When will you need to be prescribed medicine?

[P+G]

I'm right at the first stage of getting help, I'm going to see a counsellor. However I'm not completely sure how this is going to work and if it will have any effects on my anxiety. I realise this will be long-term and will have to work hard on my part as well but when is the point when medication is brought in? I got the feeling from my GP that drugs are used only when it is necessary and that they wanted me to get better naturally on my own. I know that there are a lot of people here who say that they have experienced counselling and/or medication so was hoping if you could explain everything.

Thanks for reading.

 

[Noca]

You must weigh the benefits and risks of taking medication(most likely an SSRI like Prozac(20mgs daily) or Paxil(20mgs daily) and if your lucky some Klonopin(0.5mgs x 2 daily) and decide whether its worth it or not. In my case it is DEFINITELY worth it. I would be a train wreck without meds, with meds I'm close to a Normie.

 

[P+G]

Did your doctor or counsellor decide to offer you medication? Or was it something that you yourself wanted to try? I hope you don't mind me asking. How far along the 'recovery' line were you at?

 

[Noca]

Did your doctor or counsellor decide to offer you medication? Or was it something that you yourself wanted to try? I hope you don't mind me asking. How far along the 'recovery' line were you at?

my counsellor and my psychiatrist offered me meds when I first went to the psych ward. I was not even on the recovery line at the time, hadn't started yet. Now with meds I'm about 65% recovered.

 

[DillJenkins]

In USA if you go to psychiatrist, they will recommend medication as a treatment. If you go to therapist, psychologist, counselor, etc....they will tell you that psychotherapy will help you more.

General practitioners are not the people to speak with for mental issues. They have no understanding whatsoever in general. They treat the physical issues cause thats what their best at. At best they might start you on SSRI and refer you to psychiatrist.

Whether or not you need medicine is up to you to decide. Basically consider how the social anxiety is preventing you from functioning how you want to in life. If your like me and its basically making you housebound, then I would say go for medication and therapy both.

If you have only had anxiety for a few years then its likely that therapy will be enough to help you.

 

[jmroszczak]

I agree with Dill


In my case I have been housebound for basically the past 6 years...I am just starting out getting help..I am seeing a therapist and I have an appointment with a psychiatrist. When I see the psychiatrist I will get on meds.

 

[Noca]

The best treatment for SA is a combination of therapy and medication, combined they do more than either one can do alone.

 

[P+G]

Thanks for all your posts. I haven't seen a counsellor yet, I guess I'm right at the bottom of the waiting list. I think I've had anxiety since I was a child. It's only now that I'm starting to understand it because it's been affecting me so much more. However, it's not crippling, I'm still able to go out. It's just that I'm very much on my own all the time apart from family, no friends or relationships. It'll definately get worse when I leave for university and when I get older. What happens during therapy? I know this is straying from the original post.. but I'm from the UK and I'll be seeing a counsellor through my GP so if anyone's been through a similar route, it'll be very helpful. Thanks.

 

[Diklah Xenon]

Hello...............I am a firm believer that doctors should stay within their field of expertise. If you are anxious or depressed, seeing a regular M.D. should get you a referral to a psychiatrist. The last thing you need is to be misdiagnosed. This is a very common occurrence , especially for the depressed. What can happen is that the medications you are prescribed for depression can and do "trigger" other symptoms of mental illnesses like bipolar disorder

 

[Darker Than Black]

DON'T TAKE MEDS PLEASE

FACE IT YOURSELF, you might become addicted to it, and meds may lead to increased level of depression.

my psychologist recommended me to take meds for my OCD, but I changed my mind, and didn't, now, my OCD its much less intense than it was before a few years ago, and this was last year when I talked to my psychologist.

it makes me feel ok by facing my problems with out depending on some meds that changes you brain chemistry.