[Jelli]

Hey everyone,

I'm new here and I never really imagined I'd be posting a thread so soon. So please bear with me. I'm really looking for support for both people who are in therapy and from people who have taken medications for anxiety or depression. I have recently had one session with my therapist, and after being told that she is on call when I need her, I have called her twice. Once tonight, and the other was last night. I feel so clingy and emotional, and feel terrible for having to call. At the end of our phone call tonight, she told me that she thinks I will need more than 3-5 sessions(the amount that she says she would normally see progress in clients), and that she wants to talk to me about putting me on medication during our next session? I mean, I have seen her once. Talked with her twice. She made some comment about how I seem to be dealing with trust issues, high anxiety, self esteem issues, and depression. So, now she thinks I'm depressed too? I don't know. I'd just really appreciate any kind of support from anyone who can relate to any of this. I just already feel so overwhelmed right now, the idea of getting on medication is almost more stressful right now. Thanks guys,

~Jelli

[Leah123]

Oh my goodness. I can see why you are stressed and overwhelmed! Therapy can be so agitating: to open up and have some hope of feeling/getting better after going it alone can really open us to a lot of feelings that are hard to handle post-session.

I don't know anything about her credentials or what you've told her, and so keep in mind I'm just a stranger on the internet, haha, but... with that said,

it sounds awfully soon for her to discuss medication and expect progress so quickly!!!

Is she a psychiatrist, someone focused on medications?? Or perhaps a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) practitioner focused on a limited, often quick type of treatment than many other modalities. http://psychology.about.com/od/psychotherapy/a/cbt.htm

If not, if this is your first therapist, I'd almost suggest getting a second opinion- maybe finding another potential therapist and trying a session with them to see what you think.

While you sort this out, I hope you'll try taking extra good care of yourself- more rest, pampering, getting support, etc., whatever things are best for distracting and nourishing you.

So she is a psychiatrist? Does she do full-length sessions with you? Seeing progress in 3-5 sessions is pretty unrealistic for therapy that occurs maybe once a week. But, a pdoc who might see a patient once a month while focused mostly on medications for treatment probably would hope to see some symptom improvement over 3-5 months. It would also probably be unusual for an entirely new patient to call twice in two days after only one meeting. It might be indicating to her a high level of anxiety and depression.

By the way, if you were not looking to go on medications, seeing a pdoc for therapy may not be the way to go.

[growlycat]

Welcome!!!

I agree that 3-5 sessions is a bit aggressive in expecting major change. It depends on what your issues are.

Medication can be helpful, but I too would be wary that she is making that call so quickly.

Keep posting!!

[RedSun]

Hi
My GP (family doctor) put me on citalopram a couple of years ago, it is for anxiety. It is hydrobromide according to the box...
It has really helped a lot, and I definitely benefit more from therapy when on citalopram.
I will potentially be on it for long term, and I'm fine with that. The way I see it, if someone said I needed medication long term for eg low blood pressure, or diabetes, it wouldn't be an issue and no-one would concieve that I would not take it, or feel bad about it. I feel that there is such a stigma around mental health, we feel like we have failed if we admit being ill, or accept mediaction. But it is simply just that, an illness, a chemical imbalance, and we should not feel ashamed about taking treatment to feel better.
(climbs down from soapbox....)

Anyway, I have quite a few friends who also take meds for anxiety or depression. There are very mixed feelings about taking it, but I think they all feel better.
Hope this helps

[venusss]

She made some comment about how I seem to be dealing with trust issues, high anxiety, self esteem issues, and depression.

this is not a stuff that can be dealt with over course of 3-5 sessions.

[HazelGirl]

I saw my T once before she told me I should call my doctor and get some antidepressants. And she was right. They have helped so much.

[NowhereUSA]

my t supports me using meds although he is a psychotherapist, not a pdoc. i do see a pdoc at my t's behest. my t isn't gung-ho about meds, but after seeing me for a while he encourages me to try them because i clearly need them.

idk. i found that xanax was helpful for a period of time as i was trying to get my emotions back under control. i did dbt (and am doing it again as a refresher) and once i got through dbt and internalized the skills, i didn't need xanax as much and haven't taken it in quite a few years.

it does seem like she's a little hurried with the meds. you could always get a second opinion and you don't have to take anything you don't want to. i have an open dialogue with my pdoc and i know it drives him crazy sometimes, but i really push for as much info as possible.

