[linnzy298]

hey am new to this site i mainly joined cuz i got diagnosed with teen depression a few months ago....(although i've been suffering from depression since i was like 8)..i've tried everything i can to make myself feel better but nothing seems to work. my doctor thinks that i shud be put on meds but the thing is am real scared i dont know how the meds will affect me or if they will help please help am so confused i dont know what to do

[dailyhealing]

I don't know how old you are now, other than you are a teen... But I hear you saying you want to feel better. One thing you haven't tried that might work, and it has worked a loit for me, is listening to your doctor and trying to take the meds. It's no guarantee to solve all of your problems, and often therapy is needed also to treat depression, but it could help you. Depression is a brain disorder and often it is because our brains are not quite functioning right. The medication is made to help your brain work correctly, which can lead to you feeling better. Just my thoughts... I hope you are able to find some help and begin to feel better. Thanks for posting and I'm glad you are here.

[PurpleFlyingMonkeys]

I personally dont believe in meds for teens, unless youve exhausted all other options. But your pdoc is a trained professional and wouldnt be recommending it if they didnt feel you needed it. Are you in therapy? Being a teenager is really hard, i wouldnt go back to that time if someone paid me.

If your doctors are recommending you take medication, express your concerns and if you do get put on medication, ask questions, be informed of what you are getting and know the expectations, know the side effects, it makes it easier totake medications when you are informed.

Some good non medicated ways to help depression, clean, exercise, eat healthy, find a hobby you enjoy, part of curing depression is taking it into your own hands. Find things you can enjoy and make yourself do it. Stay in therapy and really listen to your t. It can help a great deal.

Again if you are concerned about medication, bring this up with your doctor, you have a right to voice your concerns

[Leed]

Hi ~ I know that taking meds in teens is dangerous, and you have to be very careful, but if your doctor thinks you need to be taking medication, perhaps you should. If you're that depressed that he wants you on meds, then trust him. BUT -- I want you to PROMISE that if you have ANY SIDE EFFECTS that you call him IMMEDIATELY!!! Some antidepressants cause suicidal thoughts in teenagers and if that happens, you MUST CALL YOUR DOCTOR. You cannot stop taking the medication abruptly cause that can cause SERIOUS problems!!! If you stop abruptly after you've been taking it for awhile, it can cause BIG problems - very serious ones! So never just quit taking it without talking to your doc so that he can wean you off it!

Call your doc and see about getting on the meds, but be sure you keep track of ANY side effects, ok? Promise!!! If you have any questions about it, just ask us -- and your doc will talk to you about it too. God bless and please take care. Hugs, Lee

[aelredmarie]

Dear linnzy298,

My son suffered a severe depression when he was 9 years old. Our doctor put him on meds for about six months. It really helped. He was able to get off of them and hasn't been on them since. He is now twenty two and has learned how to regulate his psychological problems by talking to friends and his divorced parents. Medications can be a godsend when they are needed. Be wise and follow Leed's advice. God bless.

[whimsygirl]

Originally Posted by linnzy298

hey am new to this site i mainly joined cuz i got diagnosed with teen depression a few months ago....(although i've been suffering from depression since i was like 8)..i've tried everything i can to make myself feel better but nothing seems to work. my doctor thinks that i shud be put on meds but the thing is am real scared i dont know how the meds will affect me or if they will help please help am so confused i dont know what to do

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.

[whimsygirl]

Originally Posted by linnzy298

hey am new to this site i mainly joined cuz i got diagnosed with teen depression a few months ago....(although i've been suffering from depression since i was like 8)..i've tried everything i can to make myself feel better but nothing seems to work. my doctor thinks that i shud be put on meds but the thing is am real scared i dont know how the meds will affect me or if they will help please help am so confused i dont know what to do

ps.....Do you talk to your parents about these things? Are you able to do that?