Depressed teenager?

[RebeccaLydiaIS]

My daughter is 15 (year 11) and claims she's depressed and is asking for anti-depressants. I have no idea what to do as it seems we have run out of options with her. We (DH and I) have tried to tiptoe around her, take her out, buy her things, she now goes running as well but nothing seems to be working. She is also completely off with her food and extremely self-conscious, which she never used to be. I'm scared to take her to the doctor incase, selfishly, he/she thinks we are being bad parents but she just seems out of sync with the world and her old happy self. Help and advice desperately needed please!? Have any of you delt with something similar?

[HeartOfDixie]

Hello. Sorry to be harsh but please take her to the doctors. This is not about you, it's about her. I don't know if she is depressed but the doctors will.

[vicster44]

Any doctor worth their salt should not judge you. I don't know for sure but its highly unlikely they will give her anti depressants without trying to get to the root of the problem first - probably suggest counselling initially. But I agree you must go to the doctors.

[mermaidbutmytailfelloff]

Please take her to the doctors. They CAN help and really won't judge. If you want to chat please pm me....been there, wardrobe full of tshirts

[RebeccaLydiaIS]

I also forgot to mention both out families have a history with depression and she refuses to go to any sort of counselling

[CollieEyeOfNewt]

The going runn

[CollieEyeOfNewt]

The going running and being off her food sounds like an attempt at changing her body shape. Is she being bullied?
How long has she been depressed? Is it possibly seasonal?

[RebeccaLydiaIS]

She had horrendous periods which resulted in her being on the pill for around two years and coming off it in July of this year, she came off it hoping that it was the pill causing her to be/feel like this but no luck. It could have been the pill that triggered it. She is not being bullied, she has a lovely and large friendship group.

[VoterColonelSebastianDoyle]

Buying her things will not help i know your trying to make her feel better. I suffered from adolescent depression aged 13 to 16 and its the worst 3 years of my life. I suffered from awful thoughts about family and also had ocd. Please take your daughter to the doctors. I hope she starts to feel better soon. If you need any more advice please feel free to message me and i can tell you a bit more about my story.

[purplepenguin86]

I hear some alarm bells when you say she is off her food and has started running. Does she appear to have lose weight? Do take her to the doctors - if she is saying she is depressed, then she may well be. However, warn her that she is unlikely to be prescribed medication in the first instance, and that anti depressants aren't 'happy pills'. There is a general perception that if you take anti depressants everything will be great and you'll be happy etc, and they just don't work like that at all, and she would be likely to be referred to CAMHS rather than being prescribed anything anyway. Do listen to her though - she is saying this to you for a reason.

[LongTimeLurking]

FFS get a grip and take her to your GP. Your first priority should be her health & well being. If you are seriously implying that you care about what the GP thinks of you as a parent more than getting help for your DD then quite frankly you deserve to be judged harshly!

She is asking for help by asking for medications and the eating and running sound like a potential issue too, the GP can offer your DD anything from a friendly & confidential chat, to medications or referrals to mental health experts.

She may not like the idea of counselling but there are other therapy options too.... CBT for example is a type of talking therapy but it isn't what most people would consider counselling.

[Wendy3232]

Hi
I would take your daughter to the Doctors. They will not judge you but want to help. You will welcome the support and advice believe me.

I am at the moment having alot of worry with my 14 year old son who has depression but also a phobia with the wind. This came out of nowhere and alarmed all the family. I had to take him to the Doctor as he is manic with fear whenever it becomes even slightly breezy outside. He is under CAMHS now and has medication to help him calm down but it is early days. He gets very anxious still and is having CBT therapy but at the moment it is not helping much. He used to be so happy and lively and it is heartbreaking to see him so anxious.
Has anyone ever had a teenager with a phobia like this?

[motherof3kids]

My advice to you is take your daughter to the Doctor..I took my was then 15 year old last year following signs of depression. We took her to see a psychiatrist for assessment following which she had CBT therapy which for her didn't help. My daugter has been self harming for years on and off which was due to her so called friends bullying her. Before she was assessed she became withdrawn, always tearful and had even written suicide notes. My husband and I were devastated she comes from what I would call, a loving and stable family home. She has now been diagnosed with clincal depression or mood disorder as they called it. We as parents were reluctant to go down the medication route as anti depressants can have all sorts of unwanted effects however, we tried everything and felt we had no other option...that was 2 months ago and I am so happy to report that I have my daughter back, for her the medication route was the right way to go...it's different for everyone. I do agree you must seek proper advice and medication alone is NOT enough...it covers the cracks but the route of the problem still needs to be addressed. My daughter sees her psychiatrist every few months and this will continue for as long as we need it. We are fortunate to have private health care but you can be seen on the NHS...my doctor adviced me that even if you have private health care pick a councillor or psychiatrist that is NHS registered as well as private. Talk to your GP they should beable to point you in the right direction....
Don't be ashamed, you'll get through it...as the psychiatrist pointed out to us, you wouldn't refuse crutches to a person with a broken leg..just because you can't see depression it doesn't mean it's not there!
Good luck

[MuchBrighterNow]

You obviously care enough about your Dd to want to help her. Any Gp will see that you are caring parents because you have taken your Dd into see them.

The fact that your Dd has asked for help is a good sign , she recognises her problems and has asked for support. I think taking her to see the Gp could help her and ease your worries, or at least help clarify what you are dealing with.

I avoided medication with my Ds and now he self medicates himself with drugs and would refuse point blank to see a gp.

[motherof3kids]

I just wanted to add one thing that may help any of you out their that are dealing with anyone including teenagers who are depressed...
I was given 2 fantastic books, one is for the person who is suffering depression to read, called 'I had a black dog' by Matthew Johnsone. The other (by the same author) is for the person having to care for the person with depression called
'Living with a black dog'. They are both very straight forward no nonsense books which we found helpful for both parties.
We just left the 'I had a black dog' book on my daughters bed, made no fuss but found her reading it...