Happy pills, im depressed?

Question

Ive been really depressed for over a year now. Im sick of the feeling. If i go to the doctors and ask for anti-depressants,will they just prescribe them to me or do i have to prove that i should have them or sumthing?

Answer 1

the doctor should ask you a bunch of questions before going ahead and putting you on them.

you have to be very honest and open about your problem. how long it's been going on, how exactly is it affecting your life.

if you just feel sad, but are capable of doing all the things you normally would, then no a good doctor will not prescribe meds.

depression has to be interferring with your life somehow. some dr's maybe reluctant to prescribe, and will try other means, like lifestyle changes, diet, exercise, more sleep. you may have to try those first ,and if they don't work, then you will probably get prescribed meds.

some ppl find group therapy helps. talkin things out. this might be offerred to you as well.

good luck.

Answer 2

If you are medically depressed medication will help a lot. It's a chemical imbalance in your brain, your brain needs to learn to make serotonin again which is what gives you the 'good vibes'. Anti Depressants like SSRI's (Selective Seratonin Re Uptake Inhibitors) do the job. It can be a process to find the right medication that works for you, though. In my case, the first one I was put on worked after a couple of weeks.

I was also worried about the same thing. All you need to do it tell the doctor how you have been feeling and for how long this low mood has persisted for. The doctor usually asks a whole lot of questions like if you had suicidal thoughts or wanted to harm yourself, if you feel anxious at all, what your social life is like, if you have difficulty concentrating, work, etc... and then determine where to go from there. Don't be scared - go to a good doctor and you will get the help you need. If you don't, go to another one until you get the right help.

Answer 3

We live in a very stressful society that can cause us to be saddened and unable to cope with day to day problems. As a result sometimes our serotonin goes haywire where one needs medication temporarily to get the balance back on key. If there is a more serious mental condition that is not allowing a person to function normally then medication is necessary. Hopefully your MD will recommend a complete evaluation by a psychiatrist to see if you really need the medication. Too many general practitioners give handouts which are unnecessary. Talk therapy is the best way to deal with depression and then it will be determined if there is an underlying condition which can be helped by meds. A good therapist to talk with may be all you need to find out what is causing your depression. I hope you feel better soon.

Answer 4

The doctor will hopefully ask you some questions to make sure that the diagnosis fits your symptoms. After all, it would be inappropriate of the doctor to prescribe medicine for you without giving you an examination. I think it's great that you are seeking treatment and I wish you a better future.

Answer 5

Louise,

I'm really sorry you're feeling like this. I wold recommend going to a counsellor to talk about how you feel.
Often, people's depression is triggered by negative (and unrealistic) thinking patterns and by things that have happened in the past.

A good counsellor can give you tips on how to be combat negative feelings and help you set up realistic thinking patterns for yourself as well as giving you tips how to deal with feeling depressed.

Lack of sleep exacerbates depression and feeling down and good sleeping habits are important. Many people do not know how to 'sleep properly' and have bad sleeping problems which makes you feel worse.
There are heaps of sites on the internet which talk about how important sleep is and how to get into good sleeping habits.
A heathy, moderate diet and exercise are also important not just for your body but for your brain too.

Also, you need to look at your life and figure out of you can change anything about your situation that might be causing your depression.

While antidepressants are ok for some people and ok for a short time, I don't know if they are your best answer. The side effects can often add and worsen your depression! Many people on antidepressions often feel like unfeeling lumps and feel they felt better before taking them.
IF you really do think antidepressants are needed, then talk to your doctor and tell them everything however I would NEVER recommend going on them unless your doing counselling as well.

Depression is an illness that is sparked by a great number of combinations and you need a holistic appraoch to healing depression. Pills alone won't help you. You may need a complete lifestyle change and you may need to look into your past and deal with past hurts and regrets.

I wish you well and I want you to know you're not alone. I hope you can find happiness and deal with this. Things sometimes get worse before they get better but it is worth fighting.

