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Psychological therapy vs medication- advice please

Strugglingbuttrying
Community Member

Hi this is my first post.

I have been feeling anxious for about 2 years and depressed for about 6 months.

The last month or so things have gotten particularly bad and I’ve fleetingly thought of suicide and my personal relationships, health and work are being affected.

Today I finally took a big step and went to see a GO. I scored 35 on a K10 test and have been referred to a psychologist. He also touched on the topic of medication which I am not really keen on. He has said to come back after 2-3 sessions to discuss medication again as he didn’t want to push the idea today. I am not keen but I want to tackle this head on and feel like I should trust him and try.

I am afraid of becoming dependant on medication and one day feeling ok then not being able to cope without them. I am also afraid of side effects.

GP and reading reputable sites say that both work well hand in hand- therapy and medication.

Does anyone have any experience with this?

Wishing you all strength on your journeys.

3 Replies 3

Nurse_Jenn
Community Member

Hi there Strugglingbuttrying,

Welcome to the beyondblue forum. It is great to see that you are actively taking steps towards healing and wellness. Im sorry to hear that you are sturggling. Going to the GP and and getting a referral to see a psychologist is really positive. It is great to see you doing some research about medication versus therapy or in combination.

From my experience as a nurse who has seen many people using different treatments both in isolation and in combination, it generally comes down to an individuals personal experience. Some people respond exceptionally well to therapy alone and needn't take medication to help with their low mood or worry. Other people might benefit from medications to help re-establish the right amount of neurotransmitters that are firing in the brain or might find medication helpful while learning to self manage symptoms. There is also some fact sheets on the beyond blue website about medications for both anxiety and depression. Here is the link for your convenience https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/anxiety/treatments-for-anxiety/medical-treatments-for-anxiety

Treatment for both depression and anxiety are not one size fits all. Some people find that therapy is not helpful or that they like the idea of therapy but they don't gel with their psychologist or counsellor. It may take a few sessions to build trust or even changing therapists to find the right fit. This can be frustrating as can wait times for appointments (depending on where you live).

My best recommendation to people is to write down your goals of what you want to achieve and when. This will help guide your psychologist, GP and others involved in your care circle. You can also write down your preferences to treatment of your symptoms. Having your own plan (even if it is brief) is very helpful and keeps your priorities are the centre of your care. You plan is likely to evolve but it will be a good starting point for your discussion.

You might also find a way to track your mood and symptoms as you embark on your recovery journey. There are many apps where you can do this such as Daylio or even just a paper journal or calendar. You can use these to see if you are improving over time.

You have made some big steps towards your own self care and started your journey. Make sure you acknowledge yourself for taking these really important steps. You are not alone.

Wishing you the best possible outcome,

Nurse Jenn

smallwolf
Community Champion
Community Champion

Hi Strugglingbuttrying,

I will give you my story... About 2 years ago I started seeing a psychologist. At that time I was not talking medication. About 6 months later, things at work got worse for me with suicidal thoughts - these always existed, but this was different, that is all I will say. I went back to my GP to chat about what happened and was given a prescription for medication, and referral to a psychiatrist. Since then I have been on different medications as we try to find the right one for me.

My psychiatrist says to me that medication and therapy go hand in hand. That is, if you are on medication it is beneficial to do talk therapy as well. If you can do the talk therapy without medication then good for you. I started without any medication, but am glad there is something else that can help me. Without the medication, my heart would typically be racing, sweaty palms, lump in the throat, etc. With the medication, these are mostly gone.

If you are medication, you can wean off them by following any instructions from the psychiatrist or GP.

Finally as far as side effects are concerned... each time I see my psychiatrist I am asked how is the medication going? If I am experiencing any side effects I will tell her. If I don't think the medication is working I will tell her. And together we work out a way forward.

I hope that helps,

Tim

blondguy
Champion Alumni
Champion Alumni

Hello Strugglingbuttrying

Nurse Jenn and Smallwolf have provided valuable support that I wish I had when my anxiety levels were high

The meds are never a fix all.....they do though provide us with a solid foundation on which we can heal using ongoing counseling/therapy. I still see my GP for a 'tune up' every month

Thank-you for being a part of the forum family

my kind thoughts for you

Paul