Should we medicate our teen daughter for anxiety

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take this with a grain of salt as I have two neurotypical teens.

If your daughter had a physical illness and all your home remedies weren't curing that physical illness, wouldn't your next step be to take her to the doctor and get a medication to alleviate the symptoms/make it better?

Couldn't the same be said of a mental illness such as anxiety? If your daughter was physically sick and no homeopathic treatments were working, it would be common sense to give her medicine. Why the hesitation when treating a mental illness?

Good luck.

Yes! this is what I was going to say. I have two young adults with anxiety and it has helped tremendously

But the OP hasn’t tried anything but therapy

What is your point, pp?

The point is an SSRI with a lot of side effects isn’t the first line of defense. Big pharm is over-medicating kids that just need better nutrition, sleep, and supplements. It takes 1-3 months, but it helps about 70% of kids/teens. Most parents just want the easy way out.

And many studies show that SSRI’s may actually INCREASE suicide tendencies in kids under 18. That is one of many side effects. Why risk that initially?

Would you say the same thing if their child is sick? My grandfather died due to lack of antibodics. Medication can work along with therapy etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take this with a grain of salt as I have two neurotypical teens.

If your daughter had a physical illness and all your home remedies weren't curing that physical illness, wouldn't your next step be to take her to the doctor and get a medication to alleviate the symptoms/make it better?

Couldn't the same be said of a mental illness such as anxiety? If your daughter was physically sick and no homeopathic treatments were working, it would be common sense to give her medicine. Why the hesitation when treating a mental illness?

Good luck.

Yes! this is what I was going to say. I have two young adults with anxiety and it has helped tremendously

But the OP hasn’t tried anything but therapy

What is your point, pp?

The point is an SSRI with a lot of side effects isn’t the first line of defense. Big pharm is over-medicating kids that just need better nutrition, sleep, and supplements. It takes 1-3 months, but it helps about 70% of kids/teens. Most parents just want the easy way out.

And many studies show that SSRI’s may actually INCREASE suicide tendencies in kids under 18. That is one of many side effects. Why risk that initially?

Would you say the same thing if their child is sick? My grandfather died due to lack of antibodics. Medication can work along with therapy etc.

Not all medication is equally safe or effective FFS.

"Just take whatever pills Big Pharm has invented this year, antibiotics work so this will work too" is the dumbest take ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take this with a grain of salt as I have two neurotypical teens.

If your daughter had a physical illness and all your home remedies weren't curing that physical illness, wouldn't your next step be to take her to the doctor and get a medication to alleviate the symptoms/make it better?

Couldn't the same be said of a mental illness such as anxiety? If your daughter was physically sick and no homeopathic treatments were working, it would be common sense to give her medicine. Why the hesitation when treating a mental illness?

Good luck.

Yes! this is what I was going to say. I have two young adults with anxiety and it has helped tremendously

But the OP hasn’t tried anything but therapy

What is your point, pp?

The point is an SSRI with a lot of side effects isn’t the first line of defense. Big pharm is over-medicating kids that just need better nutrition, sleep, and supplements. It takes 1-3 months, but it helps about 70% of kids/teens. Most parents just want the easy way out.

And many studies show that SSRI’s may actually INCREASE suicide tendencies in kids under 18. That is one of many side effects. Why risk that initially?

Would you say the same thing if their child is sick? My grandfather died due to lack of antibodics. Medication can work along with therapy etc.

Not all medication is equally safe or effective FFS.

"Just take whatever pills Big Pharm has invented this year, antibiotics work so this will work too" is the dumbest take ever.

Will you please STFU already? No one is "taking whatever pills big pharm" invented. We are choosing well-researched, FDA approved medication in order to help our children with a medical problem.

[Anonymous]

OP, I have taken ssri for anxiety. No, your DC does not necessarily need it forever. I was able to get past a particularly depressive and anxious period of my life and then wean off the medication. It was so helpful in a way that therapy alone was not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DH and I are torn. Our daughter who is extremely smart has major anxiety and it has become the main reason for fights at our home. We are trying our best to be supportive but to me almost feels like she wants negative attention where we argue with her.

We are at our wits end. Anything that has worked with Anxiety. She has been in therapy for 2 months and we will continue with it.

Any pros and cons of medicating our child. Can they ever get off. We are so nervous and heartbroken to see her so upset for certain thing that she always ends up exceling in.

We are a zero pressure family. Please be kind in your advice. Thanks.

I'm sorry that you are going through this. Therapy is a good place to start -- good you are sticking with it. Therapy takes time. It is a process that moves slowly - think months to years. It sounds like you feel a sense of urgency or crisis. If so, you might try out some medication. Those tend to work faster - within weeks. You can always stop if it isn't helping.
Also, ignore all the uninformed "find the root cause" people. Anxiety is not rational. That is part of what makes it so vexing.
Good luck to you and your daughter. Hugs to you all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take this with a grain of salt as I have two neurotypical teens.

