Teenage Depression and School?

[chlxeh]

Hi,
I don’t know if this is the right thread, but I really need some help.
My DD has been suffering with depression - went to the GP, but all they did was say they couldn’t prescribe her antidepressants because she was under 18 so she would have to go through CAMHS.
She’s recently just finished a course of therapy for her anxiety in CAMHS, so we’re not too sure who to turn to.
Anyway, back to the actual point, due to her depression, she’s absolutely dreading going back to school. She hardly left her bed/the house this summer and it’s giving her panic attacks just thinking about having to go back to school.
Any advice please? She’s going into y11
Thanks

Can you get her seen by a psychiatrist? What does your GP say?

How were things left by CAMHS? I hope your DD wasn't discharged? Medication would need to be from a psychiatrist but either way it sounds like your DD needs more support.
I would also contact her school before term starts. I don't know how high schools work (my dd is nearly 14 but hasn't been able to attend school for 4 years)
Did your DD have school support last year?
I wish you well. Sometimes you need to be very very persistent. It is very difficult

I know healthcare is done differently here but our family Dr prescribed an antidepressant that also helps with anxiety for my now 15 yr old daughter.This started at 14 and she's almost 16.She's changed meds 1 time and on a dosage that is working, plus counseling.
I think this is a lot scarier than a broken bone etc because there is no bandage to put on depression.
And we are fixers!But we can't fix this on our own.

Do all of the Dr's not prescribe antidepressants to minors under 18?
Can she see a psychiatrist?

Oh and phone your local CCG and find out who the CAMHS lead is. Also everything in writing or followed up in writing so they can't deny things have happened.

Psychiatrists have to prescribe things like antidepressants for under 18s. My dd has been on a number of different medications. They are not a magic wand but can help.

Thanks all. We’ve never thought about seeing a psychiatrist, we’ll definitely look into that. All the GP said was to get her medication through CAMHS and that’s all they said. Her school didn’t do much support last year. Her attendance was very low due to it, and all they did was for us to keep getting letters from the EWO saying that we could get fined if she keeps having days off. Her attendance was around 80%.
She’s due to start group therapy for her anxiety, she did a course of 1 to 1 counselling, and the therapist and her both agreed they could change it to group sessions because she was getting better, but we haven’t had any contact from CAMHS since, so we’ve got no support.
We’re just worried about how bad she’ll get this year, especially with school

My daughter's been going through this - she's 2 yrs older but sounds v similar. We've tried medication and counselling but my daughter hated both...my advice is never under estimate the difference you can make as her mum by getting as close to her as you can so that she feels less alone in her despair. I personally find this absolutely terrifying - my daughter has been actively suicidal at times - but i can see it does make a real.difference and over time i can see some amazing changes in her - not saying these are down to me! Just that our relationship has really helped her find her way through. I think the most important thing - which i find the hardest - is staying calm in the face of her darkest feelings and holding onto the idea she can and will get through this. I know when I'm able to do this she quite often feels brighter quite quickly
Sorry if all this seems obvious, it's just that for me the urge to summon professional help was so strong i almost didnt realise the importance of love and simple looking after.

I agree with everything that rebel has said. Love & support mean everything over and above any psychologist.

Has she disclosed why she's so anxious about going back to school? There must be a trigger. Does she have social media accounts? Any issues with bullying?

Does she have a friend she can go in to school with?

If her anxiety is severe I'd keep her off until you get a chance to have a strategy meeting with her School.

I would think measures should be put in place to help her attend school in the best way for her.

chlxeh - could you think about home schooling her, maybe something like interhigh? This might help to alleviate some of her anxiety but also allow her to continue with her studies at a pace that she can cope with.

I don't have much to add the advice you have already been given but I would suggest you also do some research into support groups for yourself. Helping your dd will be draining at times and having any sort of network that understands will be vital. I wish you, your dd and all other parents and children going through this all the best.

Thank you all, yeah, we’re just at a loss about what to do when school comes around. We’re coping at the moment, because it’s the summer. Thank you for all your suggestions (:

I was just wondering how you are getting on now that School is back? We are currently going through this with our daughter, she’s 15, it’s just terrible. She made it to school the first day and it was a fairly positive start since then she has only managed to go to school for one morning and most of that was spent sat in with the school nurse. The past few days we’ve not even managed to make it to school, sitting on the bed room floor vomiting and shaking is as far as we’ve made it. She’s not being bullied and can’t give a reason other than, i hate it. Yet when we’ve said we’ll happily move her to another school she doesn’t want that either. I have managed to get an emergency appointment with a psychiatrist which is in thursday. Until then I am to give her a very low dose of Valium every night at bed time and then he will prescribe something more long term when he sees her on thursday.

Asking for advice for 13 year old daughter and diabetes what symptom did they get etc

@smithie1 you might have done better to do a separate post but in answer to your question, being very tired, using the loo a lot, drinking a lot, losing or not gaining weight. Also recurrent thrush, skin infections, wounds that won't heal. At a life threatening stage, smelling of pear drops/nail varnish, difficulty breathing, vomiting, coma. Do you have any specific concerns about your daughter?

Has anyone used 5htp for a 13 year old suffering with depression and panic attacks?

POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) is often misdiagnosed as anxiety/panic attacks. Have a look at the POTS UK website for more information.

Thank you