[ThisWayOut]

Hearing that she is already recommending meds on the surface kinda strikes me as a bit aggressive, however you did also call her twice for additional support since the first session. When I notice myself reaching out so much so fast to a therapist, I generally need more support. It sounds like you might be at that point. I think then meds may be something to look into...
I would also like to echo the question of why she thinks 3-5 sessions would be enough to see significant improvement. Some things can be addressed by brief therapy, but generally depression and self esteem issues are not that quick to respond. Perhaps look into a second opinion? But also at the same time think about the potential benefits from meds (unless you have prior bad experiences with meds, then just go with a second opinion). Good luck

[kororain]

My T recommended anxiety meds at our very first meeting as well. I declined. She hasn't brought it up again.

[Nammu]

She may feel your depression is severe enough to warrant additional help of meds. Talk to her about what she is recommending and why. Tell her up front about how you feel about that, and keep the dialog open. After she tells you what she is recommending you can do the research before you decide. Theirs no reason you must decide during you next appointment. Just get the information and take some time after that to weigh the pros and cons of the info she gave you.

By the way

[thatssomething]

I've been on A LOT of medications for depression and anxiety. Starting them changed my life and improved my depression a lot. That being said, starting meds is a big decision as some people can have really bad side effects. In addition, some medications for anxiety like Ativan and klonopin are addictive. Even though I only take one klonopin a day to help me fall asleep and it's only. 5 MG I've become addicted and can no longer sleep without them. Don't let her pressure you into medication if you aren't ready. You're the one who will have to buy the pills and take them daily and deal with the side effects so the choice is yours and it's much easier to wait til you're ready than to come off the pills once you've started them if you realize you weren't ready to start them in the first place. That being said, if you decide meds are right for you, I say go for it, they do really help but they aren't magical and won't magically solve your problems. Mostly they just help to clear some of the guilty thoughts, high anxiety and self-doubt thoughts out of your head so it's easier to see things more clearly, or at least that's what they did for me, everyone responds differently.

[NowhereUSA]

Originally Posted by thatssomething

I've been on A LOT of medications for depression and anxiety. Starting them changed my life and improved my depression a lot. That being said, starting meds is a big decision as some people can have really bad side effects. In addition, some medications for anxiety like Ativan and klonopin are addictive. Even though I only take one klonopin a day to help me fall asleep and it's only. 5 MG I've become addicted and can no longer sleep without them.

i do .5 klonopin to sleep (rls). if it helps, if you can fight through the first week, it does get better. i got pregnant and had to stop. i have rls so that piece kicked back up but after the first week (possibly two) i found i could fall asleep again (even if my sleep sucked). i'd been on klonopin for several years too.

[thatssomething]

Originally Posted by NowhereUSA

i do .5 klonopin to sleep (rls). if it helps, if you can fight through the first week, it does get better. i got pregnant and had to stop. i have rls so that piece kicked back up but after the first week (possibly two) i found i could fall asleep again (even if my sleep sucked). i'd been on klonopin for several years too.

Did you get rebound insomnia? Last time I tried to stop I was up almost all night and couldn't fall asleep. After 2 nights of that I gave in and started taking it again.

[NowhereUSA]

Originally Posted by thatssomething

Did you get rebound insomnia? Last time I tried to stop I was up almost all night and couldn't fall asleep. After 2 nights of that I gave in and started taking it again.

i did. but i took some other stuff and about night three i finally passed out from exhaustion. if you aren't pregnant you could probably get another med to help wean off that isn't addictive. what i could do was pretty limited due to the pregnancy. like i said, i probably fell into more normal sleep habits after about a week. it's a rough go to start but if you can tough it out or get something to help, then it'll pass.

[monkeybrains21]

I too was told by T at first session she thought meds would help. I refused and have in after 2yrs struggling. U can tell T no but maybe come back to it at a later date. It's unrealistic to be showing progress for anxiety and depression so quickly after beginning therapy. Do u like this T? Are u comfortable with her or do u not et a good vibe?

Her unrealistic attitude towards improvement would be a deal breaker to me. She's not god and ppl can't change that quickly. There's no magic that cures us of depression and anxiety at the drop of a hat. Get a new T she doesn't seem like a fit and doesn't seem like she in reality. U can pm me if u would like to speak with me further. I just got put on lexapro a few weeks ago.

[Perna]

Hi, Jelli, and welcome!

