Will my doctor prescribe me something?

[The-Future]

I'm currently a full-time business student and I'm struggling to stay ahead financially, problem is I just can't seem to keep a job. I've tried retail, hospitality, call centres but I just find it so repetitive, I get stressed out, lose sleep, fall behind in study and I basically get depressed to the point I have to quit. I've tried over 8 different jobs and it's the same thing over and over. It feels like the only way I will be able to keep these 'dead-end jobs' is if I'm on something to keep me 'happy'.

Now my question is if I goto my doctor and tell him what's been happening will he prescribe me anything or will he simply refer me to counselling?

Any help would be great...

 

[Divine Moments]

They will probably prescribe something, and hopefully refer you for counselling too (if s/he doesn't I recommend asking - it can be a lot better than you expect!). My GP said that the rule of thumb for prescribing medication for depression/anxiety is if it interferes with your life (work/social/etc.) so it sound like you'd fit the bill

It feels like the only way I will be able to keep these 'dead-end jobs' is if I'm on something to keep me 'happy'.

Don't go in with unrealistic expectations. I suggest reading up more on antidepressants because they aren't really 'something to keep you happy'. Many people find they deaden the mood more than elevating it; i.e. it helps prevent you from feeling really low without actually making you feel good.

 

[Mr Blonde]

Don't underestimate the power of a psychologist... without one, I wouldn't have been able to face up to the challenges of putting my life back together and get through it all.

Also, what's your diet and social life like? Deficiencies in other parts of your lifestyle can increase your chances of developing depression and anxiety.

 

[hydrochron]

There's a lot more options besides getting "prescribed something" anxiety med's are just going to make you fall more behind and make it harder to study.

You should go see a psychologist like Mr blonde suggested. Eat healthy, and get layed.

 

[Mr. Squiggle!]

I'm currently a full-time business student and I'm struggling to stay ahead financially, problem is I just can't seem to keep a job. I've tried retail, hospitality, call centres but I just find it so repetitive, I get stressed out, lose sleep, fall behind in study and I basically get depressed to the point I have to quit. I've tried over 8 different jobs and it's the same thing over and over. It feels like the only way I will be able to keep these 'dead-end jobs' is if I'm on something to keep me 'happy'.

Now my question is if I goto my doctor and tell him what's been happening will he prescribe me anything or will he simply refer me to counselling?

Any help would be great...

Business student. There bud, ya got it all wrong! Science is the way of the future!
But seriously, glad you came here first off rather than a script-happy P-Doc or GP.

Here's my advice pal:
Yes. Your doctor will prescribe you something, probably the what's hot in antidepressant drugs like Cymbalta/Effexor etc. By doctor, I mean your average run of the mill GP and/or Psychiatrist (P-Doc).

What you need to do is see a counsellor bro, as in like a clin. psych. who isn't a doctor or a community-based practice like Lifeline or whatever floats ya boat. Talking through your issues, with someone who has only done a 3/4 year degree as opposed to the standard 13 year degree (some take longer to graduate to become psychiatrists'), is the best way to change your emotional state. Because these type of people can't label you 'Clinically Depressed according to the DSM-IV-4th Edition Revised or whatever psychiatric illness that they 'make up' in order to create business and essentially, a job market for these clowns.

So dude:
1. Get some exercise in to ya!
2. Go out and enjoy yourself, you don't sound socially anxious but rather more depressed!
3. Don't go turning to alcohol and/or other sedatives/OD!
4. As per hydrochon had said, "get laid"
5. Eat healthy! I can't stress this one enough to ya!

Cheers mate and I hope all goes well with you. Keep us informed!

 

[Busty St Clare]

There's a lot more options besides getting "prescribed something" anxiety med's are just going to make you fall more behind and make it harder to study.

Yeah, like a good kick up the bum.

The thing is no one likes work. Well perhaps pro surfers do, but even then you will get one or two who say, "fuck it, too hard" and procedd to smoke bongs in front of Dr Phil (see Occy circa early 90's). There is no such thing as the perfect job. If they pay well you are expected to work hard, if you can slack off on Bluelight the entire day they don't (well, maybe dentistry).

If being below the povety line isn't motivation enough to stay in a job then perhaps you are wasting your time and money studying business. If you own your own business one day you will sure as hell find out that "getting bored" will not pay the bills.

Work is only 8-10hrs a day. It doesn't have to consume your whole life. Do you have any interests and hobbies or are you perpetually bored? Personally I don't like sleep, I'd much prefer to be doing shit than lying down with my eyes closed. The thing is I accept that in life things are not always easy and unless you get handed a silver spoon at birth you will have to man up at some stage.

 

[Mr. Squiggle!]

Your usage of 'I" suggests to me that you lack interpersonal skills busty.

It's not about you, it's about him and advice dudette.

 

[arjans haze]

As advised from other members a psychologist should be your first point of call. Just a tip I can pass on from years of working soul destroying jobs while studying. Dont think too far ahead, take it one day at a time. If you go to work on a Monday thinking 'fark I got 4 more days of this shit' or 'I got 2 years of this before I graduate' you will get depressed and pull the pin. Take it a shift at a time mate and do your best to make it fun. Take the piss outta customers behind their backs with co-workers or try and pull some hot chicks, make friends with your fellow workers and have a beer or 2 after work with them and dont talk about work. Just dont take the job too seriously as eventually you will be moving on to bigger and better things.

