Should I go on medication?

[John_jb1]

I posted this on the Teen Depression forum, but no-one replied to me on there, so I thought I'd put it on here instead.

But anyways...

I was diagnosed with Manic Depression a few years ago, and I refused tablets, because my dad is on prozac, and my mum said I wouldn't need them.
But a few years go on, nothings changed, I feel I'm my same lonely self. Maybe I'm just feeling VERY sorry for myself, maybe I'm too self centered, maybe there's actually a problem. I don't know...

I used to have counselling in my past school, but I've dropped out due to me not caring about anything. So now I have practically no life, I sit at home, I don't do anything.
So now I've been looking into taking tablets, and I'm not liking the sound of this AT ALL. All these side effects, stories of them making you worse, addiction etc etc.

Last time I went to the doctors, they basically said, "You have counselling already... You don't want tablets... There's nothing we can do."

So should I go on tablets? I don't want side effects, I don't want addiction, I just want something better then 7 beers a night.

Thank you for your time,

- John -

[Hensley258]

I think it's safe to say that none of us on this forum wish to take medication either, but we do simply because the torment of our depression is much worse than the side effects of the meds were taking.

In my case I will suffer ANY side effect not to be tormented by my severe depression and anxiety. I guess the choice to take meds for this condition kind of depends on just how much of a limiting factor your depression is upon your life and ability to fuction and be productive.

I won't lie to you and say that meds are the answer to everything, nor will I tell you that they don't have side effects because they always do.

In my case my biggest complaint regarding antidepressants and mood stabilizers isn't the side effects while taking them, but rather that in some cases over long periods a particular medication can sometimes stop working. Then you have to change it for another to find one that gives you a teraputic effect again.

It's these med changes that are the worst part because people often feel very sick during med changes.

Try not to think of these types of medications as "addictive." They are in a way because if you don't take them you feel like **** but it's not the kind of addiction that an Opiate or Benzo addict would experience. The addiction is not physical in nature like that of Opiate based pain killers or illigal drugs such as heroin or cocaine.

[mammo]

You do need to take medication, and should take it.  Depression makes you not want to do anything, things that you would enjoy are of no interest when you're depressed.  Depression also makes one feel lonely.  It's great that we now have medications that will allow us to live full, and happy lives, and counseling alone is usually not enough.  When my son died, my other son refused to take medication feeling he could work thru it.  He found he couldn't and has been on medication for several years, and is happy he made the decision.  You say you don't want addiction?  What do you think 7 beers a night is?  The side effects of anti-depressants are so minimal, and there are so many that they can find one that is perfect for you.  Some things are bigger than all of us, and we need help.  I've lost so many people in my life, and would not be here to write to you if not for the medications.  You have to want to help yourself, and this is why you got that response from your doctor.  YOU have a choice, please don't make it living your life in the bottom of a beer.  There is where you will find true addiction, along with more problems than you could ever imagine!  Not with the meds.  I've been on an anti-depressant for almost 30 years, and would have had no life without them.  You are self-medicating with alcohol, becoming an alcoholic, and the problem comes when you sober up and your life is still lousy!  So, then you drink more to get past this feeling, and so on until it is non-stop.  With medication, you will always be on an even keel, no ups and downs, or sobering up.  I'm sure you want to have a full, fun life as you should.  Decide right now, that you and only you can make this happen, and vow to do so.  If taking a pill every day makes your life better, so what?  Listen to your doctor, take the meds and start living life, and enjoying the life you've been given.  Don't compare yourself to others and their experiences, this is you!  I hope to hear back that you are doing this and that your life has improved immensely.  Best of luck.

[ILADVOCATE]

First of all medication is treatment so don't think of as something addictive. Its the same as treatment for any other condition. Best not to go by your parent's judgment if they are discouraging treatment. We couldn't say whether you need medication or not but people who are diagnosed with depression or bipolar almost always do but only a psychiatrist can provide a diagnosis so you could ask for a referral to one. You can find out more information on medication in the meantime so you can understand how it could help. Google "depression central" and talk that over with any provider you see.