I need advice. How can I tell my psychologist that therapy isn't helping me and I want to try anti-depressants? I know she cant give them to me, but surely she can give me a referral? if so, who will she refer me to? I just feel kind of like I'm letting her down, or maybe I'm just not trying hard enough. Still, I've done everything she's told me to, and I've been really open with her, but I'm only getting worse. Even if I can tell her, how do I tell my parents? I really don't think they will approve.
So, to summarize:
Has anyone else ever been in this situation?
Can GP's prescribe anti-depressants?
How do I tell/ask my psychologist/parents?
Any advice or words of support would be much appreciated, thanks!
When it is dark enough, you can see the stars. - Charles A. Beard
In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.
I think your best chance is to talk to your local doctor (GP) about it, from my experience they can either prescribe them to you, or they could refer you to a psychiatrist who can precribe you with medication.
You could ask/tell your psychologist (and your parents) that your mood isn't improving and you want to try a combination of therapy and medication, as that is often the way in which most doctors will treat depression anyway, to combat both the chemical imbalance and the behavioural/thoughts that you can control.
I hope it goes alright, I think I combination of two might be helpful for you, even if sometimes it does take a while for you to find the correct one or to see the benefits. I hope you're alright.
I feel I should point out that meds aren't always the be-all and end-all, and they're not necessarily the wonder cure you may be expecting. I'm not going to deny that they help a lot of people out, because I know it to be true, but I have to agree with Aimee, your best shot is going to be a combination of meds and some form of therapy (like CBT, for example).
Obviously there's nothing wrong with being on medication, and I'm not trying to dissuade you from trying to take them (by the way, your GP should be able to prescribe them, mine did), I just feel that you shouldn't expect them to magically cure you and make everything fine. I've only just started taking medication, and it's been the worst week of my life. Almost everything's triggered me, and it's only by virtue of not being left alone all week that I haven't been able to SH again... So, be careful, I guess...
"Though, the sick wished not to part with their disease,
As if it made them feel alive"
Don't disrespect my family... -jen- is my little jelly bean.
Thanks for all the good, rational advice.
I'll definitely ask my psychologist and my GP about meds. I don't want to stop therapy, I still think it will help me at some point. I feel like I just need to get to a place where i can see things clearly first.
Yeah, I'm in CBT now. What you said made me kind of question what I actually want. I guess I am kind of hoping it will be a "quick cure." However, by quick I don't mean instantaneous. Still, it does seem a bit like a last resort. I'm really scared that if they don't work, it will mean I am completely hopeless.
When it is dark enough, you can see the stars. - Charles A. Beard
In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.
I should warn u that not all GPs will prescribe ADs, esp if u r under 18, without referral 2 a psychiatrist. In the UK that is considered good practise but I don't know what the picture is elsewhere. Certainly when I was first diagnosed, aged 17, I went to see my GP and explained that the mental health worker had recommended I went and got medication, only to be told that even though another mental health professional had said I needed them, a psychiatric assessment was necessary before I could get anything.
I would also reiterate what has been said above. I have been on medication for nearly 2 years. I am about to start my 3rd course of tablets. It is not an instant cure and it may take a while to find the right type for you. I would strongly recommend only using them if you are continuing with therapy. The professionals I work with said the main thing that they can do is bring u "up" enough mood wise to be able to more productively use the therapy. It won't mean you are hopeless if they don't work. Some mental illnesses tend to have a more biological basis than others, and if it didn't work, it would simply suggest that your illness is more driven by psychogical factors than by organic inbalances and there are ways that those can be treated. You will get through it!
Have you thought about talking your concerns through with the psychologist? I mean like how you feel you are getting worse, how you are scared about what will happen if the medication doesn't work? They know your case so they might be able to help you deal with those issues.
If you really want them, if you talk to your doctor and your parents, they can usually take the steps to getting you what you need.
However, having said that, I took anti-depressants for a while and took myself off of them because they were not doing anything for me. Don't assume that once you start popping these pills that everything will be all better. Especially with younger people, (I'm not sure of your age) but it hsa the tendancy to have the reverse effect on teens. So you may want to be wary of that.
There may also be reasons why they aren't perscribing you the pills. Keep that in mind too. Best of luck with everything.
RIP Shannon. I want to wake up and drink from your river
I want to reach out and tear down the sky, to know I'm alive
I want to learn how to feel without bleeding
