I'm am afraid for my friends who have teenagers. It seems that everyone I know has a teenager on meds of some kind. Depression, Anxiety, ADD, Mood Stabilizers...and virtually everyone I know who has teenage girls have them on a "cocktail" of these meds. It has been a well known fact that teenagers are struggle with hormones, and emotional growth that not only is horribly difficult for the teen, but frustrating and trying for the parents. It seems to me that if we are treating our kids to make them easier to live with, then we are doing them a terrible disservice. This time in their lives is when they are learning crucial emotional coping skills..you are only teaching your child to go for a bottle when stressed, sleepless, anxious or sad. How 'bout we teach them how to cope with these feelings before we throw pills at them. Seems that anxiety disorder, bi-polar disorder, depression and ADD are an inevitable diagnosis if you happen to take your teen to the doctor for professional help....wonder if a doctor has ever uttered the words, "Well, Mr. Smith, looks like your son is a healthy, disgruntled teen who hates doing homework and only cares about himself, but this is just a phase that he will go through. So, if he's not a threat to others or to himself, then patiently be there for him, love him, and help him learn to grow and cope, for HIS sake, not yours." I'm sure there are doctors out there who know this, but they don't get money unless the patient needs ongoing care, right?
A place to come to ask and answer questions from others on mental health and relationship issues.
Copyright © 1992-2008 Psych Central. All rights reserved.
Answers
(((Kristyan)))
I do agree that there are some docs who just do nothing but overmedicate. I dont know any one from PC who agrees with that overmedication. But add to the fact that there are many who do so, and you have a problem. There are those docs who get "pressured" to try a new med, and while it isnt right at all, it seems to increase those usages of meds.
I also agree with you that sometimes, children/adolescents are just "going through a stage" and need to do so...but we always cant blame the docs, either...sometimes, the parents themselves want them on the meds so they dont have to deal with them, either.
Its a horrible dilemma for some children...