So every single pdoc you’ve ever seen has done this?

Do you think maybe you were underreporting your depressive symptoms? I know I sometimes don’t do a good job of explaining how bad things are, or the doctor doesn’t understand. I know that sometimes on here you’ve said you were suicidal, but that you didnt always tell your pdoc. Or that you fake your smiles during group. So maybe they don’t think you’re as bad as you feel because they can’t see it.

If a doctor doesn’t seem to help you with your depressive symptoms, tell them that you’ve been to the hospital for depression before and that you would like to avoid going back there by nipping the depression in the bud. Stress how much you dislike going to the hospital.

At the same time, you have to remember that doctors can only do so much to help with symptoms if you don’t want to take what they prescribe you. Most of it is in your control. You don’t have to take anything you don’t want to, but if you ask for help with something, there isn’t much they can do besides prescribe something and maybe briefly talk to you about your feelings. If you are having problems coping with symptoms, then therapy can be very useful, but you have to be as open as possible for it to work. You are your own best advocate.