apollonia asked this question on 5/7/2000:

I have been depressed for about two years, I am 18 years old, in college. Even though it was hard for me, I finally had the guts to go to counselling this year. I was quickly diagnosed by a doctor (as if I needed it confirmed) to have severe depression. He prescribed a heavy dose of effexor and suggested I keep on with the counselling. But I hated counselling, so I quit, and I refuse to take medication, for a lot of reasons.... and I know rejecting help is my fault, but I still wish I had somewhere else to go... I want desperately to feel good and go on with life, but I jsut can't make myself because on some level I really don't want to get better... I don't feel I deserve it. So now I am backing myself into this aweful place with nowhere to go... any thoughts? (besides suicide...)

siobhan gave this response on 5/9/2000:

I hope you continue on your meds if the side effects aren't too bad. I understand youre not wanting to go to counselling, I'm the same way, I think it makes me feel worse, or maybe it's just the doctor that i don't like. I"m sure you've heard all the obvious advice already about exercise etc. so all I can say is you're not alone and I know what you're going through. The best thing for you to do is to keep connected to people especially about this topic, and this expert service thing is probably the best thing for you because you don't have to emabarrassed because it's computers and not faces you have to talk to, so I suggest you keep getting advice from ask me .com. I feel your pain, write me anytime Siobhan

The average rating for this answer is 5.

apollonia rated this answer a 5.