Depression....

[DizFan101]

This problem is Fixed.

 

[rie'smom]

Get the anti depressants anyway. You're 23 and don't need your parent's permission. Go to your family doctor, explain the situation. He/she can prescribe generic medications that cost much less.

 

[splash5]

I'm no expert, but I have dealt with depression too. I think that you need to go to the therapist and tell them what your feelings are - if they don't understand, then find another therapist. It is important to go to someone you feel comfortable with. Maybe you do need medication, a good counselor should help you with that and should also help to convince your parents if they think you need it.

On the physical front, have you tried changing the way you eat or exercising? This can do wonders for self esteem. You have to like yourself before others can like you. Good luck and don't give up, the answer is out there!

 

[DizFan101]

i don't do alot on my own because of the current stuff going on.
i'm 23 years old been places where people don't want to be and have a lawsuit going on at the moment that has been going on for 2-3 years so far.

Plus i'm on my parents insurance and they will see if they have to pay for something they don't know of and of course don't approve of. .

 

[Angelhalo]

Get the anti depressants anyway. You're 23 and don't need your parent's permission. Go to your family doctor, explain the situation. He/she can prescribe generic medications that cost much less.

I agree. If you have insurance, even if you are still covered by your parents, you can make yourself an appointment with any doctor of your choosing within your network. If you don't feel comfortable talking to your family doctor, then choose another doctor! You absolutely MUST go speak with someone if you want things to ever get better.

Believe me, I am overweight and I have LOTS of friends. What your mom told you is cruel! It's tru that being overweight CAN make a person have issues with depression, but I'd be willing to bet that it is NOT your only issue or you'd never see anything but depressed overweight people.

PLEASE, go speak to someone and get yourself some help!

 

[Angelhalo]

i don't do alot on my own because of the current stuff going on.
i'm 23 years old been places where people don't want to be and have a lawsuit going on at the moment that has been going on for 2-3 years so far.

Plus i'm on my parents insurance and they will see if they have to pay for something they don't know of and of course don't approve of. .

At 23 years old you need to stand up for yourself. It doesn't matter whether they approve of it or not. It's YOUR life and you need to protect it and make it better. There are also places that you can go to speak with people for free. There are free clinics, there are churches. You have to take charge of your life. If your parents aren't willing to help you, then you have to help yourself!

Trust me. I have been through depression. Sitting around wallowing in self pity, only makes it worse. You MUST get help in order for things to change.

 

[waltsgirl]

Get help immediately. No one should walk around feeling like the world would be a better place without them. We all have a purpose it just takes some people longer to realize what theirs is.

Depression is an illness and medication is needed sometimes, just like medication might be needed if you had kidney illness or something else.

It is hard to stand up to anyone, especially parents, but you have to take control of your life, regardless of who is paying for insurance.

 

[Nomi]

anyway, i have been dperessed for a long time.
can't go on anti-depressents because my parents don't believe in them.
I have read if you leave depression just go on its own it can become worse.
I have no friends. Literally no friends here just online friends which can count in some. But my mom says it's because i'm over weight. I have seen many people like me, over weight and have tons of friends. Is my mom right?
i'm 23 years old, no friends, never had a bf.... I'm depressed and many times i think life would be better for every one if i wasn't around. I see a psycologist every other week but i don't really like telling my personal problems because i have seen a therapist when i was in high school and she pratically laughed at me, all the time.

I have tried 5-HTP but it doesn't work. i am in a good mood all morning but then get in a rut in the afternoon because it wears off. I can't take thepill in the day time because it makes me tired.

I am in a very similar boat to you. I'm 20, quite overweight, in between colleges with my high school friends out of provider or out of the country. Never had a BF either, currently ay home with my parents and with a diagnosis of clinical depression. But I have been taking antidepressants for a couple years now, and they really have helped. Have they fixed everything? Not even close. But it helped me get to the point where I could get out of bed, regain my short term memory and logistical skills.

It sounds like your mother is being quite cruel to you, honestly. Being overweight does not have any bearing on how many friends you have, or if you can have a love life. That is just ridiculous! Does that mean a large percentage of people in the world don't have friends?

Regardless of your parents position on antidepressants, you are an adult and ultimately have the say on what prescriptions you can take. If you are having any thoughts of suicide, no matter how small or fantasy like they seem to you at the time, you need to tell someone in real life about it. If you are not comfortable with your current psychologist, is there any way you can find/transfer to another one?

Your therapist in high school, if she did laugh at you, was not very good at her job and not a reflection on therapists as a whole. Perhaps she had trouble telling the melodrama of normal teenage life from a real, serious disease.

I have no experience with 5-HTP, so I have no pratical advice to offer there. I'll have to go look it up.

 

[Teacher03]

No advice, just a . I hope things get better for you soon.

