I feel constantly depressed and worried and I feel I need medication.. what do I do?

Question

Probably just sounds stupid to most people. Please understand I've never taken anything in my life other than a tylanol and I've maybe gone to a doctor an entire 2-3 times and I'm 24 years old. I don't know what to do.. I am constantly paranoid and depressed and worried among other things and I know it can't be normal. I've turned to drinking alcohol for well over a year now and that has to stop. Please clue me in as to who I need to see and what to say b/c I've just never had to do anything like that before. I've definitly needed to though.

Answer 1

First of all, you don't sound stupid. You're realizing that the way you're feeling is not normal for you. You took a big step, and asked for advice. You are being smart!

I would recommend that you go to your family doctor. Tell him or her what you wrote about here. Ask for a referral to a Psychiatrist. Family physicians can give prescriptions for anti-depressants, but that is not their area of expertise. They might not know which medication to start you off with. Also, depending on what the Psychiatrist says, you may not need medication. You may just need therapy.

I have learned from personal experience that alcohol will not solve your problems. If anything, it will make them worse. Also, my doctor told me that alcohol causes anxiety. That explains alot. Before I took my depression/anxiety seriously, I would drink socially. One night I got really mad at someone for gossiping about me. In lieu of starting a fight, I got really drunk. I was so sick the next day that it through me into an anxiety attack. I almost went to the ER. I asked for my Bible and some Christian music to listen to, and that's the only thing that calmed me down. I never drank like that again! Since then, I've only had a drink here or there. My last one was champagne on New Year's Eve. Since then, I have decided that I do not need alcohol at all. I have felt so much better. So, if you can stop drinking, you will feel so much better...trust me.

I have a 360 page (link on my profile) for depression awareness. Stop by anytime you like.

Things will get better. The first step is going to see your doctor. God bless!

Answer 2

Well, first of all you are right drinking is not the answer to your problems. Second, depression , real depression is becoming more common but you are also right, you need to seek help. Professional help is one place to start. It can be as simple as seeing a therapist once or twice a month. But asking others, like you are now, is also very helpful.

Worry, is normal for people in their late teens and early to mid twenties. Your worry is most likely caused by your youth but it appears to be a factor of, and causing your depression. If I were you I would talk to your doctor and ask if he could prescribe an anti-depressant or an anxiety medication because your drinking can and most-likely will, cause your depression to deepen.

Also I would try an AA class. If you feel that your drinking needs to stop you should get help from talking to people whom are suffering the same things. AA is kinda like group therapy which I am attending after school so I know how it can help. Try AA. and remember God loves you. Take care.

Answer 3

You don't need to go on medication. Well not right away anyhow. Cognitive Behavoural Therapy has the exact same success rate for clinical depression that antidepressant medications have, but without the high relapse rate. You should see your doctor to rule out any possible physical problems that could be causing your symptoms and for a refferal to a good psychologist for CBT.

Oh and don't worry, CBT isn't that 'finding the route of the problem' crap.

Answer 4

More than 2 standard drinks/day will only act as a depressant, but you may experience withdrawal symptoms if you just stop "cold turkey", so I would restrict myself to 2/day, for a while, maybe 3 weeks, then start slowly tapering off over the next few weeks. Any problems: see http://www.alcohol-rehabilitation.org/ & http://stepchat.com/na.htm Depression & worry: Pages 2 & 6 at http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris for non - medication treatments.

Answer 5

OK first of all this happens to women. Really. It's ok. Go see your doc and tell him what is going on. I don't think you need a specialist. I suffer from depression and anxiety. My doc put me on Lexapro. It is a good drug. You still have all of your emotions, you just feel calmer and not so blue. There are some drugs out there that you can take where you don't have any emotion, hunger, sex drive, etc. I have had good luck with lexapro. Really.

So go talk to him and tell him what is going on. Mine started along time ago and finally I just had enuf of feeling YUCK. So I have been on Lexapro for bout 1.5 yrs now and I am doing great.

It is normal. Don't fell bad that you need help with your emotions. Women go thru this. Especially after you have had kids and you are completely overwhelmed. Even before kids there are triggers that can cause depression and depression can cause paranoia.

Answer 6

First stop is family doctor. Some family doctors prefer to refer you to psychiatrist to confirm the fam doc diagnosis of depression or anxiety or whatever, then you will also get sent to psychologist for therapy if your doctor is doing things proper and then weekly follow ups with family doctor for a period of time. Then just take your meds hopefully the first med is the one that works for you with minimal side affects and you will learn in therapy lots of useful interesting information...and then you will get on with your life in a much better way. Why suffer one more day? Do what you know you have to do and stop dragging it out. Pretty painless to get your life back and feel good.

Answer 7

If you are still living where you saw the doctor in the past, call his/her office and explain how depressed you are and how you need to see the doctor RIGHT away. The doctor has seen many other people like you and will treat you with respect. If you no longer have access to the doctor you saw in the past, pick any doctor from the phone book and again, explain to the person who answers the phone how depressed you are.

Good luck.

Answer 8

well you can get medication such as antidepressant .. the only thing is this well not elemnate the cause .. all your worries should be addressed in a professional and confediential manner .. i would say go see a phsycitrist tell him why do you feel this way .. am sure he/she can help .. depression and worry is not usually psycohological but might be due to underlying cause ..

go have ur blood checked, hormones checked, enzyme assay .. am sure ull doctor will let you know if there is any thing wrong ..

Answer 9

you can go to ur family doctor, or a mental health facility, most will give you a free consultation, I know it is not supid i suffer from depression myself and do not like to take meds. BUT once i started taking lexapro it has really helped, My husband doesn't belive in DEPRESSION but it is real getting out in the sunshine does help. even in the winter i go to the tanning bed. it usually takes anti-depressants 2-3 weeks to get into your system so don't give up after a couple of days. also i had to try several before they found the right one good luck!!

Answer 10

You don't sound stupid at all! I know what its like to feel worried all the time I use to worry so much I would make my self sick and get all upset over absolutely nothing at all! I have started using Lexapro it is great I feel so happy and i don't have that worried feeling anymore i just feel like i can do anything! I hope this helps you! and im sorry that you feel this way and it doesn't have to be this way!