Depressed Teen Boy - Will he ever get better? Can CBD help?
I've written here before on a related subject, and got great advice. Unfortunately, my teen is still depressed, even after it seemed that he has improved. He's been taking an antidepressant since late October, sees a therapist weekly and we just started a DBT group at Clearwater. But, he says that while the antidepressant gets him up and going, he still has bad thoughts and feels "real shitty". He's been eating less again, doing less in general (e.g., almost no exercise while he used to be obsessed with it). He keeps talking about smoking pot or using it in general as the only thing that truly helps him. I caught him with pot a few weeks ago, and took it away, but he keeps trying to persuade me to either give it back to him or get him medical marijuana, even if it is in form of CBD. He is against trying another antidepressant, because he hates the feeling the current one gives him (he says it makes him feel like he's on "speed"), and he's sure that other antidepressants will "fuck [him] up". I kind of agree with the latter, and am almost open to look into the medical marijuana option, but there's little research in that area and our provider, Kaiser, does not support that at all as a treatment option.
I saw a Wellness Coach talk about CBD treatment for teen depression here on BPN, but haven't been able to identify and get in touch with that person. Does anyone know about CBD as a treatment option for teen depression? If you do, I'd love to talk to you.
I feel desperate and depressed myself, as my son has been in treatment for depression for over 2 months now, and seems to be doing worse, after a brief period of doing better. I know it's not that long, but seems like an eternity. Thoughts? Suggestions? Will he EVER get well???
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Sounds like you all have worked very hard! There is some research to support CBD oil - which is not mood altering given the formulation. I’ve gotten it from http://lisalrose.primemybody.com/home/ It seems to be one of the better quality oils out there.
Good luck!
I have pretty much the exact same story with my 15 yo daughter. Searching for answers too.
My son is almost 18 and has had mental health issues for a year and a half. Earliest sign was his telling us he had dark thoughts and depression and I connected this to signs of an eating disorder of which we immediately addressed. He was on medication as well but like your son hated the affect. It made him tired and felt foggy. With the help of a great dietitian who specializes in kids, he’s gained but she still sees him to keep an eye on him, because he has back slides a few times.He has been diagnosed with body dysmorphia and it will be a battle for a while. His brother is older and a big believer in pot over meds. It helps him de-stress but on a still forming mind, I’m unsure. Meds over pot. I’m going to bring this up with my sons therapist today. I’m glad pot is legal. If I thought it could help my son I’d give it to him today. If anyone has some good info please pass it on.
I realize I didn’t really help with your questions but I can commiserate with your ordeal. My son wants to go off to college in the fall and I’m worried about him. A lot. I’ve been depressed as well. My life is one big worry.
I wish I could offer you advice but I am in the same boat with my 22 yr old son who dropped out of college and is living with me now. He talks of suicide and self medicates with pot. He baredly does anything each day.....It is so awful and heartbreaking! If you want to commiserate pleas have the moderator share my info....
I am so sorry to hear about your son's depression. Several of my family members have used anti-depressants to treat depression and bi-polar disorder. We have learned that different people react differently to different anti-depressants; we have also learned that the different anti-depressants have quite different "feelings." I would call the doctor *asap* and ask to try a different drug. I cannot remember specific correlations in my family, but I do remember that Paxil, Celexa, Wellbutrin, Zoloft, and Prozac were all quite different in the effectiveness and in side effects. They really can work well, it is worth getting the right med.
On the other hand, I would be a bit concerned about the MJ as medication, probably also because of my own family's history.
Wishing you the very best.
Have you talked to his psychiatrist about the meds? Teens often have a bad reaction to some antidepressants that can make them feel worse. If pot makes him feel better that means he probably has a lot of anxiety with his depression. They need to tailor the drug to the person. BTW, 2 weeks is about when the meds kick in, so it's not actually that long--for many drugs in fact. It's a terrible disease and I feel bad for you both.
I'm so sad for you and your son. It is very hard to feel so alone. I think CBD is self-medicating to take the sensitivity edge off his more sensitive nervous system, but you still need to fill that void with something. What is he interested in? or what can you get him interested in?
Please visit his psychiatrist every month and tweak his meds until things feel right. Different meds work in different ways & feel so different! They won’t f him up...
My personal experience, after much tweaking, I have a pill I take in the morning that gives me energy (I had to reduce this dose or I got wound up), and another at night that reduces anxiety (couldn’t take in the morning as it makes me drowsy). This is really, really helping me. Worth all the doctor’s appointments to get it right.
Our son is unable to take any SSRI medications. He went through an extremely rough stretch right after he turned 13 and ended up hospitalized. It happened after we tried yet another SSRI (the last one he will ever take). This helped us figure out that he has a mood disorder and what we had long thought was just ADHD was actually mania. He now takes Seraquel and has been much more stable since. As soon as he was hospitalized our insurance was all over us to get him out. He stayed six days and then we spent several weeks shuttling him to a day program. It helped to have the doctors monitor him every day as they adjusted his meds. This was extremely stressful but helped bring us out of a bad place. So sorry to hear you are going through this.
First of all two (2) months is an extremely short period of time to see results. For every two (2) steps forward, there are going to be at least five (5) steps back. He made need to make a medication change because not every medication works either right away or will react well for that person long term. So he may need to change meds a few times to find the one that works best for him. If you are going to let him smoke pot again, make sure he talks this out with his doctors and therapist. Pot alone is not the answer. My daughter had to try several different meds before she found the one that works best for her. She has been in treatment for several years and we have great moments and then bad moments, it happens. You probably both need therapy for his depression and for you to receive support. Don't give up, its a long road and it can get better.
My now 16 yr old child was diagnosed with a mood disorder 4 years ago. It took two years to figure out the right medication. My kid never asked to try medical marijuana but I had considered it. If your son thinks marijuana helps him that means something. Perhaps you could write down some measurable goals together and then try CBD oil.
I’m in graduate school right now and many of my young classmates use CBD for anxiety. It seems pretty benign. If it helps him enough to get him out and exercising it would be worth it. And most importantly, you supporting him through this difficult time is critical. Hang in there. It does get better! And then it gets hard again, right?