Depression: Counselling or Anti-Depressants?!

Counseling before drugs is a better option, and I think any doctor that would give you medicine first is wrong and frankly, I feel irresponsible. I think you need to really get a few sessions in with a counselor first before medication even becomes an option. And if down the road you do get some kind of medication, stick with the counseling too. I was on and off antidepressants for 2 years wondering why they never worked, and until I combined it with therapy, it never worked. Believe me, antidepressants aren't magic pills. They don't just work for you, you have to work WITH them. Hope this helps.......

Similar situation

How old are you?

Most doctors don't like to prescribe anti-depressants to those under the age of 16 because there's an increased risk of suicide.

Some doctors don't like prescribing them fullstop and only use them as a last resort. Anti-depressants tend to have alot of side effects so sometimes therapy can be seen as a better and safer option.

Also, sometimes a doctor won't prescribe an anti-depressant if they think your depression is situational instead of a chemical imbalance.

There can be loads of reasons why a doctor may suggest counselling first but it's really not as scary as it sounds - it's just a safe environment for you to let off steam.

Experience

It takes two weeks for them to definitely diagnose it as depression, if you still have the symptoms then they will help you tackle the depression. It's definitely better to get counselling, as SSRI's and other anti-depressants are usually overprescribed - they may be able to help you in a fast way but isn't it better to tackle the root of the problem? But by all means, do ask for them after your counselling if you feel they'll benefit you, taking into consideration the side effects.

Why not ask your doctor to check you don't have a biochemical deficiency first. Ask him to check your vitamin B12 and copper levels.Quite often people with depression have too much copper and low Vitamin B12 levels.There was an intereststing article in the paper today about this and how nutrient therapy can work well for some people suffering from depression.One patient was put on a course combining VitaminC,B6,B12,manganese,zinc and fish oils and six months later she said she never felt better.

Go and speak to your dr hun there is all different types off antidepressants and at different dosages maybe if you decide you want to start on anti depressants your dr could just start you on a low dose just to take the edge of things but what you have to take in to consideration anti-depressants can take up to 2 weeks to actually start having any affect so if you decided to go on them maybe have a little bit off counselling within them two weeks also x
Good lucj hun hope everything turns out well for you and you start to feel beter soon x x

you need to see a psychiatrist to get prescribed anti depressants because you need a diagnosis first

Your own doctor is doing things the correct way, and unfortunately it may take a bit of time
There are various 'groups' of anti depressants and the psychiatrist is the best person to start you off on them, IF she thinks they would help you

I've suffered for many years, and counselling was the first stage of the treatment followed by medication,which was supervised by them by weekly appointments with psychiatrist and counsellor

uk

This all depends on what is causing your depression. So here is a good rule of thumb:

If your depression is caused by a situation or circumstance, then counseling is your best bet to get resolution.
If your depression has been on-going for several months and your depression has caused you to become dysfunctional (not sleeping, not eating, isolating, etc. ) then perhaps short term medication is required.

If you were the victim of a crime, then both are necessary to get over this.
I wish you all the best.

If you want anti-depressants discuss it with your doctor. They can tell you the pros and cons of them. Counselling is ok. It's just you chatting with someone else. Just tell your doctor what you think and are worried about.

Depressions are normal when they last 1 day till a week or so.

If it lasts longer they are probably going subscribe drugs and treatment.

But best is to find a outside cause that is making you depressed and fix that

I would definitely not go on anti depressants if I were you. Especially if your young. I t can be terrible & counselling is a lot easier.

Anti-depressants if is a clinical case. If it is only a personal problem then counselling is enough

anti-depressants can have serious side effects. counselling is a safer option, and should be tried first