If your daughter had a physical illness and all your home remedies weren't curing that physical illness, wouldn't your next step be to take her to the doctor and get a medication to alleviate the symptoms/make it better?

Couldn't the same be said of a mental illness such as anxiety? If your daughter was physically sick and no homeopathic treatments were working, it would be common sense to give her medicine. Why the hesitation when treating a mental illness?

Good luck.

Yes! this is what I was going to say. I have two young adults with anxiety and it has helped tremendously

But the OP hasn’t tried anything but therapy

What is your point, pp?

The point is an SSRI with a lot of side effects isn’t the first line of defense. Big pharm is over-medicating kids that just need better nutrition, sleep, and supplements. It takes 1-3 months, but it helps about 70% of kids/teens. Most parents just want the easy way out.

And many studies show that SSRI’s may actually INCREASE suicide tendencies in kids under 18. That is one of many side effects. Why risk that initially?

Would you say the same thing if their child is sick? My grandfather died due to lack of antibodics. Medication can work along with therapy etc.

Not all medication is equally safe or effective FFS.

"Just take whatever pills Big Pharm has invented this year, antibiotics work so this will work too" is the dumbest take ever.

DP. I don't know why you are so invested in the choices other people make for their families. You have shared your opinion. Others have wildly different opinions and experience. You will not convince those of us who have done our research and made informed decisions about what's best for our families.

-Mother to a kid who was diagnosed with GAD at age 4, ADHD at 6 and started SSRIs at age 9 at the recommendation/concurrence of NIH anxiety researchers who stated that CBT would not be effective until the anxiety was better controlled. Also, 2 of my siblings died by suicide because of untreated anxiety/depression. The risk of SSRIs is not as great as unmedicated anxiety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take this with a grain of salt as I have two neurotypical teens.

If your daughter had a physical illness and all your home remedies weren't curing that physical illness, wouldn't your next step be to take her to the doctor and get a medication to alleviate the symptoms/make it better?

Couldn't the same be said of a mental illness such as anxiety? If your daughter was physically sick and no homeopathic treatments were working, it would be common sense to give her medicine. Why the hesitation when treating a mental illness?

Good luck.

Yes! this is what I was going to say. I have two young adults with anxiety and it has helped tremendously

But the OP hasn’t tried anything but therapy

What is your point, pp?

The point is an SSRI with a lot of side effects isn’t the first line of defense. Big pharm is over-medicating kids that just need better nutrition, sleep, and supplements. It takes 1-3 months, but it helps about 70% of kids/teens. Most parents just want the easy way out.

And many studies show that SSRI’s may actually INCREASE suicide tendencies in kids under 18. That is one of many side effects. Why risk that initially?

You know what definitely increases suicidal tendencies? DEPRESSION!!!! GFC

Just stop. No one is looking for an easy way out. We are all doing the best we can for our kids.

No one here is talking about depression and SSRI’s take 6-8 weeks to work and have an INCREASED risk of suicide the first month. Do your research.

Kids are anxious and depressed for a reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take this with a grain of salt as I have two neurotypical teens.

If your daughter had a physical illness and all your home remedies weren't curing that physical illness, wouldn't your next step be to take her to the doctor and get a medication to alleviate the symptoms/make it better?

Couldn't the same be said of a mental illness such as anxiety? If your daughter was physically sick and no homeopathic treatments were working, it would be common sense to give her medicine. Why the hesitation when treating a mental illness?

Good luck.

Yes! this is what I was going to say. I have two young adults with anxiety and it has helped tremendously

But the OP hasn’t tried anything but therapy

What is your point, pp?

The point is an SSRI with a lot of side effects isn’t the first line of defense. Big pharm is over-medicating kids that just need better nutrition, sleep, and supplements. It takes 1-3 months, but it helps about 70% of kids/teens. Most parents just want the easy way out.

And many studies show that SSRI’s may actually INCREASE suicide tendencies in kids under 18. That is one of many side effects. Why risk that initially?

Would you say the same thing if their child is sick? My grandfather died due to lack of antibodics. Medication can work along with therapy etc.

Yes overuse of antibiotics has led to problems like MRSA and stunted immune systems.

Antibiotics are the last resort

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take this with a grain of salt as I have two neurotypical teens.

If your daughter had a physical illness and all your home remedies weren't curing that physical illness, wouldn't your next step be to take her to the doctor and get a medication to alleviate the symptoms/make it better?

Couldn't the same be said of a mental illness such as anxiety? If your daughter was physically sick and no homeopathic treatments were working, it would be common sense to give her medicine. Why the hesitation when treating a mental illness?

Good luck.

+1

My Dd has anxiety and she got onto meds and is much better.

I am not understanding why you would not medicate for an illness.

Medication can have serious side effects. SSRIs are handed out like candy and they shouldn’t be.

