<p>i believe I've been depressed for almost a year now. I began to seek counseling at my school last year but stopped going b/c I couldn't truly open up. During that time, they suggested I go on antidepressants. I refused b/c I didn't want to become dependent on medicine. It's gotten better in some respects, and worse in others and after trying to self medicate with pot, I'm scared of the road I'm heading down. I'm terrified I'm going to go insane and lately I've been scared to be alone lately. This is very problematic since I live by myself at school, and the moment I get into my apartment on my own I immediately start crying.</p>
<p>I don't have anybody at school that I can consider a true friend but I want to get very involved this year in hopes that i will so that i can be happier (i'm a soph). I've tried reaching out to my friends at home, but I don't want to burden them. Now I want to give antidepressants a try but I don't want my parents to know. Is my school allowed to prescribe me medication? I figured I can buy the cheap generics from Walmart, but I'm afraid that I'll have to go to a professional through my family's insurance and that they will find out.</p>
<p>My heart goes out to you. Can’t you talk to your parents? My son was in a similar situation in the fall, and we got him help ASAP. He was seen at the student health center first. The psychiatrist there could have treated him, but she didn’t have an opening for a few weeks, so we got him a private doctor.</p>
<p>If you can’t talk to your folks, call the student health center and tell them it’s urgent. I know my son could get prescriptions filled at his health center, so I hope you can, too.</p>
<p>You’re smart to know you need to stop self-medicating. That will cause only more serious problems.</p>
<p>People WANT to help you! Are you on campus now? Please call your health center immediately. Let us know what happens.</p>
<p>My parents and i have a very strained relationship and they do not believe in mental health illness. </p>
<p>I checked my school site and I know that they fill them if you already have a prescription, but I can’t tell if they prescribe them too. I’m going to go to the center tomorrow and maybe give counseling another shot. But the problem is that I believe you only get 12 free sessions (I am not sure if this is per semester or per year) and it is with a PhD student.</p>
<p>Any prescription of a medication needs to come from a licensed prescribing authority (MD, DO, PA, or NP). So yes, you do need to go to a professional - but maybe there’s a way to do that without going through your parent’s insurance. Does your school have a psychiatrist on staff at student mental health? (note: needs to be a psychiatrist - i.e. a physician - not a psychologist) Or maybe your school allows you to see a family practice physician at the school’s clinic for free? You don’t need to see a psychiatrist - a primary care doc likely prescribes antidepressants on a regular basis and should be able to manage you on them.</p>
<p>Well, that’s a good first step. Maybe the counselor can give you more suggestions, or connect you with other people. I recall that one person who talked to my son at the student health center was a helpful social worker.</p>
<p>That may be true for somebody going through temporary “blues,” but IT IS NOT TRUE for a depressed person. Sometimes medication (plus therapy) is the only way to get better. And there is nothing wrong with that! People have no problem getting treated for diabetes. Why is it different with a mental illness?</p>
<p>honorstudent, you might want to Google “NAMI” (National Alliance on Mental Illness") and your college town’s name. We have found this group to be very helpful.</p>
<p>Sorry, Joan52, but you are incorrect about this. A DO is legally equivalent to an MD and is the only other degree to hold an unrestricted license to practice medicine. </p>
<p>NPs and PAs can prescribe medications in all 50 states (including NY), with varying degrees of oversight by an MD or DO. </p>
<p>A psychologist can never prescribe medications - they simply don’t have the training and aren’t licensed for it - its not part of their profession.</p>
<p>In any case, OP, don’t take any medical advice from the internet (nothing I say or have said should ever be construed as medical advice) - you need to see a professional health care provider in person, whether a physician, NP, PA, etc.</p>