[ILikeCereal]

Hello,
I've been suffering from depression from the past one and a half to two years but it has hugely elevated since the last 6 months. I'm in Grade 12 right now and my finals are next month. Due to my depression, I have barely been able to concentrate from the past one year. I have been an outstanding student in the past but my grades have dwindled from the past two years, mainly due to depression. I visited the doctor a couple of days ago. I know I should have gone there earlier but my parents did not see it as necessary. Only after my recent suicide attempt did they take me to a psychiatrist. Now, the psychiatrist has prescribed me with two antidepressants, Remeron (Mirtazapine) and Cymbalta (Duloxetine). I want some advice on a few things. I have three options in front of me and I'd like to know your opinions on which is the best way to go.
A) Should I study while on these meds and take the exams? Would the side-effects hinder me a lot?
B) Should I drop one year and take the exams next year so that I can take my meds and I'm in a better condition to study?
C) Or, should I take the meds after my exams, and give them next month and risk failing them?

Any advice is appreciated

[Rohag]

Hello & Welcome, ILikeCereal! (By the way, great name!)

Your personal safety comes first. If you need those meds to reduce the likelihood of a repeat suicide attempt, by all means start them immediately.

With your tests in one month, it is possible your meds will not have had enough time to build up in your system for you to experience their positive effects. Some people do experience an immediate lift from medications, but until you start taking them and tracking yourself you won't know.

I do not understand option B. Are you saying you have a realistic option to delay your tests until next year? Would delaying them be detrimental to you?

Please keep posting.

[ILikeCereal]

By taking them next year, I mean repeating the grade.
So yes, it would be detrimental in that effect.

[dazeofdolphins]

Personally, I would not delay the exams until next year since you don't know if the depression is going to get better, stay the same, or get worse. Delaying may only make things worse. I would not delay meds either as you need them now. Again, a delay could make life worse for you. So, it sounds like choice one is the best. Just do the best you can. Work with the depression and try not to fight it or make it go away since it could make things worse. Right now for whatever reason the depression us a part of you. Accept this piece about yourself and perhaps go into therapy after your exams to better understand it. Good luck and do your best as that is all any of us can really do

[BuggsBunny]

I agree with DazeofDolphins. Take the meds and take your exams. The worst that can happen is that you don't pass and have to repeat the year. The best that can happen is that you pass, and then won't have to repeat. Why put it off and repeat the year if you don't have to?

[Kymaro]

Some great advise here, I agree with all.

[moremi]

[QUOTE=ILikeCereal;2227630]Hello,
I've been suffering from depression from the past one and a half to two years but it has hugely elevated since the last 6 months. I'm in Grade 12 right now and my finals are next month. Due to my depression, I have barely been able to concentrate from the past one year. I have been an outstanding student in the past but my grades have dwindled from the past two years, mainly due to depression. I visited the doctor a couple of days ago. I know I should have gone there earlier but my parents did not see it as necessary. Only after my recent suicide attempt did they take me to a psychiatrist. Now, the psychiatrist has prescribed me with two antidepressants, Remeron (Mirtazapine) and Cymbalta (Duloxetine). I want some advice on a few things. I have three options in front of me and I'd like to know your opinions on which is the best way to go.
A) Should I study while on these meds and take the exams? Would the side-effects hinder me a lot?u
B) Should I drop one year and take the exams next year so that I can take my meds and I'm in a better condition to study?
C) Or, should I take the meds after my exams, and give them next month and risk failing them?


You definately need to do both. You may not even have any side effects at all. You may start to feel better in a couple of weeks and be at your best to study and test. Good luck to you.

[Consios]

Take your exams next year! Life comes first, everything else is secondary!