 

[cosdog]

A few roundabout threads lately about scoring off your GP.

?

IMHO.

I'm with busty and squiggles 5 points

 

[The-Future]

Thanks for all the advice, I honestly don't think I'd be able to bring myself to taking anti-depressants anyway.

I ran my own online business and made a lot of money for someone my age. Unfortunately it all came to an end after about a year and I didn't invest, I just blew it all on expensive hotels and expensive alcohol. I think this is my main problem, struggling with a lifestyle change. Going from $1000 a day to a crappy $70 a shift.

I have close friends, social housemates, I eat reasonably well, I work out, I enjoy uni and I go out every weekend. I'm also a musician so I'd rather spend my spare time working on music and getting gigs then going to work.

Hopefully I'll just harden up and get over it.

 

[Mr. Squiggle!]

Yeah mate, that;'s the spirit...

 

[Mr Blonde]

I have close friends, social housemates, I eat reasonably well, I work out, I enjoy uni and I go out every weekend. I'm also a musician so I'd rather spend my spare time working on music and getting gigs then going to work.

Hopefully I'll just harden up and get over it.

Basically, that's what you have to do. I know it's tempting to do other things, but if you want to finish your degree and have money you need to focus on studying and learn to deal with work.

I did telemarketing (or something like it) for a while. It was shit, and I hated each and every shift but I still did because I needed the money. And this was just after I had put my life back together after the deepest, darkest it had gone to.

Now I'm working in a job that I enjoy and can have fun in, even though it's hard working full-time it gets better with time and I do my own study at home after work (chemistry, bio-chem and soon I'll have to go back to maths), have a full-time relationship and manage to get out and do social things every now and then. It's all about finding balance in your life. If you let one part of it get out of hand, or get you down too much, then the rest of it comes down too.

Medication helped pull me out of the pits, but a psychologist and a willingness to tackle my problems head on is what got me to where I am. It may seem bad right now, but you will find your way to get through it and be on top of everything.

 

[belarki]

....Hopefully I'll just harden up and get over it.

No no no that's a terrible idea if you're really suffering from anxiety/depression!

The-Future try talking to your GP and getting on a medicare mental health plan. You can get free consults with a psycologist that way. I highly recommend you speak to a counsellor/psychologist/psychiatrist before you even think about taking meds though.

..Eat healthy, and get layed.

^ this too

 

[Busty St Clare]

Your usage of 'I" suggests to me that you lack interpersonal skills busty.

It's not about you, it's about him and advice dudette.

Don't make me fucking use SWIM

 

[Mr Blonde]

No no no that's a terrible idea if you're really suffering from anxiety/depression!

The-Future try talking to your GP and getting on a medicare mental health plan. You can get free consults with a psycologist that way. I highly recommend you speak to a counsellor/psychologist/psychiatrist before you even think about taking meds though.



^ this too

I just want to clarify my post; definitely go see a doctor about your depression issues. It is very important that you get the best help you can.

But part of joining the work force and studying means that you have to get used to doing jobs you might not like, and facing that challenge and working past it will be well worth it in the long run.

 

[psytaco]

Mr Blond: ehhh, telemarketing. I did that for 8 months full time when taking a year off uni. Never again. I cannot tell you how much I hate telemarketing. luckily I had cool work mates.

Thanks for all the advice, I honestly don't think I'd be able to bring myself to taking anti-depressants anyway.

I ran my own online business and made a lot of money for someone my age. Unfortunately it all came to an end after about a year and I didn't invest, I just blew it all on expensive hotels and expensive alcohol. I think this is my main problem, struggling with a lifestyle change. Going from $1000 a day to a crappy $70 a shift.

I have close friends, social housemates, I eat reasonably well, I work out, I enjoy uni and I go out every weekend. I'm also a musician so I'd rather spend my spare time working on music and getting gigs then going to work.

Hopefully I'll just harden up and get over it.

it sounds like you have a pretty good life so you at least you have that sorted. I recommend going and seeing a psychologist. get a mental health care plan for it so its free. alternatively, most universities offer a free counselling service which might be helpful for you. try these out first and then maybe consider antidepressants. SSRIs don't make you feel 'happy' all the time. You just feel level. never really sad, never really happy. its alot better than depression but not as good as being completely healthy.

i hear you man. working whilst studying sucks, and it is generally only shit jobs available where you earn sweet fuck all. However, you can change one shitty job for another and make it fun. For instance, working at a bar could be pretty cool, as it can help you get your drink on at the end of a shift plus get laid.

Actually, I think one of the better things for depression is either having a good relationship or getting laid regularly.

 

[Mr Blonde]

Mr Blond: ehhh, telemarketing. I did that for 8 months full time when taking a year off uni. Never again. I cannot tell you how much I hate telemarketing. luckily I had cool work mates.

Oh god, everything about that job except the pay was awful. And they lied to us during our intake about what we could expect shifts to be like after the election period; we were misled into believing we would all have work and they really wanted us to stay on, but then once the hung parliament was resolved our shifts went down to zero.

Actually, I think one of the better things for depression is either having a good relationship or getting laid regularly.

Definitely, just avoid the trap of being dependent on the other party for emotional support. It does not make for a healthy relationship, and depending on who your partner is can be something that they do not like/want.