Alcohol Abuse Advice

Question by Ji: Questions about “benzos”, antidepressants, and adderall?
I’m 19 and female.

I have some social anxiety. It’s minor in comparison to some (I can still leave my house comfortably) but it acts up at times (in crowded places, social situations, when I have to make an important phone call, etc). It’s becoming a big inconvenience.

I have signs of depression (lethargy, weight gain, emotional swings, concentration problems, suicidal thoughts, self harm). I sleep a lot. I also sit and do nothing a lot.

I’m in premed, I just finished my first year but I’m still taking spring courses. I’m in anatomy right now and we had a huge practical exam yesterday, I didn’t start studying until 24 hours before. I wasn’t procrastinating (“I’ll study after I finish watching TV/hanging out”) I just spend a lot of time sleeping and sitting. I have no motivation. I can’t afford not to be able to focus anymore. My GPA dropped so much from first to second semester that I could be kicked out of my program.

In the past 7 months I’ve gained 25lb. (140lb to 165lb). It’s really made me feel worse about myself.

I can’t talk about the social anxiety without tearing up and I don’t talk to anyone about the depression (though a close friend did tell me he thinks I have signs of it and that I should do something about it – all I could do was cry). I think it’s that there’s a taboo surrounding it for me and I can’t comfortably discuss it.

I’ve had self harm episodes for 4-5 years now. Never severe, but I guess all self harm should be considered severe. I go through rough patches where it’s bad, then others where I don’t do it at all. I do have the occasional suicidal thought, but I’d never go through with it.

My doctor depression screened me when I mentioned my fatigue, but I lied about every question because I felt ashamed of it. (Do you have diminished interest in things you were once fond of? Do you have suicidal thoughts?) I just said no, no, no, etc.

I’ve never asked for a prescription to anything. My mother has a bottle of lorazepam (generic ativan – my grandmother left it at our house) but I don’t believe in taking other peoples drugs. It’s a benzodiazepene but I’ve heard that they’re highly addictive and not good, plus it’s a sedative. I don’t think it’s in my best interest to ask for an Rx for anxiety.

Depression medication is advised against for “teens and young adults”. I’ve heard that it can take months and months of different prescriptions to find a good fit. I feel like I don’t want to do that either, but if it’s my only option I will. I would like to improve my quality of life.

Now, I’ve heard of adderall being used for people in my situation. I feel like it might kick me back into more normal habits (not sleeping all day and all night – I have no idea how I can sleep so much – even had my thyroid checked and everything is “normal”). But adderall is an ADHD drug, and I know it’s frequently sold illegally to college students and marketed as a “miracle” drug, or that people take it recreationally. I live in Canada, and I am not diagnosed with ADHD or anything of the like. I do not want to directly ask my doctor about this, I feel like she’ll see it as a warning sign that I want it to abuse it (ie. “chronic pain” patient comes in directly asking for Oxycontin) or sell it.

Anyway, I don’t know what to do or what to say but I do have an appointment coming up next week. Any doctors or people who have had personal experiences with the use of benzodiazepenes, antidepressants or adderall for the treatment of depression and anxiety I’d like to hear advice/experiences.

Also, no naturopaths please. If I believed chamomile tea was going to help me I’d be drinking it right now, believe me. I’ve had bad experiences with naturopathic medicine, and all my mother does is wastes money on expensive “herbal organic remedies” for weight loss and health, etc. I don’t want to hear it.

Best answer:

Answer by Rebecca
Adderall is not ever prescribed for depression. Period. It will give you more energy but do nothing for the depression itself. Benzos are also NEVER prescribed for depression as they are sedatives and will make the depression worse. Anti depressants are frequently prescribed for young adults… Go back to your doctor and be honest with him this time.

And antidepressants are frequently used for anxiety too…. kill two birds with one stone.

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