sjw anyone?

OK, so I go back next week after a space of 4 wks.

The last time I was in, T said I had depression and she had already told me she thought I should be on medication for it. I said no, you must be thinking of someone else, you never told me that (I am very sure she did not tell me) but neither did she say, well OK you're not depressed.

I don't want to take prescribed antidepressants; am trying to get new life ins and don't want to have to say yes I have been prescribed; besides I see her outside of insurance and don't want either the diagnosis or prescription on my record (ok call me Stigma Jean but there you are)

I went looking around for alternatives and found st john's wort - started taking it yesterday PM and I don't feel any different (not knowing what to expect anyway; will I start hanging around under streetlamps singing or something?)

wondering if anyone here takes it and if so what are possible side effects. so far no rash, but my singing voice hasn't improved either

So that's why I started singing!!! Actually I took it years ago and for me it didn't do a lick of good. Didn't notice anything. Obviously you may be different. If you are not having your pdoc bill your insurance, then your rx wouldn't be through your insurance either, so there are no records for them to get. Maybe someone else has had a more fruitful experience with it than I and can offer some other advice.

Why take medication if that isn't what *you* want to do?

T can think medication is a good idea, but ultimately it's up to you. If you want to treat with therapy, what could be wrong with that?

you're so funny...but seriously i did take it at one time...and i didn't sing better either but i was soaring. i am bipolar and didn't know it is a hormone. well i went on a manic high like no tomorrow. i called my pdoc up and he said, "are u taking any new meds?"...i take a few...for other medical stuff. first i said, well, no..., well, i did start taking st.john's wort recently...everybody at work is taking it too...that's when he explained to me that i shouldn't take anything over the counter before talking with him first...other than tylenol, etc. who would've thunk? LOL.
i doubt that most people have this affect, but for me it was almost scary.

When she told me she thought I should take medication for depression I felt like saying, "I'm not depressed, this is just how I am " but it occurred to me that maybe that's why I'm in there, duh, and saying that to one's T seemed just too dumb........ so I didn;t say it.

I used to tell people I was a night owl? when I stopped drinking caffeine coffee at 2am, guess what I wasn't a night owl any more. ha!

guess the bottom line is, I didn't know I could say no if that;s what she thinks I should be doing.

Absolutely you can say no. That's the best word a patient can have is 'no'. Or at least, "I'd like to try something else first". Not only with therapy but with all medical issues. You're health is in your hands, they are only there to offer advice, assitance and guidance!

Well that is quite right, isn't it. so ...I should stop now? after only 1 day it can't have done anything. I will ask her about it when I go in on Tues.

THANKS for yr help, all of you

You can also call the pharmacy and ask if there are any interactions or give her office a call. No, after only one day it should do too much.

yes. also, please talk to a GP or pdoc about going on medications (over the counter or otherwise) before starting them yourself. some ppl can have very severe allergic reactions to st john's wort (thank god you are not one of them) but a distant friend died about 2 years ago after taking some in her tea.

((((sitting))))

You absolutely can say 'no' to medication. This is *your* doctor, and *your* treatment, which means that you are in the driver's seat.

I told my T in the first session I was not at all interested in taking meds. He accepted that, and has never pushed the topic.

If you are looking for things to help with depression naturally, there are a variety of things you can do. I would consider meeting with a nutritionist and perhaps adjusting your diet. Sugar, high-carb, highly processed food all negatively impact our bodies. Food allergies can also cause changes in mood. I think of myself as a sports car -- I need good fuel to function at full capacity.

Exercise is also a great natural anti-depressant. Get yourself sweating, and see how much better your mood is afterwards.

Drugs are a tool -- they are not a cure. If you find the tool useful, great, use it. If not, then find another tool that does work for you.

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!

The first time T suggested I take something to help me with my panic attacks, I LOST IT. Like, I almost quit therapy. I have no idea why my reaction was so strong, but I was angry, angry, angry. I told him to NEVER bring it up again. (seriously, what was my deal?!)

Fast forward about 9 months from that, and I was on the verge of hospitalization and decided on my own to look into meds (my T didn't dare mention it himself! lol). I went to my GP and got a prescription for klonopin. I don't take a lot, but it has REALLY taken the edge off of my anxiety and made my therapy a lot more productive.

I guess when *I* was ready for meds, I was willing to take them, but it had to be when *I* wanted to do it.

If it's something you don't want, you can say no. You don't have to SCREAM no, like I did, though

I don't take meds for my depression either. I made it known to both my school counselor and my regular T that I did not want to take meds. I worried too much about the side effects and didn't want to make my schooling anymore difficult than it was.

My school counselor tried to talk me into taking them, my regular T was completely fine with my decision. However, after my mom passed I was on the verge of wanting to take them. Now things are a little up and down but most of the time manageable.

If you don't want to take meds, you can't be forced to, it's your decision and you have to feel comfortable with it either way.

Hey dear, you have to give these things sometime before you question the worth. I was told I was depress, I was also told to try medication but I refuse to take any kind of ant-depressant too many side effects for one treatment so I understand.
These the what I am currently using; SAMe 400mg, HELPS TO REGULATE MOOD BY RAISING THE LEVELS OF CERTAIN NEUROTRANSMITTERS, PARTICULARLY THOSE OF DOPAMINE.
l-ThEANINE 200 MG THIS HELP TO REDUSE ANXIETY
ST. JOHN'S WORT HAVE THIS BUT DID NOT TRY IT YET WAITING TO FINSH SAMe 400 mg...
I would suggest giving it a least 21 days and try to add some excises in and more fruits and vegetables and this may help..... That what I am doing and it is working out ok....I still have my moments from time to time but I do see changes slowly.

thanks everyone for your input. I need to add this to the list of things I need to ask about. it's getting longer, t may be doing all the talking this next time, lol

I appreciate your care and help!!!