How Addiction Happens

Question by Kitty: Depression with hallucinations?
Hi everybody, I have some question about depression and hallucinations that occur occasionally.
My closest friend has been diagnosed with depression (mild), she’s 19 years old, has been to both a psychiatrist and a psychologist, talked with both and they prescribed her antidepressants and a medicine for panic attacks because she suffers those too. However, since we’re so close and she tells me everything, she told she has had hallucinations several times now – she hears voices. This doesn’t happen as often (and since she’s been taking her pills, the panic attacks have decreased) but when it does, she completely loses herself. She told me she is barely able to stay aware that the voices are not real and that she doesn’t know for how long she’ll be able to stay aware of that. The voices do not speak to her, she only hears them laugh (and they are laughing at her), at first it was for a few seconds but the last time it was over a minute (and she ran outside just to make sure no one was there but the laughter continued and she didn’t know what to do).
I’ve been reading a lot about this, as far as I’ve realized, this is called “major depression with psychotic features” or “psychotic depression”, it can vary from mild to extreme depression and hallucinations are “normal” for that. And I’ve also read that the treatment, mostly, are antidepressants and anti-psychotics and in some cases individual and group therapy, but that’s when a person is admitted in a psychiatric ward.
The questions I have are these:
How can I help her in the best way to cope with that? (I am available 24/7 to her, to call me, text me, email me and if I am able to, I’ll come or if she just needs to talk; I always listen and I would never tell her to “stop staying stupid things, that’s not happening” or anything like that, I believe her every word and try to console her, listen and keep her on the bright side – and she often tells me I am the only one who keeps her going so I think I’m doing a pretty good job, but I wanna do better, she is like a sister to me).
Also, what are some alternative ways of treating this? And by alternative, I mean other than common medicine? I am against antidepressants and well, mostly against all kinds of medication, I only take pain killers and that only when I’m in extreme pain, I believe they cause great addiction, are very dangerous for your brain and your whole organism. But that’s not important now, I support her and I’ve never told her not to drink them, I’ve just told her to be cautious with the pills she takes for her panic attacks. By alternative I mean anything you can think of that is proven to be helpful – homeopathy would be great since I know a lot about it and I’ve had previous and very successful encounters with it. Also, any other natural way.

Sorry to have such a long question but I really want to know everything I can, this is the person closest to me and I care deeply about her and I want her to get better.
Thank you in advance.
Actually, depression does cause hallucinations. I appreciate the second doctor suggestion, it’s always good to get a second opinion, but from what I’ve read and I’ve read a whole lot, I know now by fact that it’s not only schizophrenia that causes hallucinations. And I’ve read about schizophrenia as well and I’m 99% sure she’s definitely not schizophrenic. And I’ve known her long and well enough to know that it is depression.
And thank you for such a good answer lib.rare.ian, I know I can’t understand fully, but either way, I’m trying to help.

Best answer:

Answer by lib.rare.ian
You can help her best by being a good friend, and by understanding that this is something she can’t control, it’s a chemical imbalance. Please encourage her to take the medication as long as it helps, and know that if the side effects make her uncomfortable, she should talk to her doctor about alternative medications.

Group therapy is a good way for her to feel comfortable with herself again. No offense, but you really don’t understand what she’s going through. Talking to other young people who are going through the same thing can be very liberating and helpful.

An exercise regimen that she can handle can also be very beneficial. If you can help her join a beginning yoga class, or encourage her to take walks in the morning, or indulge in any other exercise that she can do on a regular basis, that would be great.

Thank you for being a good friend to her, everybody needs one of those.

Answer by Arethusa
She needs to go to a different doctor and get a second opinion.

She might be schizophrenic. Depression and anxiety do not cause voices.
Or, she could be having a really bad reaction to the meds.

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