- Joined
- Mar 1, 2005
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So this morning I went to the doctor because I have had lots of problems with depression in the last few weeks. Unfortunately I don't have a family doctor so I had to go to the walk-in clinic.
So I see the doctor and try my best to explain to her what's going on (I'm ok most of the time, but once a day or once every two days I'll sink into a deep depression for a few hours.) Mind you she didn't have much time, so I had a good 10 minutes with her to explain my problems.
So she wrote me a prescription for anti-depressants and told me to come back in 3 weeks.
I couldn't really read the prescription so I didn't know what she had prescribed until after I bought it. Cost me a little over $30 after my medication insurance.
Now I just did some research online about the medication and it's meant to treat MAJOR depression, and usually used if other medications (from the Prozac family) fail. It is also known to increase the risk of suicide for those under 24 (I'm 29, so I should be safe, I guess) and can create withdrawal symptoms when stopped.
Not that bad except that... I don't have major depression. I can still function and I am ok most of the time. I have also never taken any anti-depressants before.
Ok, the medication can also apparently be used for anxiety and I have had anxiety in the past (not right now). But she didn't tell me that she wanted to treat my anxiety at the same time. She probably figured that I didn't need to know about that... I mean... I'm just the patient.
My biggest problem was that she didn't explain to me what she was prescribing and why. She just gave me the paper and that was it. She didn't mention the possibility of counseling either. Or maybe that's just a last recourse if medication fails.
Maybe I should have asked those things, but I didn't really have the time.
So now instead of feeling better, I feel helpless. I can't afford a psychologist (they start at around $50 per session) What I need to find is a doctor (or psychiatrist) who will listen to me.
I don't think I'll take the medications. At least not without a second opinion from a better doctor.
Now where on earth can I find a good doctor?
So I see the doctor and try my best to explain to her what's going on (I'm ok most of the time, but once a day or once every two days I'll sink into a deep depression for a few hours.) Mind you she didn't have much time, so I had a good 10 minutes with her to explain my problems.
So she wrote me a prescription for anti-depressants and told me to come back in 3 weeks.
I couldn't really read the prescription so I didn't know what she had prescribed until after I bought it. Cost me a little over $30 after my medication insurance.
Now I just did some research online about the medication and it's meant to treat MAJOR depression, and usually used if other medications (from the Prozac family) fail. It is also known to increase the risk of suicide for those under 24 (I'm 29, so I should be safe, I guess) and can create withdrawal symptoms when stopped.
Not that bad except that... I don't have major depression. I can still function and I am ok most of the time. I have also never taken any anti-depressants before.
Ok, the medication can also apparently be used for anxiety and I have had anxiety in the past (not right now). But she didn't tell me that she wanted to treat my anxiety at the same time. She probably figured that I didn't need to know about that... I mean... I'm just the patient.
My biggest problem was that she didn't explain to me what she was prescribing and why. She just gave me the paper and that was it. She didn't mention the possibility of counseling either. Or maybe that's just a last recourse if medication fails.
Maybe I should have asked those things, but I didn't really have the time.
So now instead of feeling better, I feel helpless. I can't afford a psychologist (they start at around $50 per session) What I need to find is a doctor (or psychiatrist) who will listen to me.
I don't think I'll take the medications. At least not without a second opinion from a better doctor.
Now where on earth can I find a good doctor?