Yeah, we should all suffer so you can feel better about it

I have had dry mouth as the most serious side effect and Ive been in SSRIs for 25 years. I'll take that over debilitating depression and anxiety any day.

25yrs?!?!?

It's an income stream for big pharma.

It’s not a life long medication. Jesus

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Find the root cause.

They did. It's anxiety.

Right? I wish people didn’t think that talk therapy is some magic cure for all mental ailments. (Don’t get me wrong, CBT with or without medication can certainly help her MANAGE her anxiety, but no amount of therapy or searching for some “root cause” will make it go away…)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take this with a grain of salt as I have two neurotypical teens.

If your daughter had a physical illness and all your home remedies weren't curing that physical illness, wouldn't your next step be to take her to the doctor and get a medication to alleviate the symptoms/make it better?

Couldn't the same be said of a mental illness such as anxiety? If your daughter was physically sick and no homeopathic treatments were working, it would be common sense to give her medicine. Why the hesitation when treating a mental illness?

Good luck.

+1

My Dd has anxiety and she got onto meds and is much better.

I am not understanding why you would not medicate for an illness.

Medication can have serious side effects. SSRIs are handed out like candy and they shouldn’t be.

Yeah, we should all suffer so you can feel better about it

I have had dry mouth as the most serious side effect and Ive been in SSRIs for 25 years. I'll take that over debilitating depression and anxiety any day.

25yrs?!?!?

It’s not a life long medication. Jesus

It just shows how little you know about these types of medications. Please stop commenting because you are completely ignorant and uneducated.

For some of is, IT IS A LIFE LONG MEDICATION.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take this with a grain of salt as I have two neurotypical teens.

If your daughter had a physical illness and all your home remedies weren't curing that physical illness, wouldn't your next step be to take her to the doctor and get a medication to alleviate the symptoms/make it better?

Couldn't the same be said of a mental illness such as anxiety? If your daughter was physically sick and no homeopathic treatments were working, it would be common sense to give her medicine. Why the hesitation when treating a mental illness?

Good luck.

Yes! this is what I was going to say. I have two young adults with anxiety and it has helped tremendously

But the OP hasn’t tried anything but therapy

What is your point, pp?

The point is an SSRI with a lot of side effects isn’t the first line of defense. Big pharm is over-medicating kids that just need better nutrition, sleep, and supplements. It takes 1-3 months, but it helps about 70% of kids/teens. Most parents just want the easy way out.

And many studies show that SSRI’s may actually INCREASE suicide tendencies in kids under 18. That is one of many side effects. Why risk that initially?

You know what definitely increases suicidal tendencies? DEPRESSION!!!! GFC

Just stop. No one is looking for an easy way out. We are all doing the best we can for our kids.

No one here is talking about depression and SSRI’s take 6-8 weeks to work and have an INCREASED risk of suicide the first month. Do your research.

Kids are anxious and depressed for a reason.

I think I'll stick to taking advice from medical professionals instead of idiots on DCUM, thank you very much.

[Anonymous]

increased risk of dementia from certain categories of anti depressants

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6079596/

[Anonymous]

I don’t mean this as an alternative for therapy or medication if needed, but it’s a “can’t hurt” option in the meantime. Taking a magnesium supplement at night can help you calm down and go to sleep. Make sure it’s a supplement without calcium (which has the opposite effect).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take this with a grain of salt as I have two neurotypical teens.

If your daughter had a physical illness and all your home remedies weren't curing that physical illness, wouldn't your next step be to take her to the doctor and get a medication to alleviate the symptoms/make it better?

Couldn't the same be said of a mental illness such as anxiety? If your daughter was physically sick and no homeopathic treatments were working, it would be common sense to give her medicine. Why the hesitation when treating a mental illness?

Good luck.

Yes! this is what I was going to say. I have two young adults with anxiety and it has helped tremendously

But the OP hasn’t tried anything but therapy

What is your point, pp?

The point is an SSRI with a lot of side effects isn’t the first line of defense. Big pharm is over-medicating kids that just need better nutrition, sleep, and supplements. It takes 1-3 months, but it helps about 70% of kids/teens. Most parents just want the easy way out.

And many studies show that SSRI’s may actually INCREASE suicide tendencies in kids under 18. That is one of many side effects. Why risk that initially?

Would you say the same thing if their child is sick? My grandfather died due to lack of antibodics. Medication can work along with therapy etc.

Yes overuse of antibiotics has led to problems like MRSA and stunted immune systems.

Antibiotics are the last resort

EXACTLY!!

My DD went to a psychiatrist and was there for 25min before they were writing a script for Zoloft. Like it’s that easy? No thanks. Moved to a teen therapist, made recommended diet changes, added Magnesium, L Theanine, Vit D, EPA, Ashwa, Multi Vit and saw changes in a week.

That was 14 months ago.

Meds are needed for some, but not nearly as many that are on them.