Hi linnzy298.....I'm so sorry you're having a hard time in your life. Depression at an early age is more common than understood, and very often goes undiagnosed. It's good you're reaching out on this forum, but this is no replacement for the care of professionals (including your doctor). I don't know exactly how old you are, but you do sound very young (plus you say you are a teen). While I admire your efforts in "trying everything you can to make yourself feel better", depression is a serious illness, and honestly, is not something to be "self-treated". Yes there are things you can do for yourself to increase your odds of feeling better, but that should be in ADDITION to what your doctor prescribes and not INSTEAD of it. I'm trying to be gentle here, but I'm sorry it's just got be said.....you need to trust the person who knows the most about the treatment of depression (your doctor), and try the steps he suggest.....including the use of medication. And if you have any side effects that come up that make you worried....you can absolutely express these problems to your doc. No matter how much we in the forums may care....and we do, we are here for support and not as a substitute for caring professionals. And as to your worries about medications, of course you can not know in advance how they might affect you, or if they will help....but that's no reason not to give them a chance. Best of luck to you.