Does anyone really believe counselling helps get over depression?

Question

I have just been diagnosed with depression and got medication and counselling, but i dont want to sit and talk with a total stranger of my problems. I dont even want to take the drugs really! does anyone else feel like this or has gone through this? I feel frightened and upset to even admit i am ill let alone have the confidence to speak about it. Can anyone help me?

Answer 1

Sometimes its difficult to sit with a stranger and talk about very personal issues however a counsellor listens, never judges and it is totally confidential. Often just talking freely to someone you don't know personally helps. We can all get bogged down by events in our life and a counsellor wants to help. Give it a go..helped me though a very bad time when I finally realised this person was there to help.

Answer 2

This is so hard for you. Yes,counselling does help as will the drugs. The problem with depression is that it drapes you with negativity. You become convinced that nothing works and never will. It's a trick of the illness (condition, if you prefer). It takes a while to get used to talking to someone else about these things but you will probably be surprised how quickly you build a rapport. You may not be talking about problems as such. Most forms of counselling these days focus on the here and now and strategies to help you change the way you think. Do give it a try. Face it you have nothing to lose and a great deal to gain. Depression can be a fatal illness. Take it seriously. Be kind to yourself. It will get better.

Answer 3

I've been exactly where you are, scared frightened almost ashamed to admit you've got the terrible 'disease'. It is different for everyone, so all I can give you is the tips that helped me through.

I decided I didn't want to go down the medicated route, I was worried it would leave me feeling I needed the tablets to feel ok. Whatever you decide is upto you. I took counselling, from various places in the end. I wouldn't go expecting the counsellor to have any answers for you... I thought thats how it worked!! I generally mistrusted the counsellor, they annoyed me and I felt annoyed I was in such a mess that I was going to see them.

The one thing it allowed me to do was offload and offload to someone impartial, although friends and family were there for me, I felt ashamed and guilty at loading them with my problems.
Just talking through what I thought was wrong with me allowed my mind the space and time to start looking ahead and making a plan to get better. Something it had not been allowed to do while I was wallowing with my dark monster.

The other things sound patronising, but they GENUINELY work, gentle exercise, take countryside walks and do anything that you used to enjoy before depression took pleasure away from you. Eating a healthy balanced diet really really works, its all about getting those chemicals back in balance in your brain, it can be done!!!

The biggest thing I would advise is not to be ashamed of depression, I met with a lot of people who didn't believe it existed, except for lazy people who don't want to work, well guess what it does!! And some of the world's most interesting and funny people have and do suffer from depression. Spike Milligan is one of my fav comedians and I felt comfort knowing he had felt the depths of depression like me. Depression is like any illness, you have to fully admit you have it before you can hit the road to recovery. People's attitudes can be negative, but don't let that stop you, take strength from the fact you know better than them.

Reading helped me too, stuff about mountains wouldn't be high if valleys weren't so deep, and the most beautiful musical instruments are carved from the sharpest knives.
I can't tell you this process won't hurt it will in a way I had never experienced, but there is a way through, and if I can do it then anyone can. Especially if you are looking for a way out which you clearly are, you have already taken your first step to recovery!!

Good luck because you have a fight on your hands, but believe me, its worth fighting with all your heart.

Answer 4

I admire your courage and honesty !!! You must have been to a GP, you must have recognised the change in your emotions!!! First of all ............try the Meds and see if they DO help. if NOT, go back to your GP and try something else. sometimes it takes a little bit of time to hit the right Meds. When / if you decide to give the Counsellor a try, say just that to her/him : - " I don't really want to talk about all that............" It is a good way of opening and will put things into perspective for both of you. (May be someone can accompany you on your first visit) I mean take/ collect you.........not be present at the meeting.
You may want to talk about feeling frightened and upset and actually feel relieved afterwards having "offloaded/shared " all your feelings. Depression can be a temporary condition and with input from you, a counsellor and maybe a few group sessions? and the right Meds you will manage the signs and symptoms of an onset and it's all a thing of the past.................Trust me, you can do it. Anyway a total stranger is unbiased, not emotionally involved and also empathetic. In my opinion the best person to talk to. Give it a go and GOOD LUCK

Answer 5

Counselling doesn't get you over depression,it helps you to look at the positive things.You may not want to talk to a stranger,but i find it helpful,as they know nothing about you,and they can't judge you by past behaviour.
Try to avoid the medication.Keep it safe,and only use it,as a last resort,because the list of side effects can be staggering.
If your counsellor is a good one,you should have a number where you can reach them at any time,day or night.
You may feel frightened and alone right now,but there is someone out there who will sit and listen to you,whether it be your mum,dad,best friend.
Take a deep breath,and calm yourself.Nothing happens overnight.
You've already taken the biggest step of all,by asking this question,you may not want to admit it to yourself,and deep down you already know the answer.
Good luck with whatever decisiion you make.

