3 ms·

As I was given to understand it, the first line should be CBT or something similar (ie a therapy that doesn't involve drugs that will help you live your life).

As I was given to understand it, the first line should be CBT or something similar (ie a therapy that doesn't involve drugs that will help you live your life). On top of this, unless you get referred directly to a psychiatrist (for example because you have made a suicide attempt) you get referred to a psychologist that will try a bunch of different "soft" approaches that will help you deal with your problems. The medication comes during this process, if it is indicated. Even if you do get medication first, the path that I expect is that you get "soft" treatment as well. The medication is supposed to get you through the really rough seas that you might succumb to otherwise, with other therapy helping you in the long term. If you go to a doctor and they just give you medication and send you on your way, you need to get a second opinion.

Broken_Hippo 8y ago
I'd like to add that it depends on the person. There is no freaking way I'm going to talk to a therapist, for example. Not without medication. A therapist is someone that I don't trust, and yes, I'd be honest about it. I might walk away from all treatment if I had to talk to someone regularly first. More broadly, though, it depends on what is going on with the person. There are medications that have depression or anxiety as side effects and some folks are simply going through tough situations that they cannot change. My mother took a drug for years because lowering her stress levels helped with migraines (for my mother, a tension headache triggered a migraine. Same with sinuses).
JamesBarney 8y ago
There's no reason medication requires therapy. Therapy has its benefits(like a great side effect profile), but it's good to remember that therapy has a lot of drawbacks too. It expensive(SSRI $3/month vs therapist $500/month), it requires a flexible schedule, and the evidence of effectiveness isn't quite as clear as medication.
- jacobush 8y ago
  Both cognitive therapy and classic "shrink" therapy is on some level, you just talking about shit going on in your life. At the very least, if you are at the end of your rope with no (constructive) talking to be found amongst your peers in life, I am dead certain talking to a therapist is a good thing to try.

Broken_Hippo 8y ago

I'd like to add that it depends on the person. There is no freaking way I'm going to talk to a therapist, for example. Not without medication. A therapist is someone that I don't trust, and yes, I'd be honest about it. I might walk away from all treatment if I had to talk to someone regularly first. More broadly, though, it depends on what is going on with the person. There are medications that have depression or anxiety as side effects and some folks are simply going through tough situations that they cannot change. My mother took a drug for years because lowering her stress levels helped with migraines (for my mother, a tension headache triggered a migraine. Same with sinuses).

JamesBarney 8y ago

There's no reason medication requires therapy. Therapy has its benefits(like a great side effect profile), but it's good to remember that therapy has a lot of drawbacks too. It expensive(SSRI $3/month vs therapist $500/month), it requires a flexible schedule, and the evidence of effectiveness isn't quite as clear as medication.

jacobush 8y ago
Both cognitive therapy and classic "shrink" therapy is on some level, you just talking about shit going on in your life. At the very least, if you are at the end of your rope with no (constructive) talking to be found amongst your peers in life, I am dead certain talking to a therapist is a good thing to try.