Medication for mental health issues?

[Art Vandelay]

Anyone have any experience?

Just had my first therapy session today and my therapist was really pushing medication; something I was initially firmly opposed to. Apparently I suffer from dysthymia.

[#FF0000]

First therapy session and your doctor's pushing drugs? Did he talk about, I don't know, your stress levels and how to alleviate that or anything like that yet?

I mean, I'm not necessarily opposed to medication, but mental health medication is usually pretty harsh on your body.

I dunno, man. Your therapist is a doctor but I'd look for a second opinion maybe. See if you can find another therapist who operates on like a sliding scale basis in your area, maybe?

[The Jay]

I have Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and had no objections to medication. I've been on meds for about two years, so I have some experience. If you decide to take them note all the side-effects and positive differences every day and report them to the doctor. They generally have no problem changing the medication if it isn't working for you or the side-effects are too great. I've also had many discussions with others involved in treatment that had ranges of disorders. If you want any more details just private message me or ask for my email.

[Art Vandelay]

First therapy session and your doctor's pushing drugs? Did he talk about, I don't know, your stress levels and how to alleviate that or anything like that yet?

No, it was a rather short session; he kind of admitted that some doctors are very pro or anti meds, and that he fell into the former category. He basically kept likening it to hurting your back or something and needing certain meds to help alleviate the stress and tension or something.


I mean, I'm not necessarily opposed to medication, but mental health medication is usually pretty harsh on your body.

Can you explain further how its harsh on your body?


I dunno, man. Your therapist is a doctor but I'd look for a second opinion maybe. See if you can find another therapist who operates on like a sliding scale basis in your area, maybe?

He told me off the bat that there were other therapists in the area if I didn't like him or whatever.

[Ostrinski]

I have MDD as well and have been on various anti-depressants and anti-psychotics for four years. Yes they are effective, but they are best used alongside therapy so that you learn to cope and deal with your ailments instead of just numbing them with pills.

I guess would mainly recommend them in the context of school or work. You're just not going to be as effective without some kind of medication and it will aleviate some of the stress that comesalong with them.

It's not like this cataclysmic life decision that you will suffer the consequences of until your dying days. In fact, it's not so different from being prescribed anti-biotics. You just take them, and if they don't work, tell your doctor and he'll switch it up.

[#FF0000]

Can you explain further how its harsh on your body?

It kinda depends on the drug. Antidepressants have a bunch of typical unpleasant side effects (Nausea, fucking with your sleeping habits, restlessness, weight gain, etc).

But regardless I'd say get a different therapist. My general practitioner wasn't that eager to throw around prescriptions. Mental health medication has its time and place but unless you're suffering from something that is seriously disrupting your life or making it really unbearable, then the other options are almost always better.

Find another therapist.

[Admiral Swagmeister G-Funk]

I wouldn't trust a doctor who was 'pro-meds' as opposed to 'anti-meds' or vice-versa - treatment is about rationality, not competition. I'd rather have a doctor that viewed the case rationally and prescribed something based on his expertise and a rational assessment, as opposed to being 'pro' or 'anti' any kind of treatment and weighing heavily in favour of that treatment before a proper assessment (which I very much doubt could be achieved in one session - WTF?).

If I were you, I'd find a different therapist. A therapist being so trigger happy with meds on a first assessment would provoke warning signs anyway, regardless of this whole 'pro'/'anti' ridiculousness when it comes to medication.

Medications are thrown in all kinds of stupid directions because there is an incredibly profitable industry behind them, and doctors are apart of that. Not always, but most definitely a lot.

[The Jay]

The King has made a great point. Pills are important and they do help but the main treatment has to be therapy. If you just take the meds then you aren't correcting some of the mental errors that the illness causes or adds to.

[Lev Bronsteinovich]

Okay -- I am a psychologist with a lot of experience with patients using psychotropic drugs. Also, I am fairly neutral regarding meds. They can be very helpful, as comrade Goldstein seems to be saying, but they all come with drawbacks.

What your doctor will probably suggest is an SSRI, (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor). They make more of the neurotransmitter Serotonin available in your brain. These include Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Lexapro, Celexa and Luvox. These drugs are all chemically very similar, but a given individual may respond very differentially to them. For example, a patient might experience a notable deterioration using Zoloft, but find that Celexa provides them with significant relief. These medications typically cause weight gain and a loss of libido over time -- the longer you use them the more likely you would be to experience these side effects. Also, they take about two weeks to take hold on your system and have any therapeutic effects, although I have had a number of patients report improvements in shorter times. There are other, less commonly used anti-depressants that are effective but have different side effect profiles.

That being said, if your correct diagnosis is dysthymia, and you are not inclined to take meds you should have a consultation with a therapist in your area who specializes in talk therapy. I am pro-psychotherapy -- even if you do take meds it can be very helpful. I also realize that there may be different drugs available in your neck of the woods. I would be happy to discuss further with you via direct messages. Good luck. I hope you are feeling better soon, comrade. Also, certain behavioral changes, like getting a decent amount of exercise or meditation and Yoga can be very helpful in alleviating mild-moderate depression.

Finally, do trust your own feelings. If a doctor tells you that a given med can't make you feel like shit, but you think it does, follow your own responses.

[The Jay]

I agree with Lev. I had a big pain in the ass with weight control, headaches, and appetite when I first started. I have since found a decent mix.