is it better to take medicine for depression?

Question

rather than taking medicine for depression i would want to talk to a counselor is that a good idea

Answer 1

the BEST option is medicine AND counseling. psychiatrists, psychologists and therapists recommend three tactics to dealing with depression or other diseases. medicine only, therapy only, or a combination of the two. the combination is proven to work best and is what most will recommend. theyll also talk to you first before giving you any medicine. theyll do that until they get a good gauge. maybe you wont even need medicine! i talked to a therapist once and he helped me out and i never had to go back. amazing what they help you to see. good luck to you!

Answer 2

It depends whats causing the depression, how long has it been. I think its normal to have a little depression every now and then. Sometimes we get bored, we feel we're getting older and "the good years" have passed us by.

I am never a fan of medication, and see it as a last resort. Look at what study you will, most of the chemists who make these drugs repackage them with new names when they dont sell. Basically, they dont even know what the drugs REALLY do. They SEEM to help this problem, or that problem, but the evidence is not entirely conclusive. Simply stimulating seratonin can have a positive or negative effect, depending on your personal chemistry.

I'll make this last point; Ask people who take drugs to "help" mood disorders: Do you meditate? Commonly, and not surprising, the answer is NO or I dont think that works or "I dont have the time."

Evidence shows that when an economy is growing and unemployment is low mental illness is low, also. I attribute depression to many things but burnout from a hectic schedule can create whats called the "hampster wheel effect"-the feeling that you're just spinning your wheels and not really enjoying life.

As for counselors, they can also "tell you what you want to hear". To avoid this, I say multiple opinions help alot. My experience in group therapy has shown me that the "feeling alone on an island" seems a common thing indeed.

My best therapy, personally, came from realizing what I wanted AND talking to lots of people, and meditation of course. You would be amazed at how our mood is efffected by our environment!

Last but not least, check your diet. A low ph from too many carbs, too many acidic foods,can deplete intestinal flora and cause whats called a candida yeast infection, which is intestinal. Symptoms of this? Low energy, feeling tired easily, craving sweets all the time. A diet high in fruit and raw vegetables can change the mood alot!

synopsis: drugs as a last resort. Empower yourself first!

Answer 3

Yes, counseling is a great idea! I honestly haven't seen anyone really get better on meds. Yes, some people do need meds for certain illnesses... but with depression... try getting to the root of the problem, don't cover it up with pills. I was on a message board and this person was listing out probably 10-15 different meds they'd tried and said none of them work... my question was... Have you tried working on the problem??? I've been on tons of meds over the past 10 years for depression and supposedly being bipolar... I got myself in a better situation, started taking care of myself, went off the meds... I've been off of them for a month now and am doing BETTER than when I was on the meds! I'm learning how to deal with the problem, live life on life's terms... rather than taking meds that sedate me and keep me from having to look at the problem. Don't let any dr or counselor push meds on you, try to work on the problem first... maybe down the road you'll decide you do need to try meds, but don't let it be a long term deal... try it a few months, then evaluate how you're doing... I know so many people who say the meds are great, the meds work... they're still not functioning though, they're all on disability can't hold a job... they're drugged out, they don't have to deal with all the crap, that's why they say it's working great.

Anyway, I highly suggest counseling over medication... good luck!

Answer 4

Hi Jesse, My name is Mark and I suffer from the same depression and anxiety you do, I have found that the drug aropax was very good with depression but I was suffering still with anxiety so I have switched to Lexapro and seem to be feeling a lot better it's only been two weeks but it can take up-to a month to reach it's full effect see how I feel in a couple more weeks. Hope this has been helpful. Mark.

Answer 5

Yes it as a very good answer to talk with a therapist. It may help to get information about the problems that you are having dificulty with and day-to-day situations. Sometimes depression may be caused by a chemical inbalance within the brain. Antidepressants are helpful in those situations. This will be something that you would like to consider after discussions with your therapist. Antidepressants work quite well for some persons.Just because you may decide that you may need to take medications, it doesnot mean you are crazy, Continue meeting with a therapist. Also remember that even with taking medication, you would continue your therapy sessions.

Answer 6

I think it's always better to work through your problems if you can, before taking drugs. I personally feel that drugs should be a last resort of clinical depression, or for people who don't respond to other forms of treatment. Only you know the depth of your feelings, but a counselor will be able to give you a professional assessment.
You can also feel better by changing your diet, eating foods that raise both your serotonin and endorphin levels and also by increasing the endorphins in your brain by certain activities. If you think you can work through it over the next 90 days or so, please try a more natural approach before drugs.

Also, If you start taking anti-depressants (which work to elevate seratonin levels in your brain), and they are not enough--you are still not feeling happy, content, or at peace, you may have low beta-endorphins (BEs).
http://www.recoverfromdepression.com/betaendorphins.htm

Answer 7

Your counselor will probably just put you on meds anyways. That's what happened to me. I couldn't deal with the side effects of the meds so i stopped cold turkey. It was hell coming off Lexapro, my head was dizzy and ringing for a month. My depression has come back, but i am going to try maybe taking 5HTP it's more holistic/herbal approach to attacking depression. A friend takes it and said it works for her without the side effects. Medication can help tremendously with depression, everyones body reacts differently to the treatments. Find one that is right for you.

Answer 8

Depending on the severity of your depression and the length of it would determine if you are a good canidate for medication. Talking to a counselor is always helpfull. Just be sure you find one you connect with, if you don't feel comfortable with the one you get, let them know and try someone else, they wont be offended and it is necessary to get someone you feel you can open up to. Another bit of advice while you are feeling blue is to take extra special care of you. Find time for yourself to do things you enjoy, get enough rest, eat healthy and excercise is so helpfull for you, it releases lots of feel good hormones that help relieve stress and change your mood. Another good thing to do is journal. Write down all your feelings and get them out. It is a good way to reflect, process information and to relieve stress. One more thing, forgive yourself of any past, present mistakes. We all make them and carrying them around only brings you down. Love yourself, be good to yourself and I will pray that you will feel better soon. Good luck and God bless you.

Answer 9

Yes, it defiantly helps to talk things out. I suffer from the same problem and found it really helped, I also take St John Wort it is a herbal supplement which helps depression. I also find exercising help as it is supposed to increase the serotonin in the brain, Gentle swimming is my favorite exercise.

Good luck l hope you feel better soon.

Answer 10

Yes definitely. If you can do it with a therapist that is much better for you, and should get to the root of the problem rather than just covering it up.