To refused medication for DD

[Imustbemad00]

I’m just looking for advice of people with experience of similar situations and how things turned out. Without being rude, it’s a difficult time so please keep unwanted opinions to yourself.

My DD is suffering with mental health issues. She was referred to CAMHS over a year ago but due to the school cocking up the referral, she wasn’t actually on a waiting list. Finally got seen by CAMHS in a hospital in the summer, and it’s taken until now to actually start treatment.

She is severely depressed, anxious and has self harmed.
She was on a waitin list for cbt as they felt this was best. I called recently to see how long it would be and was told there was still a wait but there was another treatment option that was available ASAP.
I told them they needed to make the decision, as professionals, as to what treatment best meets her needs.

So she started the new treatment, which is more based around relationships and depression and I’m not 100% convinced it’s the best treatment.

On the first session, the (very senior) psychologist mentioned the possibility of medication.

Third session and the lady has said they want a doctor present next session to maybe start medication. This has been discussed with my daughter with no mention to me. I’m awaiting a phone call.

My issue is, shouldn’t they try all possible treatment for a period long enough for it to have an effect, before offering medication to a young girl.

Of course, I just want her to feel better, any which way, but I’m very apprehensive about medication. I admit I don’t know a lot about it but it scares me.

Why have we waited this long, to feel like we are just being fobbed off with medication on the third session.

I am a teacher and have several students on medication in parallel with therapy. They wouldn't have coped with therapy alone and/or the process would have been too lengthy without some immediate supoort from meds. Perhaps your DD's doctors think she is too high a risk to herself in the short term. I am so sorry you are dealing with this.

Ah well, good to know that all DD needs to do is go for a brisk walk each day and all will be peachy

@Aridane
🙄 Clearly that’s not what they meant. They meant continue with the therapy seeing as she’s only had 3 sessions. Look at lifestyle, so diet and sleep and take up some cardiovascular exercise. It’s proven that exercise is good for mental health. They said what that would do to her brain (I guess chemicals and hormones it releases) is basically the same as what medication could do but without the risks and side effects. They said she is borderline on the age they would give medication too and only as a Last resort. Sounds like quite a good plan to me.

I hope she improves soon, OP.

The psych's advice does seem overly basic but they're the qualified one not us, sooo...

You said earlier what happens after 12 works of talking therapy. Have you sat down with them to ask all of your questions? It might be worth writing yourself a list, even if the conversation had to be on the phone not in person.

As you will know, our Mental Health provision is insufficient to say the least on the NHS. If it were me I'd want to be finding out now if there are private practitioners she could go to after 12 weeks, if that would help her, and obviously if you can afford it. Have a talk to Mind and any other mental health charities too, to find out what support there is for both you as well as her xxx

If she was asthmatic would you try fresh air and meditation first? No.

If she had horrendous eczema that required steroids due to its severity and pain would you ignore a dermatologist and just try baby oil? No

Honestly, it sounds like you have an issue in this because it is a mental health issue.

I have what's put down on the GP system as "serious mental illness" (bipolar disorder). I've needed and benefited from medications, some with serious side effects. I know that sometimes medications are needed. I am not anti-medication. I do not think brisk walks will fix depression.

However. For teens I am extremely wary about antidepressants. When therapy is being offered, and there's a parent there to help encourage getting out and exercise, I feel it's very much worth trying those first. Medication is not a cure-all. The number of people who are helped by an antidepressant is actually quite a low percentage, and that's before you take the placebo effect into account — in reality, it's a tiny minority of people who gain real benefit. Many people will need to try several before they find one that works. And they can have bad side effects, not least of which are serious psychiatric symptoms on top of those you were taking them for. These seem to be particularly common in teenagers.

I think OP's DD's doctors have the right idea.

So I can relate to the situation a bit and maybe it will help, who knows. I think given she is 13, whilst exercise ISN'T the answer, it might help somewhat, along with the therapy, CBT, etc.
When I was a patient in CAMHS at 14 I was put on fluoxetine (prozac) and didn't really have any say in it. I'm 28 now and I have been on citalopram since I was about 17/18. I think it helps me now, and having tried to come off it several times, I am coming to terms with looking at my depression like a thyroid problem, it's just one of those things I need. Whilst I think my parents made the best decision they could - they were desperate for an easy fix, and medication was that. I did not have a say in this at all. I was not really consulted or asked what I wanted, I was not involved in the care plan etc.... Now, I feel like this was the wrong decision made, I don't think I honestly needed the medication at that point, I think I need support, counselling, therapy, absolutely.
Anyway, what I'm trying to say is involve your daughter in the decisions as much as possible, try and support her even if she's a nightmare (I know I was but I no idea how else to cope) - and hopefully things will start to ease for her. However as other people said, if you try this for some time and there's no improvement in her mood or there are serious concerns for her safety, it sounds like your daughters docs will support with medication - which is no bad thing - doesn't mean she's failed at therapy (and try and let her know that!).

Anyway, hope this helps.

They said what that would do to her brain (I guess chemicals and hormones it releases) is basically the same as what medication could do but without the risks and side effects.

A mental health professional said this? Well fuck me sideways.

@ItsLikeRainOnYourWeddingDay
But comparing depression to asthma is like chalk and cheese.
Those things NEED medication. Depression doesn’t, not always, and not for children unless other avenues have been explored.
I’m not ignoring professionals but I’m questioning them, andnwith good reason if you read some of the replies on here. It’s not the same for everybody.
Anyway, if you read my update you’ll see the psychiatrist has said no to meds anyway, because of her age.

@Barrenfieldoffucks. Near enough word for word that’s what she said, butnwothout the chemicals and hormones bit. That was just my understanding.
Also people keep saying brisk walk. No, she said proper exercise that gets your heart pumping. It releases endorphins.

@HowManyFlatCaps that’s my worry and also what the psychologist said.

These medications are not meant for teenagers. Their hormones are fluctuating a lot anyway so it’s unpredictable. That’s why they said at 15/16 maybe, but not 13. Not yet anyway, only as a last resort. I’m glad they’ve said that as i was worried they was looking for a quick fix.

@cattreatsanddragrace my daughter is really against medication.
Do you think if you hadn’t been put on medication as a teenager, you’d still be on it now? As in, itnwould of happened eventually. Or do you think it could of turned out differently if you’d gone down the therapy route?