 

[Keli]

I think you need to be open and honest with your therapist. You're expecting them to help you but you aren't telling exactly what is going on. No one could really help unless they see what your issues truly are and give you an accurate diagnosis.
I can't imagine a therapist laughing at a client. If you had one in high school that did that then I can assure you that is not common AT ALL. You need to open up to your therapist and let them help you work through your issues.
Medication can be very helpful when dealing with depression. I realize your parents don't believe in taking medication for depression but at 23 you don't have to ask them their permission. Would they stop covering you with their insurance if you persued it anyway?
If medication is not doable for you at this time I still encourage you to be honest with your therapist and create a treatment plan that will help lessen your depression even it you still deal with it on some level.

 

[rentayenta]

Often, therapy coupled with medications is the most effective form of treament for depression. Many therapists will see clients on a sliding fee scale (based on income or lack thereof). As far as meds, see your doc, get a script, and the fill it online. No insurance needed. You can also check into your local county mental health agency. Legally they cannot refuse you services especially if you are having thoughts of suicide.

 

[Mermaid02]

You are an adult and even though you are on your parents insurance, they have no right to your medical information (meaning, your doctor can not inform them of what meds you are on, or what you talk to him about). They might get an insurance statement saying you were seen, but not what for.

You're not alone, many folks suffer from depression, there is help and hope. Your weight might be a symptom of your depression- it is NOT the reason you don't have friends. Once you feel better about things I bet you'll find folks you have things in common with and who want to hang out with you!

Hang in there!

 

[CleoPahd]

It's always easier said than done, but you really need to put yourself first and take care of yourself regardless of what your parents think. It's important to seek help, depression can be a very dangerous illness. There are hippa regulations that will prevent your parents from knowing anything about your medical information. I don't think they will be able to find out what, if any, medications you are taking so long as you pay the co-pay on your own. I have never had prescriptions show up on any insurance paperwork. Doctor's visits are another story...those will show up on insurance statements, but they are aware you are already seeing someone anyway.

If you don't feel comfortable with the therapist you have, find someone that you do feel comfortable with. Don't think back to that high school counselor too much. I know there are plenty of great school counselors out there, but having worked in a school for years now I know there are plenty of not so great ones too. Don't give up on yourself. You've got your whole life ahead of you. Perhaps once you start to feel better about yourself you will be more likely to get involved in things outside the home and you will meet new people. Making friends is difficult, I'm terribly shy myself so I can relate. It's espcially difficult when you are feeling so depressed, and I'm sure not having any friends to vent to makes you more depressed...you're in a catch 22.

 

[rie'smom]

OP, see your doctor and have them test yourthryoid with a total T3 and T4 not just a regular thyroid blood test. I was hypothyroid and once I got on Armour thyroid, I dropped weight and my depression went away. It's a round about way of getting an anti depressant medication.

 

[Hollywoodhaha]

First of all .. I can relate.

Anti-depressants DO work, so try to stand up for yourself. Stay strong. Do NOT listen to your mom.


Being over-weight has NOTHING to do with you not having friends. Do not listen to your mother. That is practically emotional abuse.

 

[HelenePA]

If you dont want your mom to find out why your going to the dr can you make something up to get there? like an earache and talk to the dr alone? I hope your feeling better soon.

 

[disneychick0412]

I just had to chime in here! I'm so sorry that you are feeling this way!
I have anxiety, and as far as medication goes, Walmart has a generic list,
and the insurance is not billed. I get 3 months worth for $10.
I don't know if there is a Walmart near you or if this is an option for you, but
the medication that I am on has helped me. Of course it doesn't solve all the problems, but it does help.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Talk to your counselor about getting you a psychiatrist. I am sure the counselor will have some recommendations.

You can also get meds thru your primary doctor.

You also need to open up to your counselor. If the counselor is not a match for you can find someone different.

You are going to have to take charge of your situation to get better. I suggest trying to be honest with the counselor and see where it goes from there.

 

[DizFan101]

Thank you all for your help. Sometimes It is easier said then done though, especially in my family.

I am currently on 5-HTP. I just started taking it since last tuesday. it helped a little like get my thoughts together since they were all over the place and worried about stuff.

my mom thinks she is right about everything.
"Study says peopel who are over weight are shuned by the public." blah-de-dah. I think she was just making this crap up.

Anyway, sometimes my mom makes the perfect sense but not all the time.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Thank you all for your help. Sometimes It is easier said then done though, especially in my family.

I am currently on 5-HTP. I just started taking it since last tuesday. it helped a little like get my thoughts together since they were all over the place and worried about stuff.

my mom thinks she is right about everything.
"Study says peopel who are over weight are shuned by the public." blah-de-dah. I think she was just making this crap up.

Anyway, sometimes my mom makes the perfect sense but not all the time.

What if your mom is mentally ill, in denial, or afraid of you getting better?
She could be "codependent" on you being "sick" as well. It can give someone a sense of superiority to be "better than you are".

There is usually a reason that a parent does not want to get their child to better. Those reasons are normally not good reasons.

Think about that and talk things over with your counselor.