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Birmingham Evening Mail
How anti-depressants almost ruined bright student Lucy's life.
Lucy Pitt is an articulate student with a bright futre ahead of her - but a year ago a coach journey sparked a series of panic attacks which devastated her life.
When she visited her GP, the 22-year old was given anti-depressants after a brief consultation. A further consultation with a psychotherapist made her feel as if she was 'messed up'.
Lucy's story reveals how alternatives to anti-depressants are available for young people and how she is overcoming her dependancy through hypnotherapy.
"I had always been very confident and outgoing."
"Then, just over a year ago, I had alcohol poisoning while I was stuck on a coach in Malta. I wanted to be sick but I couldn't get out."
"After that it just got worse. In lectures, I would always have to sit by the door so I could leave quickly."
"If I felt enclosed, I would have a panic attack and feel sick. Eventually I stoped going to lectures for about two months and considered leaving university."
"I was in the fourth year of a degree in Tourism Management at Leeds."
"I had an emergency appointment wiht my GP in Birmingham and within ten mintues left the surgery with prescription for anti-depressants. I was told they would help control my stomach spasms when I had a panic attack."
"I did not even realise that they were anti-depressants until I read the instructions, but I was so low I would have taken anything."
"I had to see my GP in Leeds, who put me on a different anti-depressant and I asked for an appointment with a psychotherapist. Neither of the GPs had offered me any alternative to the pills."
"It was in a Victorian building which looked like an old mental institution and even had the word 'mental' in the title."
"I had an hour's consultation with the psychotherapist who asked questions about my family and boyfriends."
"I felt far worse when I left. I thought maybe because my parents are divorced and I have had a couple of boyfriends, I am a messed up person."
"Looking back, those questions were irrelevant. The psychotherapist said I should increase my dose of anti-depressants."
" I felt so low that I would have three or four glasses of wine before I went out to perk myself up. Then my grandad sent me an article about SHEILA JONES, a hypnotherapist from Birmingham, and I met her a month ago."
"I had three sessions and came out feeling incredibly positive. I haven't had a panic attack since."
" I want to emphasise anti-depressants may be necessary as a pick-you-up but they should never be used as a long term solution."