@
Kerynean
That post was amazing. Does therapy help those with clinical depression that is caused by chemical imbalances? When I was military, I talked to the chaplains a few times, but I never felt like it did any good, and I'm terrified to talk to a psychologist because I'm afraid of what they'll say...my gp is who diagnosed me
@
Kerynean
That post was amazing. Does therapy help those with clinical depression that is caused by chemical imbalances? When I was military, I talked to the chaplains a few times, but I never felt like it did any good, and I'm terrified to talk to a psychologist because I'm afraid of what they'll say...my gp is who diagnosed me
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IvoryBolt
Thanks! Glad it's helping people. In regards to your question, it was about year two I figured out I probably had deficiency of serotonin being produced after I kind of hit a wall with CBT - cognitive behavioural therapy (basically what counselling is), but only went for medication after confirming it with a Psychiatrist. Meds were scary for me because when I was first diagnosed my GP threw a bunch of medications at me to basically try and keep me 'afloat' while I was in a waiting list for psychologist - and it didn't go well at all as it resulted in a slew of bad experiences and one trip to ER with an allergic reaction. I'd be careful with GP's if they're trying to give you any medications as they really aren't the specialists when it comes to this stuff - seek out a Psychiatrist, it's basically their entire job.
Now I'm currently on a reasonable dose of an anti-depressant daily and go to therapy with a Psychologist every two weeks or so. My Psychiatrist basically told me this when I was going on meds for the first time: meds are good, but they only take you so far - they'll remove the imbalance but they won't remove the habit of negative thinking your brain has gotten stuck in. If you've been thinking like this for a long while, it's formed a really strong mental pathway in your brain and it'll take therapy with a Psychologist to slowly break that down.
What I'd advise is basically get your GP to refer you to a psychiatrist. They'll be able to determine if you really do have some kind of imbalance, will get you the right medications as well as prescribe you to a Psychologist for therapy to help augment the medication. Don't be scared of a Psychologist, they're there to help and they won't judge you (and if they do that means you've got a really terrible psychologist and I suggest running away very fast). A proper psychologist will listen, help and make you feel safe around them. They're nothing to be scared of; the prospect can be scary at first but that's how it is with depression. Everything seems scary until you actually get past that first step.
Also last thing: unfortunately brains are really individual and react to antidepressants really differently, so if you do go onto medication expect trial and error while your Psychiatrist figures it out. Some might make you feel worse, some might make you feel better but be useless because of some side effect (in my case I was on one that made me lethargic for about six months before realising it was too much to manage). Make sure you keep a record of exactly how you feel on any of these new medications + side effects so you can report accurately to your Psychiatrist. This'll help them pin down what you need a lot faster.
@
IvoryBolt
Thanks! Glad it's helping people. In regards to your question, it was about year two I figured out I probably had deficiency of serotonin being produced after I kind of hit a wall with CBT - cognitive behavioural therapy (basically what counselling is), but only went for medication after confirming it with a Psychiatrist. Meds were scary for me because when I was first diagnosed my GP threw a bunch of medications at me to basically try and keep me 'afloat' while I was in a waiting list for psychologist - and it didn't go well at all as it resulted in a slew of bad experiences and one trip to ER with an allergic reaction. I'd be careful with GP's if they're trying to give you any medications as they really aren't the specialists when it comes to this stuff - seek out a Psychiatrist, it's basically their entire job.
Now I'm currently on a reasonable dose of an anti-depressant daily and go to therapy with a Psychologist every two weeks or so. My Psychiatrist basically told me this when I was going on meds for the first time: meds are good, but they only take you so far - they'll remove the imbalance but they won't remove the habit of negative thinking your brain has gotten stuck in. If you've been thinking like this for a long while, it's formed a really strong mental pathway in your brain and it'll take therapy with a Psychologist to slowly break that down.
What I'd advise is basically get your GP to refer you to a psychiatrist. They'll be able to determine if you really do have some kind of imbalance, will get you the right medications as well as prescribe you to a Psychologist for therapy to help augment the medication. Don't be scared of a Psychologist, they're there to help and they won't judge you (and if they do that means you've got a really terrible psychologist and I suggest running away very fast). A proper psychologist will listen, help and make you feel safe around them. They're nothing to be scared of; the prospect can be scary at first but that's how it is with depression. Everything seems scary until you actually get past that first step.
Also last thing: unfortunately brains are really individual and react to antidepressants really differently, so if you do go onto medication expect trial and error while your Psychiatrist figures it out. Some might make you feel worse, some might make you feel better but be useless because of some side effect (in my case I was on one that made me lethargic for about six months before realising it was too much to manage). Make sure you keep a record of exactly how you feel on any of these new medications + side effects so you can report accurately to your Psychiatrist. This'll help them pin down what you need a lot faster.
I've been medicated for about 3 years now...my gp is amazing and knows my whole family history (he treats literally everyone in my family), he's been super good about it. If he was uncertain, I know he'd make me go see a psychiatrist...but he just sort of suggested it in passing. My meds do very well for me so far, but you're right about the negative thinking. It's so easy to let things get to me and then starts a downward spiral that leads to me not even wanting to get out of bed in the morning. I do think my meds are spot on right now (especially now that I figured out one of my asthma meds was affecting my moods...would have been excellent to know ages ago), but sometimes I feel like it's not enough. It's only been recently I've thought about actually seeing a psychiatrist and therapist, even though I'm 99% sure it's chemical imbalance (dad. Mom. Brothers. Half brothers. Grandparents. Cousins. Etc...all of us).
I've been medicated for about 3 years now...my gp is amazing and knows my whole family history (he treats literally everyone in my family), he's been super good about it. If he was uncertain, I know he'd make me go see a psychiatrist...but he just sort of suggested it in passing. My meds do very well for me so far, but you're right about the negative thinking. It's so easy to let things get to me and then starts a downward spiral that leads to me not even wanting to get out of bed in the morning. I do think my meds are spot on right now (especially now that I figured out one of my asthma meds was affecting my moods...would have been excellent to know ages ago), but sometimes I feel like it's not enough. It's only been recently I've thought about actually seeing a psychiatrist and therapist, even though I'm 99% sure it's chemical imbalance (dad. Mom. Brothers. Half brothers. Grandparents. Cousins. Etc...all of us).
@
Grr
I hate it ;-; I feel stupid
@
Grr
I hate it ;-; I feel stupid
Waiting 24/7 for death's sweet release (of their next hot mixtape of course)
