Hi smiley21,
I applaud you for having the courage to tell ask someone [us] for advice. It was also courageous of you to open enough to take the online quizzes.
I can understand that you would be apprehensive in seeing a doctor and not wanting to be put on medication. However, it seems like you wouldn't be mentioning your situation to us unless it was a matter of concern for you which you wanted to change somehow.
While we are very supportive folk, we are not in a position to make everything better for you. For this I would encourage you to seek a professional's advice.
Now, while I'm not a doctor, I am currently working on a counseling qualification. I can tell you there are certain styles of one-on-one and group therapy which can help alleviate things like depression and obsessive-complusive disorders. These therapies require no medications. If your doctor suggests medication, you can explain to him or her that you do not feel comfortable with medications. You can then ask if s/he can recommend an alternative such as the counseling I just mentioned.
On the other hand, someone very close to me had such a bout with depression that caused her to end up in a hospital for a week this year. When she left, the psychiatrist advised her to begin taking a prescription. This person did so and credits the medication for helping her to regain balance and clarity in her life. The doctor advised her that she would only have to take it for a year and then she could stop. (Of course, she can stop at any time she likes).
Now, this is just one example about one individual. Things might be different for you. I've mentioned this story not to scare you, but to help you understand that there may be ways around taking meds or only having to take them for a limited time. I also wanted to show you that there IS a way out. Please consider seeing a doctor or a counselor to see what your options are.
If you are really concerned about a doctor pressuring you to take medication, you might want to start with just talking to someone at your university counseling center. It should be free and they can help you sort out your concerns about your situation.
Finally, as FuzzieAlum mentioned, seeing a doctor, psychiatrist or counselor is nothing to feel ashamed about. Good mental health is just as important as good physical health.
As you can see from the responses, people DO care about you and want to see you get healthy.
Please let us know how you are doing. We're sending good thoughts your way.
.....Kelly
