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Answers

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  kiwi33
  Healthshare Member

  My suggestion is to talk to either a psychiatrist of a GP who is experienced in working with clients who have mental health issues (the beyondblue Web site (http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?) has lists of such GPs).
  
  Matching the “right” anti-depressant to the “right” can take a while, especially as they usually take weeks-months to kick in fully. This is sometimes called “being on the medi-go-round” :-) .
  
  An experienced health professional should be able to use his/her clinical experience to prescribe one that will meet your needs.
  
  Good luck. Reply to this post  |  Report
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• anonymous
  Hi
  
  I would only be on medication if I start experiencing physical symptoms . Once you are at that stage you have no option but to be on medication . In terms of medication well i suggest make an appointment to see a GP to refer you to a pychiatrist , depending on the GP , you can choose the psychiatrist of your choice too .
  
  The sooner you start the better as if you leave it with the physical symptoms unfortunetly it will get worse so you would be better of with medication .
  
  The most important thing i believe from my experience is to have faith in god and god is the one that helps and guides a person . Do not rely and become attached to the psychiatrist .
  
  I hope this helps you and good luck in everything . Reply to this post  |  Report
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• • 

    elyseharvey
    Healthshare Member

    I just seem to think im always going to suffer like this in general. Ill never be able to change and i just feel so hopeless right now Reply to this post  |  Report
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• anonymous
  You do sound as if you are suffering from depression.
  You must go to see your doctor, he will properly diagnose you and put you on a course of medication. True, it can take a couple of weeks to kick in but it will work. Stick with it.
  Ask your doctor if he thinks you should have talking therapy as well.
  Do be totally honest about how bad you feel, the doctor cannot read your mind and there is no point being brave.
  You are very young and there is a whole new world waiting for you out there, once you feel better, and you will, you can start to enjoy all that life has to offer.
  Good luck Reply to this post  |  Report
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• 

  kiwi33
  Healthshare Member

  I would like to endorse what anonymous has said.
  
  There is *a lot* of good evidence which shows that a *combination* of anti-depressants and talk therapy (eg, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, though there are others) is more effective in helping people to recover from depression than either is in isolation.
  
  That has certainly been my experience.
  
  So, I suggest that you consult a psychiatrist or a GP with a track record in helping people with depression. They will be able to help you with meds and should also be able to give you a referral to a clinical psychologist.
  
  Clinical psychologists can not prescribe meds but they are health professionals with expertise in talk therapy.
  
  All the best. Reply to this post  |  Report
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• 

  beyondblue
  Health Consumer Organisation

  beyondblue is a national, independent, not-for-profit organisation working to address issues associated with depression, anxiety and related disorders in Australia. beyondblue is a bipartisan initiative ... View profile

  Both talking therapies and medications can be helpful. The best treatment for you will depend on factors such as your personal history and the severity of your depression. A good GP can assist with this, one who has specialist training in mental health is best. A good assessment is the key to getting on the right track.
  
  Many of the things you have tried may have limited effectiveness. As suggested, cognitive behavior therapy can be really effective and can be provided by a psychologist. You may benefit from medication too, but it's important to take the medication regularly so it has a chance to be effective.
  
  So I would start with finding a GP you feel comfortable to talk to. You can help the process by making a note of the symptoms you are experiencing.there are some good therapies online also (check out the beyondblue website) which offer free treatments on line. Some people really like this, for others, they prefer face to face.
  
  Don't suffer any longer. There is help out there, and altough it can take a while to work out what works best for you. You can also get more information from the beyondblue info line 1300 22 4636 and they will help you with information and finding local services. As you are young, headspace is also a great option for you, and they will be able to provide you with an assessment and recommend appropriate treatment.
  
  Best wishes,
  
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