[Enigmatik]

Hi there,
I know that meds & therapy go hand in hand to treat Panic Disorder however my fear of meds is so ridiculous that I have simply decided that I do not think it is necessary to put myself through the fear that overcomes me when the idea of trying a new med comes about. The two I have tried have been enough to set me off the med idea -possibly for life. All in all, the side effects do not win to the panic...Panic will not kill me, Meds may kill me. Simple. SO I was wondering if anyone here has Panic Disorder (or Agoraphobia, or both such as me) and has been successfully dealing with it/dealt with it through the use of therapy WITHOUT meds???
I am scheduled to go see a therapist (first time) this month and I'm afraid of what to say/do if she suggests meds- IF a therapist uses meds as part of their treatment do you have to seek out a therapist specifically who does NOT use meds as part of therapy??? Or am I grossly mistaken and a little "over extending my imagination" here??
My appologies in advance as I do not know how this therapy jazz works

[Perna]

I never had meds though my therapist suggested them a couple of times. I have only had one panic attack in my life though, back in 1970 :-) That was before m/any meds for anxiety. I had a similar realization that the panic attack was "itself" and not something that would kill me. I logically couldn't see anything "wrong" that the panic should be about so just waited and eventually it passed and I've never had another. I was in therapy for a long time and just keep working "out" from inside myself and my fears, small ones first :-) It's quite possible but not at all comfortable/easy.

[Soidhonia]

hello AngelicEnigma.
I am glad to hear that you have decided to get therapy. Taking medicaton is a choice you will have to make eventually, although there are other therapies that you can try that may help as well. Your therapist will be a better judge at what you need when it is time. Take care I hope the best for you in the future. Soidhonia

[Maven]

First of all, you might not know this, so I'll let you know: A psychologist cannot prescribe meds. A psychiatrist can. Psychiatrists are M.D.s, whereas psychologists are not. I know you're in Canada, but as far as I know, the only state in which psychologists can prescribe meds is New Mexico, and the U.S. territory of Guam. This is very controversial. I don't know about other parts of the world.

If you want to try to deal with your panic disorder without meds, there's no reason why you shouldn't give it a go. If you can't, you can worry about considering medication at a later date (and I understand your fears; I have my own concerns, as well). It's still your decision.

[Perna]

Maven, often psychologists (here in the States) won't see you unless you also are seeing/under the care of a psychiatrist. Many believe that you "need" meds to help focus and get to the work that needs to be done in individual therapy so they kind of have you in a bind if they want/pressure you to try meds and you don't want to. If that happens after you've started seeing them and are working with/like them, that can be very uncomfortable and difficult.

AngelicEnigma, I'd bring it up the first session when you go for your initial session. Just make a comment/statement as you're telling the therapist about yourself and your problems that you aren't on meds and don't foresee :-) wanting them as you've tried them a couple times in the past and they didn't work for you and the side effects were more than you wished to work with and it was more hassle than it was worth. The meds are causing the problem, not YOU.

You need to state your interests/beliefs up front though as it is possible that working along your therapist might see how meds might help you but if you haven't told her you don't want them, she's not going to have known that. Telling the therapist up front will help both of you before you start really working together so the therapist will know whether or not they're able to work with someone who has your problems given they don't want meds. Not all therapists are going to be willing to do that if after awhile it looks to them that you might do better on meds. But "warning" them up front you want the "hard" way, they'll maybe feel badly for you that you want to tough it out but shouldn't feel guilty or angry, etc. or get argumentative/arm twisting :-) etc.

[sunrise]

AngelicEnigma, try to find a therapist who is supportive of your desire to attempt to face your challenges without meds. They are out there. I kind of had the opposite problem. When I first went for therapy, I really wanted to get some anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications. I was barely functioning. By my counselor turned out to be one who didn't like her clients to do meds. I was so non-functional I couldn't challenge her on this so just gave her way a try. Later I moved on to another therapist who also didn't pressure me to do meds. Today, 18 months later, I am pretty much depression and anxiety free and did it without drugs (I had occasional panic attacks and don't have those anymore either). I don't see that original counselor anymore, but if I ever did again, the first thing I would say to her would be "thank you for encouraging me to try this without meds!" So please give it a go, and try to find a therapist who is open minded about this. If drug-free doesn't work for you, you can always try meds later. Good luck!!!

[Maven]

Perna, I didn't know that. I have gone to a clinic (where you get both a psychologist and a nurse practitioner--who can prescribe meds) so long, I hadn't thought of that. I've also seen psychiatrists, but of course, they can prescribe meds themselves. I don't think that's right. If a psych feels he can't help you if you're not on meds, but he hasn't even seen you, there's something wrong there. And in any case, I don't think a patient should be pressured, by doctors or by family and friends, to go on meds if they don't want to.