excellent medications for depression.

Your parents will understand. They love you. The hardest step is the first step which is to sit down with one or both of your parents and say, "I really need help because ........"

Answer 3

No matter how you look at your situation...it will cost money. I think you should talk to your parents and explain the situation. The longer you wait, the worst the problem will become and more expensive it will be to treat.

If you fail college; that will cost you a lot more money then a visit at the psychiatrist. The longer you wait, the sicker you will get, more medicine will be needed and it will be more expensive.

If you wait too much, you will loose quality of life for a long time, there is no amount of money that can replace that. Your parents may understand more then you think. Parents wants the best for their children. Don't keep them in the dark.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Stay as calm as possible and try not to think of the things that seem to be worrying you the most. Also join a group at yahoo or msn for people with depression, maybe that could help you.
Take care and talk to someone about your problems, keeping them all bottled up only leads to a nervous breakdown. They are not very nice, I can tell you from the experience I had from having one. I kept my worries all bottled up until one day I just broke down. The shaking and non stop crying wasn't any fun at all.
Take care.

Answer 5

i feel for ya cause i'm in the same boat. i have been going to the counseling center at my college too. after a couple of sessions they just referred me to a psychiatrist and they are super expensive, but my school has a 40% discount...anywho, i ended up just going to a family doc. and he put me on lexapro.
maybe you could do research and present it to your parents, showing %s of people with depressions and it's harm, etc.
but if you really really really feel like you can't tell your parents or go to the doctor...do your research, online, books, magazines...self help, until you are able to go another route.
take care.

Answer 6

Ellie I used to be depressive for more than 10 years , I stop my depression with ( Cymbalta) yes some times get little sad, but don't fall any more in a depression.

Answer 7

How are you sure your parents won't understand? They were your age once, do you think they never went though it? You maybe surprised by the encouragement you get from them.....
The other thing to do is exercise, it will be hard, but it will put focus back into your head.

Answer 8

See http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris on page 2.