Okay, depression.?

Question

Sorry, yet another question about depression, but I've read through some others and they don't answer my q.

I've been seeing a counsellor for the last year, and he reckons I have depression. I've never been to my GP to have it "officially" diagnosed, because as my counsellor said, I would either be referred to therapy or given anti-depressants.

So, I've been trying to work with it in therapy and it's really not helping. I've tried going to other counsellors/phsycologists and that's made no difference either. I'm constantly sitting around doing nothing, not eating and not sleeping. Just left school where I did no work during the year, and a lot of my personal relationships are suffering. I know that this is not good for me, but as the therapy does not seem to be working, are anti-depressants the only answer??

Do they make you more able to get up and do things etc?? Don't have a lot of emotions at the moment, so that side of the tablets dosen't bother me.

Anyone similar??

I am going to see my Dr and talk to him about it, I just wondered what people's own personal experiences and opinions were. Also, I'm 17, so there is a slight chance I won't get perscribed anything anyway, but I will get a referral letter from my counsellor. Thanks to anyone who answers.

Answer 1

Hi there,

i too suffer from depression and have seen counsellors (still am) and have seen other professionals. Sometimes i think it takes the anti-depressants to help you think abit better and logically. As my doctor says, remember they are not happy pills, they are to treat depression and bring you back to some kind of normal state, not a permanenly happy one which many people falsely believe. sometimes because of depression it is hard to see or think clearly about things tht are troubling us or we cant express ourselves right due to that all so horrible 'numb' feeling, and the anti-depressant can help, alongside the counselling. If you have been suffering your gp will probably perscribe you anti-depressants, esp as this seeems to have been going on a while and you have tried other forms of treatment. People younger than yourself have been perscribed them. I was suffering at your age and wish i had gotten help sooner as i am now 20 and only involved professionals when i was 19.
I think you have tried other methods and sound like a really intellegent young woman and it is possible that anti-depressants may work for you. i am glad you are going to see your doctor to talk things through though. At the moment i am still trying to find an anti-depressants that works for me, it can be a bit of a trial and error situation but i hope you find some way, whether it be through drugs, therapy etc to help feel better because depression is so hard to suffer with, especially at a young age, as i have experienced too
best of luck
xxxx

Answer 2

i suffer from depression and always sit around home doing nothing. the days i feel up to it i go out and cycle and my depression lifts. if you do things you dont have time to think . get real sleep 8 hours , and find an activity that keeps your brain active. i will never take anti-depressants as i feel ,even though i have had it for 15 years, that when i get off my **** the cloud goes away for a while

Answer 3

What most often works is a combination of talk therapy and medication.

Don't waste any more time. Find a counselor that will get you on that road.

If you're like most depressed people, you will find it works.

Answer 4

Like you said, it feels like therapy/counselling is not working for you so think your right to be looking into anti depressents. Talk about it with your doctor. Tell him all your anxieties and worries about taking anti depressents. Say that you've tried therapy. He might suggest an anti depressent in the hope that it will enable you to open up more and therapy will be more successful after being on tablets for a few months. I'm taking anti depressents and they didn't work at first but increasing the dose i have seen an improvement. I guess you gotta look at it as it being a possible answer and another route to try. I had no side affects from my tabs so there's no harm in trying. Just keep the communication open between you and the doctor. All the best.

Answer 5

I commend you for trying therapy first but sometimes yes it can only be cured by medication, but not always. There are times when a person may have a chemical imbalance which causes the depression, from which I have. Other times it could be another medical problem you are not aware of, example, thyroid problems. Your GP will usually start with a basic physical and some blood work. There are a lot of good books out there, so my advice is do some research and talk to your doctor. I got depression for dummies book & workbook, which has a lot of good info. Best of luck.

Answer 6

I have used antidepressants and they have been very successful. They work best if you are in counseling and using the medication.

However, two cautions:
1. Your age. Some antidepressants have increased suicidal thinking in teens. So your doctor needs to know the medications and monitor their use carefully.
2. If possible, have a psychiatrist prescribe your medication. Some doctors make excellent recommendations about antidepressants and follow up properly. But I have seen some weird prescriptions. Also give them 2-4 weeks. They don't work instantly - they need to build up in your blood. Likewise you should never stop them without the guidance of your doctor. They need to be stopped gradually.

Good luck.

Pastor John

Addendum: I was reading what you wrote again. If you have been in counseling for a year and have seen no improvement, you might want to consider a different counselor. You said that you have tried some others but keep trying. The key to a good counselor is that they have experience dealing with depression in teens (for you) and that you like them. You should see some improvement after several months.

Answer 7

anti-depressants do work to some extent, but you really have to do the donkey work to get yourself motivated to do things, take up a hobby that you wouldnt normally, i do dog walking and it, along with the anti-depressants are helping loads!

Answer 8

A lot of people are terrified at the thought of using anti depressants, but they really do work. Many people use them including drs, teachers etc.... In my experience they minimise the gloom that follows you. When you first start with them you can feel really euphoric and kinda high, this goes but if they work for you the darkness doesnt come back. SRIs, serotonin reuptake inhibitors (such as Prozac) are very effective because they regulate the good feelings which you get when serotonin is released into the brain, this means that you feel happier most of the time, rather than happy occasionally and **** the rest of the time.

Your dr wont give you something that will make your life worse. Anti Ds arnt permanent but they might help you through this bad time. Good Luck!!

Answer 9

I've been there your lost and confused councillors are all well and good but they don't have the Degree what matters life experience. I'm not the world's greatest advocate of Anti Depressants but I feel that counselling alone is not helping you and most GP's would recommend a course of both as they work together. I feel maybe your councilor is trying to get browny point's for himself instead of the good of you. I have been and still am on Anti Depressants and believe me when you are lost and confused they can really help you out , please talk to your GP about how you feel and they will show you the way as they are impartial :)

Answer 10

Sorry your not too good at the moment...
Im very similar to you!...
Ive also just left school and have been spending my time just lazing around...I cant sleep...eat...concentrate!...
Im afraid that my exams have suffered due to this but i cant do anything about that now!...
Im also seeing a counsellor which at the moment doesnt seem to be working and its the 3rd one ive had in probably about 6 years...
I went to the dr hoping to be prescribed something but yeah like you said the age thing makes it hard!!
I think that anti-depressants are probably your best bet at the moment along with counselling they say sometimes you need both to make it work!...
Well all the best i hope it works out for you...
Feel free to email me if u want to chat...
Take care x

Answer 11

i suffered with depression over a year ago now and I tried counselling as well as fluoexetine 120mg. i have now reduced my dose as I feel as I am getting better. Its not a bad thing been on medication.
The tablets made me feel numb for a couple of months and i was really unemotional. My boyfriend has stuck by me and has helped me a hell of a lot. Its been over a year now and I feel much better. it takes time.
The best advice I can give you is go to your GP explain how you are feeling tell him the therapy isn't working and you would like to try an alternative. If you need someone to talk to through it please feel free to email me, It may be better talking to some one you don't know but I've been through it. I know how you feel.

Take care xxx