I say, "Look, I know my life may not look like the American dream but the fact is that through the program of AA and a great deal of personal reflection that at least I'm stable. I've managed almost 11 years of sobriety at this point and the last thing I need is some ***** with a prescription pad f***ing with my brain chemistry!"
I would be willing to talk to a psychologist, but I wouldn't trust a general practitioner to diagnose me or prescribe something. The don't have proper training when it comes to brain chemistry and mental health.
Good for you. That crap should be the last line of defense in my opinion. It part of why we live in a crazy world. And they start that BS in elementary school.
Sorry,but I think you should talk to the psychologist. I've been on antidepressants since I was 20-I'm now 48. Well yeah, I started with the antidepressants after being nearly killed by a drunk driver...but even so. You really should talk with the psychologist and tell him/her of your concerns. You may not need the pills.
Imagine if your doctor had said, "I'd like you to talk to a pharmacist about obtaining an antibiotic because you have what appears to be a bacterial infection." How would you react?
Would you say, "Gee, my life isn't exactly the American dream, but I've made it this far without taking any pills. The last thing I need is some dips**t messing with my body chemistry!"? Probably not.
I don't know what your primary doctor observed that prompted him to make the suggestion. Maybe he's off his chump. Maybe he gets kickbacks from the makers of ShinyHappyPeopleium. Or...just maybe, he has enough experience to recognize symptoms which look like clinical depression and is suggesting consultation with a specialist (who had to obtain both a medical degree AND an advanced degree in a mental health discipline, contrary to your prejudiced "...dips**t with a prescription pad" description) for further diagnosis.
Do some doctors overprescribe antidepressants? Yes, some do.
Do some antidepressants have side effects ranging from the annoying to the borderline dangerous in some people? Yes, some do.
But I know multiple people (including my own brother) who are probably still alive today because they obtained treatment for their clinical depression, including medications dispensed by...well, you know...
Perhaps this is a false alarm. Perhaps you should ask your doctor what prompted him to make that recommendation. Perhaps you should consult a mental health professional and say, "Gee, my primary doctor suggested I consult you because of X. What do you think about that?" No one is forcing pills down your throat. And sometimes people with mental health problems which are obvious to others are the last to realize how abnormal their "normal" is.
As I said above, I don't know your history in enough detail to draw any firm conclusions. But I don't think you should be so dismissive without a better reason than your prejudicial description of psychiatrists.
Well, unless you live in Illinois, Louisiana or New Mexico you should probably be looking for a competent physician, one conversant in which health care discipline practitioners can actually write prescriptions for antidepressants and which can not. Because only those three states allow some specially-trained psychologists to write limited prescriptions.
If you are severely and/or chronically depressed, or even think you are, don't delay in seeing a competent psychiatrist, someone that actually has full privileges at the pharmacy. It will beat the hell out of quietly suffering (and depression IS suffering). An ethical psychiatrist will be able to evaluate your situation, prescribe any necessary medications or alternate therapies [like TMS or (shudder) ECT] and even refer you to a psychologist for behavioral modification therapies (talking out your issues). (While psychiatrists also engage in behavioral modification therapy, psychologists tend to have lower hourly rates; preferred by insurers and easier on your pocketbook.) Many mental health care practices have both on staff.
i wont take stuff like that, it can make you gain lots of weight, st john wort is better cause it does the same thing only without the weight
My GP prescribed Lexapro with no need on my part to see a psychologist.
Citations to support this claim?
Congratulations that you are doing great! SSRI meds are very helpful for many as well as Psychotherapy.
