PatternReview.com online sewing community
Join our community of 579,272 sewists!
SIGNUP Membership is free and includes 1 free lesson
Login |
Join our community of 579,272 sewists!
Signup | Login
To participate in the PatternReview.com forums please Login or Join PatternReview
Member since 8/24/02
Posts: 6374
Body Type:
Send Message
Posted on: 11/27/09 6:56 PM ET
My 13 year old son has just been diagnosed with depression. We are waiting for an appointment with a psychiatrist.

The doctor has prescribed sleeping pills, so he can hopefully get a good night's sleep over the weekend. Blood work has been done, poor kids is terrified of needles, and we may be looking at antidepressants next week.

He will not be going back to school until he is back on an even keel. Either dh or I will stay with him during the day. We own our own business, so we do not have to worry about being docked for taking time off.

I have been in touch with the school, he had a breakdown there on Wednesday and tey agree he needs to start the healing process before he goes back.
------
Living life to the fullest.

Who knew being a Granny was the best thing ever?
  
Member since 7/23/07
Posts: 7276
Send Message
Posted on: 11/27/09 7:01 PM ET
In reply to Michelle T
Oh Michelle! Poor kiddo and poor mom.

I don't know a lot about depression, but I know that getting enough good quality sleep is vastly important. Let's hope that getting him so sound sleep and someone to talk to will make all the difference for your young man.

Again
------
http://bgballroom.wordpress.com to follow the progress on my next ballgown.
  
Member since 7/15/05
Posts: 13337
online now
Send Message
Posted on: 11/27/09 7:08 PM ET
HUGE hugs from one who went through this personally. Now that I'm an adult, I have a 9yo who is on antidepressants and has been for a year. He had some serious breakdowns in his school, but they were unwilling to accept that there was anything wrong, just wanted to write it off as him acting up.

They now know the situation (anxiety/depression in addition to ADHD and/or Asperger's) and are more willing to work with him and us.

Hopefully things will get evened out soon and you will have your "normal" child back....not said in a bad way, but because there is SUCH a difference in a child with depression and one without.

Larisa
------
research associate in the field of child development, married to an engineer

I am woman, I am invincible, I...am...TIRED!!

  
Member since 4/28/02
Posts: 1107
Body Type:
Send Message
Posted on: 11/27/09 7:20 PM ET
In reply to Michelle T
I beat mild adult depression with exercise (play, dance, any movement) removing all common allergens from my diet ("Diet Wise" is the book I used), and eating only whole, unprocessed foods.

I send good wishes to all you family.

------
from Daytona Beach, FL
http://mary-sews.blogspot.com/
  
Member since 2/17/07
Posts: 2506
Body Type:
Send Message
Posted on: 11/27/09 7:47 PM ET
My wife has depression fairly badly. Sorry to hear about your son, and sorry to say, this probably won't be an easy row to hoe. Hang in there, keep searching until you find the combination of drugs and therapy that works for him. Seems that everyone has their own magic formula, that isn't the same as anyone else's.

Good luck!
------
A sewing machine is just a welder for textiles.
  
Member since 4/28/06
Posts: 463
Body Type:
Send Message
Posted on: 11/27/09 7:54 PM ET
In reply to Michelle T
Sounds like you are doing all the rights things. I suffered from depression as a child in the 60's and 70's. From the 7th grade off and on until my 30's. In my thirty's I finally starting taking various anti-depressants with so-so help. At the age of 45 I started having major problems and was put on a new anti-depressant and after about two months I told the psychiatrist and my doctor that I had never felt so good. Sad to say I had experienced mild to major depression all of that time.(I had never experienced what it was like to feel normal.) I have been on that particular anti-depressant for five years now and am doing well. When I think about where I was five years ago it is absolutely frightening. There can come a point where all the exercise, good diet, and sunshine etc just does not work.

During the the bad times(and good times) I was not involved with any substances, including THC, Alcohol, tobacco products etc.

Also, everybody is different. Just keep following the doctor's advise. Best wishes and Hugs.
Sew Cool

-- Edited on 11/27/09 8:03 PM --
  
Member since 8/24/02
Posts: 7614
Body Type:
Send Message
Posted on: 11/27/09 8:08 PM ET
Don't be afraid of the meds. They are there to help the imbalance that is creating the depression. Make sure you feel comfortable with the psychiatrist. This will be someone you need to trust and need to be able to talk to and get answers from. Like Larisa I had a child go through the depression with ADHD and Asperger's syndrome. I say had, because now my son is an outgoing happy child. There is so much help for depression today. I'm so sorry your family is going through this.
------
Visit my blog at http://sewingsaga.blogspot.com

If it's worth sewing, it's worth sewing well;
and if it's worth sewing well, it's worth FITTING FIRST! - TSL
  
Member since 8/24/02
Posts: 6374
Body Type:
Send Message
Posted on: 11/27/09 8:54 PM ET
Thank you for the kind replies and personal stories. My eldest ds has ADHD and was on meds for a while.

I find the ADHD easier to deal with, than the deep dark depression, and I have suffered from depression myself.

I sent his principal an email and he is on board with our doing what is right for ds and worrying about school when he can handle it.
------
Living life to the fullest.

Who knew being a Granny was the best thing ever?
  
Member since 10/14/03
Posts: 2589
Body Type:
Send Message
Posted on: 11/27/09 10:46 PM ET
I agree, don't hesitate to use medication. Look at it this way, depression is almost always caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. The medication helps put the chemicals in the brain back in balance. People who have thyroid problems don't hesitate to take the medications necessary to get their thyroid in balance, so why should someone who has a chemical imbalance in the brain hesitate to take medication.

Antidepressant medications work wonderfully. I watched my mother battle depression for years before people understood it or weren't ashamed of it. She was hospitalized several times, but finally found relief in antidepressants.
------
If I sewed any slower, I wouldn't be sewing at all.

  
Member since 5/11/05
Posts: 1335
Body Type:
Send Message
Posted on: 11/27/09 11:20 PM ET
I'm so glad to hear one of you will be there with him. I had a friend whose teen was seriously depressed; they left him alone one day shortly after he'd supposedly started on meds. He didn't take them. The story does not have a happy ending. Please, please, please stay with him until he is stable.
  
* Advertising and soliciting is strictly prohibited on PatternReview.com. If you find a post which is not in agreement with our Terms and Conditions, please click on the Report Post button to report it.
Selected Reviews, Classes & Patterns