I am a 14-year-old girl in ninth grade and I have manic depression. I was diagnosed with this while I was in the hospital about a little over a month ago. I am taking Depakote at 250 mg twice daily -- or at least I am supposed to. For a couple of weeks now I have not been taking it. The only people who know about this are my friends online. My parents, my psychiatrist and my therapist do not know. I am realizing that I am becoming depressed again. Is that because I am not taking my medication? What will my doctor do if he finds out -- that is, if I tell him that I'm not taking it, what would he would most likely do about that?

Jess

I don't know for sure whether your becoming depressed again is due to your not taking your medication, or if there could be another reason. Your best bet is to let your therapist and psychiatrist know what's going on with you (and that you're stopped taking your medication), so they can help you understand why you're becoming depressed again and, I hope, alleviate that process. If you find it easier to tell your parents, do that and ask them to talk to your doctor and therapist. But please do tell SOMEONE in your "real" (as compared to "online") life what you're experiencing..

What will your psychiatrist do if he finds out you're not taking your medication? Well, I suspect that he and your therapist will want to know why you stopped in the first place -- which is a good question. And it's important that you give an honest answer because that will be the best way to help with your treatment.

For instance, if you stopped because you were experiencing side effects you didn't like, or you had fears about the medication, or you wanted to deny your diagnosis -- all that is information a good doctor or therapist will want to hear, so he or she can address it with you. Your doctor or therapist may recommend changing your medication, or addressing some issues in therapy, or even reevaluate your diagnosis. They can also discuss any concerns you might have about telling your parents, if it turns out that you find it easier to talk to the professionals in your life than your parents.

In short, please do tell your therapist or your psychiatrist -- or both -- what's going on with you, including that you stopped taking your medication and why. You can also discuss with them your reluctance to tell them that you'd stopped the medication. Good luck