Answer 6

The drugs on their own won't cure you; they provide an opportunity to stop feeling so down that you are immobilised and you can go on from there and repair your life. I am on Citalopram at the moment and have tried various other anti depressants, even Seroxat which is now regarded as having great potential to lead to suicide. You must use the medication in combination with taking steps to heal yourself - counselling may work for you. Forget they are strangers - you are free to talk about you and only you and your problems and they will listen no matter what. They may be able to help, they didn't help me at all I must admit, but I know some people have good results with them but it has taken months. You WILL get over this. Find out what helps YOU best.

Answer 7

Well, yes and no, this all depends on the person.

If you don't want to take the medication explain your fears to your doctor.

Taking to a stranger means they don't know you, they don't judge you and they have no influence in your life, trust me it is a good thing you don't know them.

It means you can tell them all your dark thoughts, expel all the things that bother you, and then leave them there knowing the person doesn't judge you and that you don't see the person everyday.

Talk about little things, test the water, built some trust, but once you straight letting go of the bad things in your mind you will feel so much better.

Don't feel scared, use all the support that is around you, e mail me if you like, your not the first person to feel like this, you won't be the last.

I have been where you are know and i talk about it openly so that other people know that it is OK to feel like this, and to let people know that they can recover and have a full life.

Keep in contact with your DR, nurse etc and keep going.

Answer 8

Yes I've gone through this and still do. I too like you was ashamed that I was ill and had to take tablets. It took a long time to accept that there are times when you need help. Do not be ashamed of this. We are not superhumans, even though the impression is that we should be. We are human and frail. Our fast paced lifestyles today create the receipe for depression.

Counselling can help, some people use it others find other ways. Find time to relax, go for a walk. Find time for yourself. Get to know yourself then you are able to be honest about perhaps suppressed feelings about things.

There is lots of support out there. I finally took my illness and depressions to God in prayer. I say finally, because for years I'd tried to do everything myself. Let other people help you - you will be surprised who suffers from depression.

Visit your local library and find books and articles about depression. Don't be afraid If you don't want to go to counselling tried confiding in a good mate or relative, one whom you trust won't push you away.

Try writing down your feelings in a journal, even if they seem negative. I did painting as therapy and it was wonderful and helped me enormously.

If you need medication for a short or long while it's okay, even people with other health problems take tablets.

Be good to yourself and take care.

Answer 9

I was on medication for 9 months and I saw a psychiatrist for 2 years and I honestly don't know how I would have got through it without him - give it a chance. The doctor I saw had a way of talking to me about things so I didn't feel like I was being questioned or that my privacy was being invaded and if I ever find myself in that position again I would certainly go back. As for medication - I would recommend it... Don't let the stigma of taking antidepressants hold you back. Depression is a result of a hormonal imbalance in your brain and much of the medication on the market increase your levels of seratonin. What have you got to lose by giving them a try, you never know, you might begin to feel better.

Answer 10

Yes, I do believe counseling helps, considerably, especially if you are on meds. A counselor can shed a different light on your situation to help you better understand what you are going through. Depending on what "type" of counselor (Psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker etc.) you will be visiting with, they may be able to help determine how long you'll need to take the meds. Afterall if you willingly cooperate and use your time wisely with this professional the faster your recovery will be. Be Honest not only with the counselor but also with yourself, THAT'S IMPORTANT!
Keep in mind too that you are fortunate to have a counselor to talk to. Many people (myself included) are doing good just to pay for the meds let alone afford the benefit of having someone to talk to on a regular and consistant basis. You have the opportunity to bounce back with the assistance of a coach, take advantage of it.
Anyways, take care and best wishes

Answer 11

I know it's wierd talking to someone about the most private thoughts & aspects in your life but getting the opinion of someone totally unbiased & with nothing to gain can really help you gain perspective in your life. That's the whole point - I mean, what can you lose by speaking to a counsellor? I can guarantee it wouldn't make things worse as they don't have that much invested in your life to cause problems. You never know - being able to just unload all your crap onto someone who honestly doesn't judge can be very liberating.

As for the meds, they can help plateau you out so you're not so upset all the time. They won't work on your own but they can be a great help in allowing you to analyse your life & what's causing your depression & how to change it.