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18 year old son refuses to take his medications
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<blockquote data-quote="BusynMember" data-source="post: 676436" data-attributes="member: 1550"><p>As somebody with a lifetime of severe depression that started in childhood, I can tell you that medications don't always work. It took me ten years to find a combination that worked well enough to make me feel pretty normal AND not give me debilitating side effects. To this day, I enjoy helping younger people who struggle with the stigma and discrimination and frustration of mental illness, primarily mood disorders. Some adults have found ways other than medication to control their depression. I tried, but the only thing that helped me was medication. But not everyone chooses that method to control it. And everyone has their own level of depression. Their is mild depression and severe and they are very different. I still get mild depression now, but I can function. Severe depression...you just can't and you don't want to do anything.</p><p></p><p>Has your son ever been assessed for possible Aspergers? Just asking because a videogame obsession seems to often be connected to Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).</p><p></p><p>Ok, here's my two cents.</p><p></p><p>Your son is eighteen and I agree he shouldn't just play videogames. It's your house and your rules. This is what I'd do if it were my child. He would have to finish school or work full time, do chores, and pay some rent (young or not...he is choosing to give up his younger years by dropping out of school and is legally an adult). I would not take his videogame system as it is his and he is now an adult and as long as he works or goes to school, I just personally would not interfere with how he spends his free time, BUT I wouldn't let him live with me and do videogames and nothing else, depression or not. I would allow him to quit his medications and go to therapy and talk to the doctors about his choice about how to deal with his depression. He is an adult and his main problem seems to be a failure to launch, whether it's because of depression or not. Trust me, from experience, you feel even worse with depression if you sit at home all day. Yet it's hard to get moving and it's not intentionally being rebellious. But at 18, he has to do this himself or not do this himself. You have no legal rights over him. You DO have control of what he has to do in order to live with you.</p><p></p><p>I quit many medications because they didn't work or the side effects were intolerable, however I would then try other things or other medications until I finally got stable. I did not give up. I did not have parental involvement and did it myself. I think your son will be more apt to decide how to treat his depression HIS way, thus comply, if you let him decide what path to take. He could also have been misdiagnosed and more or less could be going on with him...ten different psychiatrists, the only healthcare professionals who are legally able to diagnose (I think some PhD psychologists can too) could give him ten different diagnoses. When the majority think it's just depression, then you can be pretty sure he has that, but psychiatry is NOT an exact science and there are no blood tests. But your son has to WANT to go for assessments for him to be honest and get a good assessment. If he lies, the doctor has nothing to go by.</p><p></p><p>I know people with mild depression who exercise and that's enough.</p><p></p><p>Your son will know what is right for him, treatment wise.</p><p></p><p>However, I do totally agree that he should be working full time or going to school if he wants to live in your home, depression or not. You may want to look up Aspergers Syndrome to see if you think it fits, but even if it does it is up to your son again to go for an assessment and accept help. Aspies do not necessarily need any medication to improve and many suffer mood disorders.</p><p></p><p>Now you know your own son. If he is suicidal that's serious and maybe he does need to stay home. You really have to do what you feel is best for you son...but take care of yourself too!!! Hugs!!!!</p><p></p><p>Good luck for both of you!!!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="BusynMember, post: 676436, member: 1550"] As somebody with a lifetime of severe depression that started in childhood, I can tell you that medications don't always work. It took me ten years to find a combination that worked well enough to make me feel pretty normal AND not give me debilitating side effects. To this day, I enjoy helping younger people who struggle with the stigma and discrimination and frustration of mental illness, primarily mood disorders. Some adults have found ways other than medication to control their depression. I tried, but the only thing that helped me was medication. But not everyone chooses that method to control it. And everyone has their own level of depression. Their is mild depression and severe and they are very different. I still get mild depression now, but I can function. Severe depression...you just can't and you don't want to do anything. Has your son ever been assessed for possible Aspergers? Just asking because a videogame obsession seems to often be connected to Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Ok, here's my two cents. Your son is eighteen and I agree he shouldn't just play videogames. It's your house and your rules. This is what I'd do if it were my child. He would have to finish school or work full time, do chores, and pay some rent (young or not...he is choosing to give up his younger years by dropping out of school and is legally an adult). I would not take his videogame system as it is his and he is now an adult and as long as he works or goes to school, I just personally would not interfere with how he spends his free time, BUT I wouldn't let him live with me and do videogames and nothing else, depression or not. I would allow him to quit his medications and go to therapy and talk to the doctors about his choice about how to deal with his depression. He is an adult and his main problem seems to be a failure to launch, whether it's because of depression or not. Trust me, from experience, you feel even worse with depression if you sit at home all day. Yet it's hard to get moving and it's not intentionally being rebellious. But at 18, he has to do this himself or not do this himself. You have no legal rights over him. You DO have control of what he has to do in order to live with you. I quit many medications because they didn't work or the side effects were intolerable, however I would then try other things or other medications until I finally got stable. I did not give up. I did not have parental involvement and did it myself. I think your son will be more apt to decide how to treat his depression HIS way, thus comply, if you let him decide what path to take. He could also have been misdiagnosed and more or less could be going on with him...ten different psychiatrists, the only healthcare professionals who are legally able to diagnose (I think some PhD psychologists can too) could give him ten different diagnoses. When the majority think it's just depression, then you can be pretty sure he has that, but psychiatry is NOT an exact science and there are no blood tests. But your son has to WANT to go for assessments for him to be honest and get a good assessment. If he lies, the doctor has nothing to go by. I know people with mild depression who exercise and that's enough. Your son will know what is right for him, treatment wise. However, I do totally agree that he should be working full time or going to school if he wants to live in your home, depression or not. You may want to look up Aspergers Syndrome to see if you think it fits, but even if it does it is up to your son again to go for an assessment and accept help. Aspies do not necessarily need any medication to improve and many suffer mood disorders. Now you know your own son. If he is suicidal that's serious and maybe he does need to stay home. You really have to do what you feel is best for you son...but take care of yourself too!!! Hugs!!!! Good luck for both of you!!! [/QUOTE]
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18 year old son refuses to take his medications
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