3 ms·

This isn't like a reprimand or anything, just to point out that this problem cuts both ways. Having been entangled with the mental health system for 20 years, I

by psyc 9y ago

This isn't like a reprimand or anything, just to point out that this problem cuts both ways. Having been entangled with the mental health system for 20 years, I say the lion's share of attention and advice, from everywhere and everybody, comes from the chemical imbalance / illness / disorder perspective. And this really, really does leave those of us who don't respond to drugs and are fundamentally unhappy with our lives very frustrated and without anywhere to turn. Yeah, therapy's a thing, but it's commonly perfunctory and treated as secondary. Treating depression like it's just one thing can harm sufferers on both "sides".

JamesBarney 9y ago
A big reason drugs are preferred to therapy is that the drugs are far cheaper. 6 months of antidepressants can be like $80, 6 months of bi-weekly therapy $5,600.
- bspn 9y ago
  My understanding is that mental health therapy should be covered by most insurance plans these days so the out-of-pocket shouldn't be that high. While it's a sample size of only one, my wife sees her therapist bi-weekly and I think the co-pay is $20 per session. A month's supply of Duloxetine (generic Cymbalta) actually costs us more per month at $45.
  - nugget 9y ago
    It's incredibly difficult to find a great therapist. There is a fundamental supply and demand imbalance, and plenty of quacks on the supply side.
- humbleMouse 9y ago
  Not to mention the potential cost of missing work to go to therapy. Some people don't have PTO or a flexible schedule and getting to therapy appointments is a real pain in the ass.
- fivestar 9y ago
  Not only is therapy expensive, it is non-existent. We live in a decent-sized city and have tried numerous psychologists for our daughter and they all suck. I've decided that outside of psychiatry, as in, someone who is actually an MD, the rest of the field is utterly worthless. And the psychiatrists only want to medicate. Honestly, we've gotten better outcomes from just our family pediatrician.

by psyc 9y ago

JamesBarney 9y ago

A big reason drugs are preferred to therapy is that the drugs are far cheaper. 6 months of antidepressants can be like $80, 6 months of bi-weekly therapy $5,600.

bspn 9y ago
My understanding is that mental health therapy should be covered by most insurance plans these days so the out-of-pocket shouldn't be that high. While it's a sample size of only one, my wife sees her therapist bi-weekly and I think the co-pay is $20 per session. A month's supply of Duloxetine (generic Cymbalta) actually costs us more per month at $45.
- nugget 9y ago
  It's incredibly difficult to find a great therapist. There is a fundamental supply and demand imbalance, and plenty of quacks on the supply side.
humbleMouse 9y ago
Not to mention the potential cost of missing work to go to therapy. Some people don't have PTO or a flexible schedule and getting to therapy appointments is a real pain in the ass.
fivestar 9y ago
Not only is therapy expensive, it is non-existent. We live in a decent-sized city and have tried numerous psychologists for our daughter and they all suck. I've decided that outside of psychiatry, as in, someone who is actually an MD, the rest of the field is utterly worthless. And the psychiatrists only want to medicate. Honestly, we've gotten better outcomes from just our family pediatrician.