Seeing a doctor about anxiety/depression... can I refuse counselling/ask for medicine?

Question

I have had counselling before and really do not feel that it is useful for me personally to dig out things from the past, as they then play on my mind for weeks and weeks afterwards and make me feel a lot worse that I already do. I have never tried medication - would it be okay to tell the doctor that I'd like to try medication, or do I have to accept counselling with it?

Answer 1

When I finally went to a doc for my depression/anxiety, she had me see a psychologist first. She asked me a bunch of questions to rule out any trauma. She felt I had a mere chemical imbalance that can be remedied by antidepressents. Not enough seratonin was getting to my brain and it caused me to feel too up and too down. I was either anxious or fatigued from being so anxious, which creates depression. The psychologist also said (note this) that rehashing the past just stirs the ole emotion pot. It does no good to relive every crappy incident we've endured. The future is where it's at. Soooo, definitely ask for some meds. You may have to try a couple different ones to find what works for you. If doc says no, then you open the phone book to yellow pages and find a new one . I did. And I 'm now quite the happy camper!!

Answer 2

Why dont you accept the counselling if its offered however tell the counseller what you've said here,and ask to only talk about things that are happening now rather than the past if this upsets you.

Answer 3

So.........it's like asking for the deodorant, but refusing water to take the shower................on the surface it may smell better ...........but the whole truth is........."nothing has changed"!

Do keep in mind that there are different types and techniques of counseling out there, depending on your need and the approach of the particular therapist.

Would you really just ask for an aspirin and a Band-aid for a splinter in your foot? Health requires the wincing of removing that splinter so you can heal and walk on without a limp.

The same is true for anxiety and depression.

Answer 4

The question you need to ask yourself is: Do I really want to do something about this?

If you are not really committed to solving this, no amount of pills or counsel ling will work for you.

It could have been the counselors fault; maybe you did not really "jell" with the person. Ask for referrals from your doctor; mention medication as a possibility. I think a lot of doctors are being monitored for writing excess scripts these days. I can understand their reluctance to write.

Good luck to you.

Answer 5

Nope, just see your family doctor about depression and anxiety. I take Celexa as my anti-depressant because it doesn't have hardly any side effects but if you have to take 2 pills a day take one in the morning and one at night. I was taking them together in the morning and was not getting any results so I tried reading the label and this one said 2 times a day. I can't believe the difference.

I take Klopin for anxiety, but it makes me so tired during the day. I take 1mg and even if I break it into quarters and take just 1/4 mg it still makes me tired. That's why I like ativan.

But the BEST anti-anxiety drug I ever took was Xanax ER (extended release) its NOT like regular xanax which is evil. You take it in the morning and it lasts all day. If your anxiety is severe and mine was they gave me 3mg but that was two much so go with 2mg. If you have insurance your doctor will have to fill out a form and just have them put sever anxiety and panic attacks.

And for sleep I took Serequel(?) non-narcotic and 100mg gives you the best sleep you've ever had. But after taking it awhile you'll have to switch to some other sleep stuff like ambien because your body gets used to the Sereuquel.

I can't wait to get a job so I have insurance and I can get the drugs I like.

So those are just 3 suggestions. Just be honest with your doctor tell them you have severe anxiety and insomnia which is making your depression worse. They'll give you what you need. But explain that if you could calm down and sleep your depression isn't usually this bad.

xxx

Answer 6

I think you should have both counseling and medicine. Usually the medicine helps make the counseling more effective. The doctor will probably let you have the pills either way.

Answer 7

Most doctors will refuse to write a perscription until they have had a few sessions with you. But you should make your opinions known, the therapist should be able to adjust their normal procedures to what is most effective for you.

Keep in mind that meds are not magic, they carry many serious side-effects and complications. Many depression medicens even cause overwhelming suicidal urges in some people. Please, try to give talking as much of a chance as you can bear before resorting to drugs.

good luck.

Answer 8

About 99% of the time, in order to get medication, you also have to go to therapy/counseling/whatever. There are crackpot docs out there that will happily oblige you with your wish of meds only, but they are risky....and well....crackpots. Counseling can suck alot of the times. I know I loathed it, but my medication worked wonders. You have to weigh out the pros and cons. Good luck.

Answer 9

I mean, I guess it comes down to telling him that you really love him and don't want to lose him to something that's completely treatable, because he may get sicker. I'm sure he's just scared of going, but he may just need a course of antibiotics. Also, if it were me, it would hurt me to see my husband like that and not wanting to go to the doctor, so I would let him know that it seems like he doesn't care about himself or you.

Answer 10

If you just flat out say "gimmie pills" you might seem like a pill head. Just tell the doctor exactly what you've said here. Should work.