I am after advice/experience from others who had used anti depressants with anxious teenagers. I have a 14 yr old who sufferes terribly with anxiety. We are currently doing Headspace visits and Dr visits.
I am after advice/experience from others who had used anti depressants with anxious teenagers. I have a 14 yr old who sufferes terribly with anxiety. We are currently doing Headspace visits and Dr visits.
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10 Replies
Yes, my son used Lovan (fluoxetine). It was life changing for him. I really believe the combo of medication and therapy were key to his success. I wished I’d started him sooner.
I will be following your post too, my 16 year old just started anti depressants yesterday for anxiety. He had completely shut down, couldn't even check the mail box without making sure no one was on the street first. It is a necessary step for him to be able to make other steps to deal with his anxiety, make friends, go to school and take up a hobby/sport. Things most people get to take for granted, anxiety is a terrible thing.
Not yet teen but fluoxetine was the turning point for us.
Scary drugs to be giving to kids but sometimes it just needs to be done.
I was on Zoloft at 14. It helped a bit, but having regular appointments with the counsellor and having a supportive family is what was the major impact in a change for me. They’re not a miracle fix by any means but help take the edge off.
He won't be alone. The latest stars from 2015 are that 1 in 10 kids over the age of 6 are on antidepressants. Not adhd meds but antidepressants. And as someone in health, the psychiatrists and GPs I talk to say that they think it's much higher now.
That is American statistics. A mental health nurse suggested my 14 year old son go on antidepressants after he became suicidal and she gave me 2 doctors names that would be willing to prescribe him medication, in a city of about 40 to 50 doctors. The doctor we saw was very hesitant and ended up prescribing the lowest dose. So I don't think they are giving them out very easily.
I believe the stats are more like 1 in 8 suffer clinical levels of anxiety/deression and a much smaller percentage reeive the help and treatment they need.
Forget stats. Look at the childin front of you.
I work in health in Australia. It's Australian statistics.
Who cares what the stats are, yes it means they’re not alone but they’re just statistics!
That does not mean you know every statistic to do with health.