Anxiety Problem?!


Question: My boyfriend has been seeing a psychologist for probably close to 3 months now. She had been throwing around possible disorders (depression, ADHD, anxiety, bipolar), and has finally diagnosed him with an anxiety problem. He was prescribed depression meds a few years ago, but stopped taking them on his own. He's going to a doctor tomorrow to start meds for anxiety, but I'm concerned. If he begins taking them, is this something he'll have to do the rest of his life? Also, I've been told psychologists aren't actual doctors and shouldn't even diagnose patients.. that they should merely listen to problems because they are therapists and that's all. Is this true? Why is a psychiatrist more qualified than a psychologist, and how much more qualified to diagnose are they?


Answers: My boyfriend has been seeing a psychologist for probably close to 3 months now. She had been throwing around possible disorders (depression, ADHD, anxiety, bipolar), and has finally diagnosed him with an anxiety problem. He was prescribed depression meds a few years ago, but stopped taking them on his own. He's going to a doctor tomorrow to start meds for anxiety, but I'm concerned. If he begins taking them, is this something he'll have to do the rest of his life? Also, I've been told psychologists aren't actual doctors and shouldn't even diagnose patients.. that they should merely listen to problems because they are therapists and that's all. Is this true? Why is a psychiatrist more qualified than a psychologist, and how much more qualified to diagnose are they?

First of all, I'd just like to clear up your confusion about psychology vs. psychiatry:

Yes, in a sense, all psychologists do is "listen to problems", but this can be very effective. Your boyfriend's psychologist can diagnose which disorders he has, but a psychiatrist can actually prescribe medications, and it sounds like your boyfriend can benefit from these.

With that out of the way, I just want to let you know that I completely understand what you're going through. Around a year ago, my ex-girlfriend was in the exact situation that your boyfriend is in now - nearly the same disorders, same rebellious nature when it came to medication, etc., but with a couple of misdiagnoses. I know the pain of having someone you love struggle with mental illness, and it's not fun...I really feel for you, and I hope that everything works out.

If your boyfriend is put on medication, it's more than likely that he'll be on them for a very long time, possibly, as you said, for the rest of his life. This isn't a death sentence or anything, but be prepared for some difficult times while the doctors get the dosage correct. It can cause mood swings and a whole slew of side effects, but once everything is stabilized, it'll hopefully be easier for him.

Once again, I completely empathize with you, and I hope that this will eventually be worked out.

They are qualified to give mental health meds out. I take meds for depression and anxiety and they work. He needs to have support..and doctors do that. He may need them forever, I sure will.

A psychiatrist is license to diagnoses mental health problems and prescribe medications.
A psychologist is more like a therapist. Some psychologist are also licensed in psychiatry and are able to dispense medicinal prescriptions.
People with anxiety problems are often triggered from stress which can explode into depression.
If people take care of anxieties before full blown depression starts occurring is the best preventive medicine for mental health problems.
Mental health problems can be preventive of a life time illness if taken cared of at the early stages.
If one denies their mental health illnesses and let the illness become full blown and doesn't take care of the problem until one breaks down more than twice, most likely medication will become a life time situation.
My psychiatrist once told it to me like this: The brain is like a rubber band, when one is sick with a mental health illness, the rubber band stretches. The longer we leave the rubber band stretch without medication, the rubber band will stretch until there is no more elasticity that it will break. If one treats the mental health illness with medication at the early stage of symptoms (stress, anxieties, depression) ONE CAN PREVENT LIFE LONG MEDICATIONS.

GOD BLESS! AMEN! SHALOM!

Other people already answered the psychiatrist/psychologist question, so I'm not going to repeat it all again.
But I am on medication for anxiety, and it hasn't changed who I am. It helps me deal with life without freaking out, and when I do flip (because I also have panic disorder) I don't have the added worry about spiraling. It sucks to be on medication, and he might be on them for a long time. But if he came find a pill and a dosage that works, it will most likely improve both of your of lives.
And I trust her for taking 3 months to try him on any pills...most doctors try a round of medication after one visit. At least, all 3 that I've gone to have, as have the psychiatrists of my friends.

Here's the thing...you need to find a therapist that specializes in disoreders that are common today. They can give him certain tests(written q&a) that can truly determine what his disorder is. Not all therapists/psych's. are qualified or caring enough to help, just because they have a degree. Finding the right therapist will take some shopping around, so start your search and try to get those tests so that your bf can get on the right meds.
P.S. Psychiatrists are not only trained in many disorders, but are M.D's, therefore I guess have more training and knowledge-I think :)

Hi:..First of all, try to find a psychiatrist who is also an M.D. This will be a great help when prescribing meds, and their interaction with each other.
Anxiety doens't often occur without depression, they seem to go together. How do I know...I have them, and have been getting help for 8 years.
Good counciling with a competent, certified, social psychologist, coupled with meds can alleviate most of the symptoms, but you have to remember, you always have depression and anxiety....there are very, very few people who walk away cured. they may think they are cured, but relapses do occur even with meds.
The difference is the meds tend to be serotonin uptake inhibitors which regulate the amount of serotonin available to be absorbed into the system, thereby leveling out the highs and deep lows felt by people with depression.
My e-mail is <sawdustpoppy@charter.net> should you want to talk more about this problem...OK?? Good luck





The consumer health information on answer-health.com is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions.
The answer content post by the user, if contains the copyright content please contact us, we will immediately remove it.
Copyright © 2007-2011 answer-health.com -   Terms of Use -   Contact us

Health Categories