I think you are sane. I also think you are suffering from anxiety and depression. You haven’t been able to cope with the pressure you and your family are putting on you to be the kind of student everyone expects.
I think you need talk therapy as well as medicine. The medicine may help you feel a little better but you also need to learn new ways to deal with the stress of being a student. I think you also need to learn how to set realistic goals for yourself and how to enjoy yourself while in school.
The Lexotan is an anti-anxiety medication. Lexapro treats anxiety and depression. My guess is that the Seroquel is being prescribed to boost the effectiveness of the other two. It’s unwise for your parents to dictate what you can and can’t take. If they have concerns, they should be going with you to see the doctor who prescribed the medications. Your doctor undoubtedly has very good reasons for prescribing what he did and can help you explain why they are necessary. From your description of how you are feeling, I suspect they are indeed necessary to give you the boost you need to even take full advantage of talk therapy.
It may also be wise to take a leave of absence from your schooling while you work on your mental health. The pressure of school may be just too much for you for now. Once you stabilize and once you learn some new skills for managing stress, you may be strong enough to return to school and to take full advantage of the education and social growth that school offers.
I’m very glad you wrote. You are not hopeless. You are not insane. You are overwhelmed. Many young people go through the same thing when they go off to college. Get the help you need and I have every reason to believe that you will recover your ability to study and to enjoy life again.
I wish you well.
Dr. Marie