By the way, Louise, I do NOT believe depression is something you will battle on and off all your life. I went on Prozac for a short while seeing a counsellor. The prozac gave me the chemical strength I needed for a short but it was the counselling that saved my life. The tips and techniques I were given to change my life have controlled by depression for over 10 years now. I stil feel down sometimes but I know now how NOT to let feeling down spiral into depression.

Please, just do not look at a 'quick fix' and realise you will need to put some hard work in that can often be emotionally draining and exhausting.

Good luck!

Answer 6

Some good answers here already. If you go on anti-depressants, don't get hooked on them. Try some of the natural solutions mentioned above. Also, join some special interest groups...the company of other people sometimes helps.

Answer 7

Your doctor will set you up a pshyc evaluation with someone he knows, if you need to be seen by someone for a evaluation.Most times the doctor can prescribe something with out seeing someone else first.You will still need to fill out a questioneer and answer a lot of personal questions. Good luck to you being depressed really bites.

Answer 8

Oh dear......

Yep, the Doctor (if he's a good one) will ask you a whole bunch of dumb questions and make suggestions regarding how you should overcome your depression.

I took anti-depressants a few years ago but found that they were useless. Eventually, I made whatever necessary changes that had to be made in my life, to relieve me of my depressed feelings.

We all have the power to overcome emotional feelings without medication if we really want to do it. I won't say it was easy, but I hate having to rely on a pill to control my brain. It's about the only organ I have left in my body that can work by itself (without medication)

GOOD LUCK!!!!!! (you can do it if YOU want)

Answer 9

If you are one of the many for whom antidepressants don't work, long term, keep the following in mind: See depression treatments, at ezy-build *(below) in section 2, and consult a doctor, to eliminate thyroid problems, etc. as possible contributing factors: also seek a referral to a therapist using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy. It is your decision, and yours alone, as to whether to take any antidepressants offered, but, before you do, read section 1, and check medications out at www.drugs.com so you will be on the lookout for side effects, like sexual dysfunction. My strong recommendation, however, is to follow the advice of my doctor, his associate, and also Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP, and Dr. Mercola, as well, at http://www.mercola.com and avoid antidepressants (pages 2V, and 2Z refer, & antidepressant websites: page 2). The reasons why we all share the same view on this are explained in full, as you will find, if you read the whole section. All of their advice, (except prayer, because many people are not religious) I have incorporated into the "core treatments", including others as options, such as herbal remedies, Inositol, or SAMe. If you are diagnosed with clinical (major) depression, antidepressants may be necessary for a while, which will give the treatments time to become effective. The antidepressants themselves need at least several days, or even many weeks to become effective. It's a good idea to taper off them slowly, with medical advice, after several months, say, to a couple of years, at most, because they are only effective in the long term for about 30% of people. Because of this, you would be well advised to begin the treatments immediately, and maintain them. I'd just thank your mental health care provider, and pocket the prescription, trying the treatments for a few months, to see if they are sufficient for you, before considering filling it (unless clinically depressed, and having great difficulty functioning, or suicidal, in which case I'd take them). If the amount of daylight you have been exposed to recently has reduced, perhaps due to the change of seasons, see Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.) in section 2, at * http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris and, instead of taking 4 Omega 3 fish oil supplements, daily; replace 2 of them with cod liver oil supplements for the winter months only! (or, as probably a better alternative to the 2 cod liver oil supplements: 1 teaspoonful of cod liver oil, with a little butter, to ensure its use; I take mine on sourdough rye bread, or toast, covered with fishpaste, and pepper, to mask the strong taste). Consider having your doctor test your vitamin D levels.

Answer 10

they most likely will prescribe for you, you might consider some therapy, too. A year is a significant amount of time. Continuing to do nothing won't help, As I disbelievingly saw a guy jump from a highway overpass today, I implore you to get help, now...