[nollidge]

A lot of mental health problems can be managed without pharmaceuticals, but since all we know about this person is that they worry a lot, it's extremely presumptuous to diagnose based on that. If the underlying problem is severe depression or bipolar disorder or crippling OCD, then a drug intervention is most likely prudent, at least temporarily. But that's a decision for a licensed professional to make.

[TranceMan]

Reading back my reply may come across as flippant [hence the down votes] - that wasn't my intention. having been through depression myself; I was given the option of drugs to 'help me sleep' and 'help me relax' - this was far from what I needed.

As you say - we have no idea if there is an underlying 'problem' and as such HN is not really the place to seek this type of advice.

[nollidge]

> HN is not really the place to seek this type of advice.

Well, a cry for help isn't really a request for advice, it's just an alarm. There's good and bad advice in the thread, so hopefully some of the good made it to this person.

[peteretep]

In the UK, access to "free" health care is controlled via consultations via your local NHS doctor, and I'm in the UK, so that's how I think :-)