So many questions about dd’s mental health pls help

[lisalisa]

Dd is 16. She started feeling anxious last May and began counselling

What problems are you having specifically?

In general, only answer questions to someone you know can provide a useful answer.

Began counselling with a psychologist I’ll call B when the anxiety got worse in around July . I chose someone to counsel her privately who was recommended but not particularly highly and not by many people . It was more that my first choice had no space and recommended someone else etc . This person practicedfrom a Unit specialising mainly in eating disorders which dd didn’t have then. After about 8 weeks with this counsellor she started restricting food and anorexia developed . She’s now very unwell. The anxiety is bad and she asked the camhs psychiatrist to put her on anti anxiety meds. She has just been prescribed sertaline but after reading the leaflet on it I’m
Not sure . It says not to be taken by under 18s with depression ( which she has ). I’ve also heard the side effects are very bad and that initially you feel much worse .
I don’t want her to feel worse and am confused whether she should take these pills at all. I’m also dubious about B the psychologist ( not the psychiatrist who is amazing ). I can’t shift the feeling that dd went to her with a mild anxiety and Jeff to talk through school issues and has become anorexic suffering from panic and anxiety . Call it a mother’s instinct bug I feel N is bad for her and sometimes I feel that’s ridiculous

I feel B is bad for her not N ! There isn’t an N

Follow your gut. Ask the psychiatrist to recommendca different therapist. Took dd a few trues to get a right fit she really needed anti-ds thought psychiatrist was brilliant vis medication.

Which medication was she prescribed ?

There has been recent research that seems to suggest that antidepressants don't help children much but they do get side effects which can include feeling suicidal.
Follow your gut and change psychiatrist as this one seems to be doing more harm than good.

Definitely change psychiatrist. Often psychiatrists do say to expect things to get worse before they get better, but I had one who came highly reccommended, but made things 100x worse, swapped to someone different and started to get better immediately from the first session. I also saw another psychologist jointly with DH who was excellent. Finding the right fit of therapist makes all the difference.

Regarding the medication I would book to discuss it further with the CAMHS psychiatrist so they can explain the risks versus benefits. There's little research done on medications in children due to the ethics around clinical trials but they will be the best people to advise you.