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Other options?
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
When people go to their GP with symptoms of depression what other options for management are there other than ADs?
I've not known anyone go to the GP for depressive symptoms who hasn't come out with medication of some sort.
Does anyone have any experience of this? Today a 13 year old girl was placed on anti-depressants and it made me sad to think that there was no other way of managing her illness.
I've not known anyone go to the GP for depressive symptoms who hasn't come out with medication of some sort.
Does anyone have any experience of this? Today a 13 year old girl was placed on anti-depressants and it made me sad to think that there was no other way of managing her illness.
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My GP monitored me closely for a few months before putting me on ADs, then referred me to a therapy unit and took me off them asap. I suppose I was lucky.
But, yes, they can either keep seeing you themselves, refer you to a therapist, or do nothing. I think the former is the best way to manage it (i.e. keep someone stable), whilst the second is the only option for long-term solutions.
I suppose I know what the other options are - counselling, therapy, call it what you will... but I'm curious how many people refuse ADs and how many people are offered other options before the medication.
because of my age (16) they would not put me on ADs until i was 18, and before they had exhausted all other methods.
i ended up seeing an occupational therapist for a couple of years.
they only put me on ADs when i was 18, but even then they monitored me a lot more closely that they seem to these days.
how times have changed..
I don't think drugs are the answer, if you had a bad life, and I mean bad, and you can't cope, then yes, take what you need to survive for now, but otherwise doctors are prescription happy..
I still haven't seen a councillor to this day, even when I got arrested because they thought I was gonna set myself on fire in January, I got banned from driving but that was it :crazyeyes
The mental health services in Tyne & Wear really are quite good. At least in Sunderland they are.
Couldn't you have said no? You didn't have to take the prescription to the chemists if you didn't want to.
You can't say that, they do alot of people good. I was on them & i wouldn't have been able to start getting better without the help of them. They don't cure you but they help you cope whilst you seek other help.
Depression is a chemical imbalance, it doesnt just go away on its own.