Depression and anxiety in teens

[Tarrarra]

Having started Alevels, ds has become even more anxious and withdrawn than ever. He's on the autistic spectrum but high functioning. His secondary school were incredibly supportive but without that support he is really floundering. He can't speak to people as he gets so anxious and says things to me like he can't see a future, which is heartbreaking. I phoned Cahms but they basically said there's nothing they can do, he should speak to someone at college before they'll even consider a referral . He saw the counsellor at college today and she rang me to say that she thinks he is in a bad way and needs to see the GP asap and that we need to look at meds. I've spoken to him and he just wants to not feel so low and wants to go on medication. We have a good relationship and he does talk to me.

I've booked a gp appointment and will discuss with him and them. I really just wanted to know if anyone had been through something similar with their teen? Has anyone got any experience of their teens on anti depressants or anti anxiety meds?

Sorry for the long post! It's been a long few months..

[heartofgold]

signposted from your kind reply to me x

my teen is 15 and too young for antidepressant meds. but my dp (her dad) is counting down the days as we've been together for 25 years - on and off medication - and the medication certainly does something to help keep things close to balanced.

has he started at a new 6th form college? does he know anyone from high school? does he have any kind of external peergroup from a hobby or online?

[heartofgold]

btw i started ad-s at 18 - i've been on and off meds for the intervening 25+ years. personally, i've never suffered more than "it doesn't work" from anti-depressant medications.

[Tarrarra]

Thanks for replying. Yes it's a new college so all overwhelming and new. He doesn't have many friends. We will see what the GP says I guess.

[choirmumoftwo]

You could be describing my DS at the same age, although he's never been diagnosed as autistic. Struggled with anxiety in social situations especially and had lots of superficial relationships but no good friends. Managed to get through it with some counselling at the time but had a relapse earlier this year (now 19) and was put on citalopram and enrolled himself in talking therapies. Now doing well on fluoxetine so I do think there's a role for medication but not on it's own. Good luck to you and your DS.

[Tarrarra]

Thank you for replying Choirmumoftwo, it's good to hear of someone who has been through it.

[kikashi]

How are you getting on OP? I'm in the same position with my son. He is missing quite a few lessons at present is really low and physically totally exhausted, he is sleeping at the moment after getting up but not managing to get to his lesson as he started crying which is new for him. I've emailed his tutor a few times , she hasn't replied but has spoken to DS but just in quite generic , we have lots of support in the college type of way.

GP wasn't helpful. Leave it a few months and then he'll review. My son looks dreadful, no energy, red eyes, he has facial eczema which was under control and is now back with a vengeance which is not helping. He has started having ocular/silent migraines and often says he feels hot and unwell. Added into the mix his uni sister has brought home a bad cold which he has and now has a bit of a chest cough.

He seems to be ill most often for double maths which he used to love. I think the prescribed way they want work presented and the sheer volume of exercises/homework is an issue. He has said he doesn't like the teacher. It's a big storm of crap to unpick. It's so worrying. He has been saying nothing is fun anymore, it's supposed to be a nice time in your life and it's s**t. He also has no friends. No one dislikes him and lots of people say hello to him but he has never really had friends.

It's so worrying

[Tarrarra]

We're seeing the GP tomorrow. Every day is like treading on eggshells and it's very up and down. I am fearing for his safety note and how the GP can help. Has your son been offered counselling at college? It is worrying, I spend most days feeling anxious these days....

[pasanda]

Good luck with the gp tmrw. My ds was prescribed ad's at aged 14 after self harm and ultimately an overdose. It had to be px by a psychiatrist though, as he was under 16. Gp couldn't do it.

It worked wonders for him. On it 9 months in total.

[Inniu]

Kikashi is your DS getting any treatment? Either talking therapy or medication or is the GP just hoping the problem will disappear?

[Tarrarra]

We've been to the GP this morning and he's been prescribed a low dose of antidepressants. We'll see how it goes. She's also told us about some talking therapies at the local uni, so will phone them and see about that as well. All in all it feels a bit more positive, and a step in the right direction. Fingers crossed.

[kikashi]

Glad there has been progress Tarrarra. We are going back to the GP again if I can get an appointment. For the next 2 weeks there are only book on the day appointments avaiable that you have to phone in for at 8.30am and hope your call gets answered.

My son can hardly stand with exhaustion despite lots of sleep and says life is just a drudge and no fun anymore. He is still missing classes and then is extra anxious about going in having missed one and embarrassed by the dreadful eczema on his face (seeing the derm at half term). He is desperately doing homework in between sleeping and resting his eyes at all hours of the day. He looks awful and is not himself and still crying a lot.

I don't expect any miracle cure but am worried and need some action. I have emailed his tutor again to ask her to suggest College counselling to Ds.

[Tarrarra]

Oh Kikashi, that doesn't sound good at all. I really hope you get an appointment soon and also that college can offer counselling x

[stillherestilltrying]

Wish you all the best moving forward from here... it’s awful and totally overwhelming to see our DC’s struggle with these sorts of issues.
You are not alone in this, I came on here tonight after my 14yo DD had yet another massive panic attack tonight which actually resulted in her fainting 3 times! It’s so scary... she has been living with acute anxiety for over a year now and has recently been diagnosed with depression too. From my understanding, the two often come hand in hand. She has been in CBT for 3 months now and tbh there doesn’t seem to be any improvement so now CAMHS psychiatrist wants us to consider medication. This absolutely terrifies me considering her tender age and all the conflicting research out there on the topic of teens and this type of medication.
I don’t have any more answers than you or anyone else on this thread going through this but, i suppose there is a comfort and support in knowing that you’re not the only family going through this and being able to share our experiences with one another, hence I decided to add this reply. I’m sorry I can’t be of more help though.
Thank you for sharing your story too... x

[chaplin1409]

I was so pleased to see this thread, not pleased that others are suffering but that we are not alone. My daughter is 17 and is really suffering at the moment and I don't know how to handle it at all. She is 2nd year a levels, always been a hard working but over the last 6 months she is so up and down, she has managed to lose all her friends at school. She used to love playing a musical instrument and spent a lot of time doing this with school and cadets but has stopped completely. She does still go to school but it's hard work getting her out. She just wants to sleep or watch tv and has no energy for anything. I'm lost as what to do?