It does sound like you are pretty anxious and stressed, calling your therapist two evenings in a row instead of waiting for the next session. I think talk therapy works best session-to-session and sometimes there is just too much going on and medication can help with that aspect until we can get our bearings. However, it is not a mandate, just a suggestion and some therapists might make it more of a mandate to work with them because the "regular" work of therapy cannot take place is we are too anxious and stressed and the therapist does not have the ability to spend that much time and "effort" in non-talk therapy when that is their core service.

Have you been to your regular primary care physician and gotten a physical lately, made sure your hormones and vitamin use and your physical body is in top shape, etc.? The physical can influence the mental just like the mental can influence the physical and it could be that a more familiar situation like your regular doctor (if you have one) could help make the new situation of therapy easier for you.

It sounds like your therapist said "discuss" medicine, and that is an operative word. Keep reminding yourself that you are only talking, not "doing" right this moment and try to give yourself space to talk and listen both. Go on a fact-finding mission :-) and ask questions of your therapist, what you might expect from taking medicine and think about what you want in terms of how you want to relate to your therapist and yourself/life situation. If you are feeling stressed all the time and having trouble dealing with that within yourself, I would see if medicine might be helpful or I would think up a plan with how to better deal with yourself, see if you can improve nutrition, exercise, sleep, etc. and how that might affect you.

[thatssomething]

Originally Posted by NowhereUSA

i did. but i took some other stuff and about night three i finally passed out from exhaustion. if you aren't pregnant you could probably get another med to help wean off that isn't addictive. what i could do was pretty limited due to the pregnancy. like i said, i probably fell into more normal sleep habits after about a week. it's a rough go to start but if you can tough it out or get something to help, then it'll pass.

My doc had me on trazadone but after three or so nights I started doing weird things in my sleep so she took me off it. One morning I woke up with my arms holding the sheet over my head almost like I was suffocating myself so I came off that real quick. It really freaked me out though so I guess I've been a bit afraid to try anything since. What was the other stuff you took, if you don't mind sharing? I'm so worried about what's gonna happen when I get pregnant (though that's a few years off) because at least half of my meds are class d or whatever the class is where they know for sure it harms a fetus.

[NowhereUSA]

Originally Posted by thatssomething

My doc had me on trazadone but after three or so nights I started doing weird things in my sleep so she took me off it. One morning I woke up with my arms holding the sheet over my head almost like I was suffocating myself so I came off that real quick. It really freaked me out though so I guess I've been a bit afraid to try anything since. What was the other stuff you took, if you don't mind sharing? I'm so worried about what's gonna happen when I get pregnant (though that's a few years off) because at least half of my meds are class d or whatever the class is where they know for sure it harms a fetus.

trazadone never did anything for me. i've had good luck with ambien although i couldn't take it while pregnant. during pregnancy i couldn't take any meds so i did therapy. in retrospect i probably should have done more therapy, but at the time i wasn't thinking clearly. note for next time lol.

pm me if you want more info

(sorry to hijack the thread).

[healingme4me]

Originally Posted by Jelli

Hey everyone,

I'm new here and I never really imagined I'd be posting a thread so soon. So please bear with me. I'm really looking for support for both people who are in therapy and from people who have taken medications for anxiety or depression. I have recently had one session with my therapist, and after being told that she is on call when I need her, I have called her twice. Once tonight, and the other was last night. I feel so clingy and emotional, and feel terrible for having to call. At the end of our phone call tonight, she told me that she thinks I will need more than 3-5 sessions(the amount that she says she would normally see progress in clients), and that she wants to talk to me about putting me on medication during our next session? I mean, I have seen her once. Talked with her twice. She made some comment about how I seem to be dealing with trust issues, high anxiety, self esteem issues, and depression. So, now she thinks I'm depressed too? I don't know. I'd just really appreciate any kind of support from anyone who can relate to any of this. I just already feel so overwhelmed right now, the idea of getting on medication is almost more stressful right now. Thanks guys,

~Jelli

Perhaps there was something about whatever you said or how you stated it, that tossed depression into the mix?

My first med was citalopram, aka, Celexa. Treats both anxiety and depression. It's a taper up, type of medication.
My PDoc has stated, therapy is most beneficial when it's meds and therapy. I'd say, if you're about to delve into pains of youth, having an AD as backup can help keep you from wilting through the tangles of emotions that will come out. Feel them, address them, with a med to maintain the ability to function in the here and now.

Sounds like something brought out your clinginess, after just one session.

Are people in your real life, at a distance? It's vulnerable when deprived of being cared for in our lives. You are vulnerable. Regardless if you stick with this t or choose another.