[alpacalicious]

So last week on my first appointment the therapist said that we'll do 4 session so he can know myself and my issues. Then he'll give me a feedback where he'll tell me if he can follow me etc (but I think he'll follow me).
I realized social anxiety is not really the problem...he said to me something like " i feel like anxiety is not really the problem, sure you can take meds for anxiety but there's something deeper that meds cant solve". And I agree with him now. I think in his treatment he won't use medication if a patient can function. He tend to not make diagnosis, because he works on the roots of the issues (and I'm fine with this!).
I'm dealing with social anxiety since I was 15. And other problems, low self esteem, anguish, emptiness, hidden anger etc...but no one noticed because I looked normal, functioning. others see me as "gentle, shy ,smart, without problems" I studied, went to university, passed exams, speak in public, did apprenticeships. And my depressive episodes come only when I get triggered by certain events. But then when these events are finished, depression and suicidal thoughts disappear and my energy is normal again.
So I think I don't need meds. Even tho I suspect he wont prescribe meds, I'm worried that he'll ask about them. I always lived without them, and no one noticed my mental health issues. I dont' want meds because I can control myself. Do you think I can explain this to the therapist (assuming he'll talk about them)?

[kecanoe]

His statement that there is something deeper that meds can't solve makes it sound like he would be unlikely to insist you take meds. I have read here of some people who have therapists who insist they take meds, though. Perhaps you could ask at your next appointment if he sees people who don't take meds.

[ChickenNoodleSoup]

It's your therapy and your body. He should accept if you do not want to take meds, and if he doesn't, I'd personally find another therapist, if that were a possibility.

[Moment]

Of course you can tell your therapist you don't want meds.

I will say, though, that I resisted taking meds for years and years despite recurrent depressive episodes, and, once I did, it was life-changing. It gave me a lot more strength to confront a lot of emotional things I had been avoiding that would otherwise be overwhelming.

Which is just to say that I don't think it's either/or. It's not like taking meds is *instead* of dealing with the deeper stuff. For me it just helped me contain my anxiety enough to actually look at and handle the deeper stuff.

Like you, without meds I could outwardly look normal and was "functioning." But I wanted to do a lot more in my life than just function. Meds helped me do that, but it still also required a whole heck of a lot of work in therapy as well.

[Carmina]

It's your decision and anyway meds should not be offered as a first resort by a therapist.

[Shazerac]

Yes you can tell you're T you don't want meds he doesn't sound like a med pusher kind of T anyway.

[DP_2017]

sure you can, i did on my first day. I told him if he even suggests meds, Im walking out

[InnerPeace111]

You sure can. Absolutely. It is your life, your therapy, your body, your decision.

[Fernwehxx]

I just did tell my therapist that I qould not take meds at all. She said they woukdnt solve anything but help lp me get through the dat. I said no again and bjlitched a bit, and she said okay.
That was it.
If my therapist doeant ubderstand/ accept this, we won't be able to work together.

So, of course you can tell him. Its your decision and nobody else's.

[coolibrarian]

You can tell your T anything.