No Pills?
 

Sorry if this sounds silly but have you actually been diagnosed with depression?

If you show signs of depression and she still does nothing then she is a complete utter fake

and for the Propanolo just makes you Frelling Sleeping as if you turned into a semi wake coma toast person

Is it because of your age?
It took me ages to be prescribed antidepressants, and then when i finally got them, they didnt work :/
Also i've noticed that doctors/mental health worker people hate it when you actually know things - what you need, whats wrong and so on.

I completely disagree with you, Renessme.

Just because a doctor doesn't prescribe pills to a depressed person, doesn't mean they are "a fake". And I take prorpanolol. It doesn't make me tired. And to my knowledge it doesn't generally turn people into a zombie like state either.

RhapsodyInBlue, how old are you? If you are under eighteen then it's most likely that the doctor wont give you medication until you are eighteen. Pretty much all psychiatric medications aren't licensed for use in under eighteens and doctors are very reluctant to prescribe them to teenagers.

If you are over eighteen, then have you been diagnosed with depression? Maybe your doctor thinks it can be managed without medication. Of course, if you disagree you are entitled to a second opinion from another doctor. Can you go back to ask your doctor why she wont prescribe them? Let her know how you're feeling.

I take propranolol for my anxiety. Did the doctor explain to you what it is and how it works? There's some more info on it here.

maybe she thinks you would be better of with a talking treatment
has she reffered you to some kind of councilling service or anything?

I didn't think that doctors would refuse you anti-depressants due to your age, I was 16 when I was put on anti-depressants
I guess it just depends on your doctor

maybe you could ask for a second opinion or I'm not sure if you could ask to be reffered to a CMHT but maybe thats a possibility ?

When I was under 16 I had to go to a different doctor as some doctors just don't have experience treating young people with depression. And when I did get anti-depressants prescribed by a G.P. they didn't really work very well anyway. If you are under 18 ask your normal doctor to be referred to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), as they are more knowledgable about what works and what doesn't.

If you think you need them just go to another doctor. You do NOT need to be diagnosed with anything to be prescribed anti-depressants. Some doctors are just ignorant about mental health and really don't understand it.

I completely agree with ControlFreak. Please listen to her and explore the ideas within it. I hope you get used to your medication. *hugs*

Well when I first started seeing doctors at 14/15 they didn't want to put me on medication, I kept asking and they refused at 16 too (because of my age) and finally got put on them at 17.

yea u dont need a diagnosis, i was prescribed antidepressants before i was diagnosed.... i was 17 at the time....

I was put on fluoxetine aged 15 =S

Thanks so much guys.

I'm 18.

She referred me to an adolescent therapist when I was 17, because my mum dragged me to see her about my SI. But the therapist claimed that I wasn't really depressed. It was just "low moods" and that my anxiety was the main problem.

But when I went to see the GP just there, she made me do a questionnaire, and then she was like, well, you're obviously depressed!!

I was a bit confused, because I hadn't even mentioned anxiety, and she perscribed me Propanolol. It's the lowest dosage as well, which probs won't help me.

For those of you who have used Propanolol, did you find it helped? What dosage are you on / did you have to start at the lowest dosage?

Natasha =)

What dose are you on? I'm on 20mg twice a day (so 40mg). It wont help with the anxiety thoughts, it will only help with the physical effects of anxiety.

I'm only on 10mg, three times a day.

Yeah. I'm hoping that it'll at least solve the physical side effects of anxiety.

*sigh*

Propanalol will help with the physiological aspects of anxiety. Maybe your Dr. believes that your depression is more caused by environmental factors that physiological factors and if this is the case then medication will not lessen the symptoms. Maybe give therapy a go?

I know it must be frustrating for you but sometimes pills just add to the problems, like side effects and the fact that it can take a long time to find one that works.
you are entitled to a second opinion tho so maybe thats the way to go

The whole age thing confuses me because I was put on Paxil when I was 13, then later on I was told by a different doctor that the previous one should have waitied until I was 18....maybe it just depends on what the doctor is comfortable with?