Do you suffer from an affective disorder?

[davenn]

I thought selective hearing was a "teenager affliction"!

naaaa it also applies to husbands of all ages when they really don't want to get involved with the wife's "honey do list"

Dave

 

[zoobyshoe]

This seems like a fairly old thread but I guess it's better to post it here.

As silly as it seems, I just want to know what it's like to try treatment from a professional, or to confide yourself to a therapist, or to a psychiatrist? I have never been diagnosed but now I'm fairly certain I have some problems in my head that I probably had for a couple of years already.

I've always thought it's too much of a drag and the only reason I consider doing so is that maybe I'd get prescriptions for medicines. The thought of being counseled by a therapist is too irking to me though.

As Loren says, you can get meds alone without any counseling. In fact, a psychiatrist will not even offer counselling. He or she will just ask a bunch of questions to arrive at an idea of what meds to try, and on follow up visits will ask what effect they had on your symptoms and about side effects you may have had. Talk therapy is a completely separate consideration that you have to set up with a different specialist if you want to try that. There are also group therapy sessions sometimes available they may or may not recommend.

 

[SpringCreek]

As has already been said, any family doctor can and will prescribe meds, usually for depression. But if you are serious about your treatment you might as well go to a specialist like a psychiatrist.

Don't be surprised if the psychiatrist suggests that you see a psychologist as well. They sometimes work in conjunction. In my case, I went to a psychologist first. After a thorough evaluation (eight hours of testing over two days), I was sent to a psychiatrist for a prescription and then began talk therapy with the psychologist. I never went back to the psychiatrist but I was treated by the psychologist for a few years.

You asked what it's like to confide yourself to a professional: At times it's scary, uncomfortable, maddening and embarrassing. At other times it's soothing, reassuring, encouraging and even thrilling (as in "Eureka!").

It takes courage and an open mind, but this is your life we're talking about. As I see it, any amount of effort expended in the pursuit of a good quality of life is worth it.

 

[Evo]

As Loren says, you can get meds alone without any counseling. In fact, a psychiatrist will not even offer counselling. He or she will just ask a bunch of questions to arrive at an idea of what meds to try, and on follow up visits will ask what effect they had on your symptoms and about side effects you may have had. Talk therapy is a completely separate consideration that you have to set up with a different specialist if you want to try that. There are also group therapy sessions sometimes available they may or may not recommend.

Actually there are psychiatrists that do individual counseling in addition to managing medicine. I would recommened a psychiatrist that does counseling over a psychologist, as psychiatrists have medical backgrounds and you have only one person to deal with. You may have to do some searching but it will be worth it, IMO.

 

[zoobyshoe]

Actually there are psychiatrists that do individual counseling in addition to managing medicine. I would recommened a psychiatrist that does counseling over a psychologist, as psychiatrists have medical backgrounds and you have only one person to deal with. You may have to do some searching but it will be worth it, IMO.

I had completely forgot there are psychiatrists with their own private practice who might also do counseling. I've usually gone to clinic shrinks, and the clinic will have a separate therapist.

 

[nitsuj]

As has already been said, any family doctor can and will prescribe meds, usually for depression. But if you are serious about your treatment you might as well go to a specialist like a psychiatrist.

I think it's crazy that the two are not mutually inclusive. Is it not that the purpose of the meds to "balance" the emotive side preparing the patient for the psychiatric treatment?

 

[Evo]

I think it's crazy that the two are not mutually inclusive. Is it not that the purpose of the meds to "balance" the emotive side preparing the patient for the psychiatric treatment?

If it's just a problem than can be treated with meds, meds are all you need.

 

[SpringCreek]

I think it's crazy that the two are not mutually inclusive. Is it not that the purpose of the meds to "balance" the emotive side preparing the patient for the psychiatric treatment?

Sort of. The meds are the psychiatric treatment. But sometimes they can be helpful in facilitating pyschotherapy, such as by balancing/stabilizing the patient and thereby stopping a downward spiral before things get tragic. Kind of like 'buying time' to give therapy a chance to work.

Also, sometimes meds can help a patient to open up more in therapy and to talk more freely. As the saying goes, progress in therapy is only being made when the patient is talking.

As Evo said, it might be that meds alone are sufficient. I would add that in other cases psychotherapy alone is sufficient. This is why it's so important to be properly evaluated by a specialist.

 

[nitsuj]

Ah i see, makes sense, thanks for the replies

 

[Loren Booda]

Talk therapy and medication can be twice as effective as either one alone.

 

[Evo]

Talk therapy and medication can be twice as effective as either one alone.

It really depends. I have panic attacks. There are no triggers. I might be watching someone making a sandwich, I might be painting my toenails, I might be having a pleasant dream then WHAM, panic attack. That is why I have ativan.

 

[cobalt124]

Talk therapy and medication can be twice as effective as either one alone.

(U.K.) - Other than the "twice" part it is my experience that both are needed. Talk alone never helped, and I refused medication alone. Saying that it all depends on other factors like therapist client relationship, and a willingness by the client to want to sort out the problem. From what I have read, which isn't much admittedly, both is seen as the best approach.