You don't have to. Especially if you feel you are not depessed, it is fine to choose another path. I understand about the life insurance. I had to fill out a new policy and was glad I was not on any psychoactive meds at the time.

My sister takes St. John's Wort everyday and thinks it helps her.

I really agree with this. I think it is up to everyone to make their own decision. I had an opposite situation happen to that of sittingatwatersedge. I was very depressed when I went to see my first T. I knew nothing about therapy or anti-depressants or anything. After a number of sessions, I asked the T about drugs to treat depression. I thought maybe she could prescribe me some if she thought they were appropriate (she was a LCSW, I totally did not know that a therapist could not prescribe anti-depressants--I knew nothing!). She was very bristly when I broached the topic and told me she could not prescribe, and if I wanted these drugs I would have to go see my doctor, and if I did, she would not see me anymore. I was really cowed by this response and never brought it up again or considered meds. It made me feel bad and weak and wrong for considering the meds option. Luckily, through work with a really good therapist (after her), I was able to pretty much leave my depression behind. I do have a good feeling I did it without meds, but I still don't like the first therapist's attitude. ADs do help a lot of people.

That's kind of how I feel, maybe I am just more toward the depressed end of the mood scale and that is my natural way of being. And I went way down to the end of the scale when I had these bad life events going on. But now I feel I am back to normal for me. Oddly, now that I am not depressed (by my standards), I actually did go see a medical person for advice on mental health and did get some prescriptions to help with ADHD-like symptoms. And these meds made me feel not depressed, even though I did not think of myself as being depressed at that time. It's all a continuum I guess, and what one is used to. My prescriber didn't give me a diagnosis of depression in our discussions, but when she billed my insurance, it says her diagnosis is "Major Depression, Recurrent Episode." Whoa! So, that's on my record now. Maybe they can't get reimbursed by insurance if they put down ADHD. I'm not fond of labels.

That's terrible! I hope she can explain that there are options and her suggestion is only that. You and can work together with your health providers to come up with a plan that is right for you. You are part of your treatment team!