I was always shy and had underdeveloped social skills because my mother did not allow friends over or allow me to my friends. I never was able to communicate well with my peers. When I was 17 I saw a television add for a condition called social anxiety disorder. A few of the advertised symptoms it treated grabbed my attention and I decided that I had them. I told my doctor I had the disorder and listed a few symptoms I saw on TV. She never asked me questions to determine if had real anxiety symptoms. She handed over samples and I took them home without knowledge of the medication or side effects. I was happy there was medicine to cure magically make me social. I was prescribed paxil without depression or anxiety. I read the short term side effects on the pamphlet. The long term effects were not discussed with me. Over time was legitimately depressed and had a new doctor. She told me I was probably on two low of a dose and raised it. I was told to keep taking the med even if I felt better. I never did feel better and the answer was I needed more and more. The possibility of not taking the drug was never considered. I rationalized that if I am so depressed while on the med I will feel even worse if I stopped taking it. I spent years feeling too depressed to go to school, engage in hobbies or leave the house. I missed out on the excitement that becoming a new adult brings. Instead of feeling more independent and finding my place in the world I felt helpless. The happy but shy 17 year old that wanted to get out and taste the world was hopeless and could only function enough to care for her biological needs by 22. In my opinion my doctor was irresponsible and should never have given me psychiatric medications based on my self diagnosis. She should have questioned me about my symptoms and informed me about alternative therapies or workshops. Medications should be prescribed as a last resort not because patients believe they have the latest mood disorder or condition marketed to them. Medication advertising shares equal blame with my doctor as far as I am concerned, anyone can relate to the symptoms paxil promised to treat. I did and since it had a label and a cure it created a sense of urgency that I needed the medication. I was just wondering if anyone else out there has had a similar experience with self diagnosis after seeing a medication advertised.