Meds, Therapy, Both, or Neither?

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-26-2004
Meds, Therapy, Both, or Neither?
19
Sat, 04-10-2004 - 11:06am

You folks have had all sorts of experience in dealing with

AcornLeaves

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2004
Sat, 04-10-2004 - 12:15pm
I have been depressed since 16--no meds, no therapy beyond talking with friends and a select few family members. I get by best I can--now have a new outlet in this board and the suicide board. I usually will draw or write poetry, or sometimes watch a movie to keep it together. I cry, but not too often--sometimes that's too much of a loss of control, and that makes me worse. I list off to myself the reasons to keep going. Sometimes going for a drive helps too.

I'm scared of being on meds--and don't trust someone to analyze me. There's probably good things in both of those outlets, but unless things get real bad for me-I'll keep to my own counsel.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-10-2004
Sat, 04-10-2004 - 1:26pm
I tried for about 8 yrs to deal with my depression by myself. I didn't work. I have tried just therapy, and that helped a little, but I have discovered that the best option for me is a combo of meds and therapy. The meds keep me from tailspinning when I try to deal with issues that really upset me, and the therapy helps me to face the issues I have to deal with in an organized manner.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-22-2003
Sun, 04-11-2004 - 3:44am

I use a combination of medication and therapy.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Sun, 04-11-2004 - 9:24am

Most anyone who has been here for awhile knows that I am a firm believe of Therapy first and formost.. I think meds are a personal choice that work for many many people and I see nothing wrong with them, long term or short.

*hugs             

Avatar for tinybuns
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-06-2003
Sun, 04-11-2004 - 6:42pm
I am a firm believer in both. The meds help correct a chemical imbalance in my brain, that is no fault of mine I was born that way, my mother was a very depressed person.

I also believe in therapy, but you have to get the RIGHT therapist, I have been thru dozens. And of course the last one was the charm. But she was the one who told me that I didn't need the therapy anymore. That I had a good enough handle on things and along with the meds I would do fine on my own. Well.....I did for almost 7 yrs.

But your body can become accustom to a medication & that's what I feel has happened to me right now. They are no longer doing their job. So back to the physchiatrist (sp) for help adjust my meds. I've been thru that sooooooo many times, I hate the thought of it.

But hey, when they were working, LIFE WAS SO GOOD. So I will go thru it again until we find some that work...............

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-15-2004
Sun, 04-11-2004 - 7:36pm
Great attitude. You're a good role model. It seems like the key to treating this problem is sticking with treatment, and trying different things until something works.

?>>>>>>How do you know whether your therapist is the right one for you?

I had a therapist for two years, up until about a year ago. I always thought she was a kind and thoughtful counselor. But the two years of therapy didn't really change my life. It was like having a friend you could talk to, paid for by the hour, but nothing more. I got REALLY sick of that same old question, "How does that make you feel?". Is that all there is to therapy, talking endlessly about how you feel?

I also tried Zoloft about a year ago, and it made me very lethargic. I felt sedated all the time. I also gained 20 lbs. For the first time in my life, thanks to Zoloft, I am overweight and having trouble losing the extra weight. Zoloft seemed to prevent me from hitting the lowest points, but it wasn't very effective in lifting the depresion. Not enough to justify the side effects. Decided from the Zoloft experience that SSRIs would not work for me. I might try Wellbutrin instead.

Avatar for tinybuns
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-06-2003
Sun, 04-11-2004 - 10:55pm
After all the therapists I have been thru, I sortta rely on my first "gut feeling".

If in the very first session, he or she doesn't come across right, that's it. The two of you have to be in sink (if you know what I mean?)

The one that did it for me 7 yrs ago, was a wonderful lady. She was very straight forward, no nonesence way of approching things. She was a friend in the fact that she told me things straight forward, whether I liked it or not. Within the very first session, she figured out my problem. (but remember you also have to be honest and very straight forward too). My problem was ANXIETY......and I handled my anxiety with my Eating Disorder. She talked with my doctor and since nothing else worked they tried me on Klonopin - an anti-anxiety med. Along with Effexor - an anti-depressent.

Once the anxiety med took effect 2-3 weeks, the ED totally disappeared. And I am telling the truth here, that's why I so strongly believe in medication. It was obvious that I had a chemical imbalance otherwise the meds wouldn't of worked.

My life did a complete turn-around. I was happy, probably for the first time in my life.

I never want to back to the nitemare time of my life and if it means taking medication to acheive it, I will do it.

I've learned thru other people also, that it took them a few tries before they found a therapist that worked for them.

I KNOW........it can be very fustrating, it seems like alot of time wasted. But I've also learned that it is worth the time and effort to find the right one, because it changed my entire life.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-30-2003
Mon, 04-12-2004 - 1:16am
my depression started when i was a kid- so i started therapy in middle school, and i started taking prozac when i was 14 (which was not long after it came out). i was a wreck before then, and whenever i have tried to go off my meds (or been irresponsible and forgotten to take them for enough time to matter) i have fallen back and been in terrible shape. i think the meds definitely fix something haywire in my brain (as i know someone else said too), but it scares me to think that i will be dependant on them forever- although not as scary as going off of them! i agree that you need the right therapist as well. i had him, and he helped me so much- but it took many tries to find him- and when i moved i had to say goodbye. i had so many years to work through the "bad stuff" i hope that i have learned to do it on my own as well. at this point, any other therapist just makes me feel worse. so, meds only.
Avatar for tinybuns
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-06-2003
Mon, 04-12-2004 - 4:03pm
I totally know where you are coming from with the thought of a NEW therapist. That's what I was thinking when my doctor suggested that I go back into therapy.

Actually, what started it this time, was for quite a few months I have been thinking that things would be better for everyone, including me, if I just wasn't around. Had even started to make plans about how to go about doing it. Well, one day just while talking with my husband about some problem, I said it ALOUD without realizing it at first. It must have scared him, cause he called our doc right away, and he suggested that I get in right away. So.......here I am

again..............

But I have a real good feeling about Robin, right from the start. I immediately started to feel better.

Can't wait to get into see the physiciatrist (sp). He can help me with the meds.

Everyone has they own way of dealing with things, and you have to do what is right for you. If therapy doesn't sound good & the meds are working, good. But if you are NOT doing well.............welllllllll

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-25-2003
Mon, 04-12-2004 - 8:28pm
for me both have worked, i think therapy worked the most but then the meds help during the days when i dont have an appointment. my counsler helps me to see things that i cant see or am not wanting to see.

right now i am going thru a rough time (the man i feel in love with left me to go back to his wife) and i am still struggling. i have upped the dosage on my meds basically doubled it but i dont think it is working so i'm not sure if i just got used to the meds or what.

but i definitely suggest both therapy and meds!

sarah

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