I'm depressed - which type of Dr. do I need?

[Anonymous]

I recommend a psychologist over a LPC or Social Worker. I might get flamed for this, but I think they are better trained, etc.

[Anonymous]

Be careful about the no drug thing. Antidepressants save lives.

[Anonymous]

Contrary to what others have posted, I believe you should start with a psychologist. A psychiatrist is going to try to push meds initially. I would try to start out with psychologists first and the psychologist will assess whether your level of depression is in need of med management or can be treated with psychotherapy. I am bias to psychologists because social workers don't have near the level training as psychologists do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:has anyone managed their depression without pharms?

I posted earlier. I have been off my meds for about three or four months now, I just don't need them anymore. Like the PP I don't feel depressed, and things are going really well. I didn't join a group, and stopped going to therapy seven months ago now.

I really think that I needed to make all the changes I did, when I did, to better things for me. I started my medication, then two weeks later started weekly therapy sessions, started exercising and eating better. I use my exercise time to really bring up the things that are bothering me, and work them out mentally, and physically.

What have you learned most from therapy? Did you pick up any good cognitive therapy points?

One thing that my therapist said, that really has stayed with me, was that exercise was just as effective of a treatment as talk therapy and medication, for mild to moderate depression. She helped me understand that exercising, and by visualizing my issues, while doing it, really was a great way to treat myself.

I also learned not to keep things in, and that it is ok to express my feelings. I often felt as if I was a burden to others, and she assured me that if I thought I was a burden, than I was least likely to actually be one. Those who truly are burdens, never suspect that they are.

Thanks! However, I feel if you let people know how you feel they would feel uncomfortable or feel you are too negative. People want to be around positive people and not people who complain. This board is nice because it is anonymous.
I had so much happen to me in such a short period of time, and no one to really talk to about it. I just kept everything in, and just kept plucking away at what I was doing, but I was barely functioning. I was full of rage, and was always yelling at my children. While I never beat my children, I did have the urge to hit them. Thank goodness I was able to suppress those urges, and not damage my children. Exercising has kept those feelings at bay, and I can thankfully say that I haven't had urges like that since before I was medicated.

I also now know what to look out for, and if the depression starts to slowly creep it's head, I will be prepared.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:has anyone managed their depression without pharms?

I posted earlier. I have been off my meds for about three or four months now, I just don't need them anymore. Like the PP I don't feel depressed, and things are going really well. I didn't join a group, and stopped going to therapy seven months ago now.

I really think that I needed to make all the changes I did, when I did, to better things for me. I started my medication, then two weeks later started weekly therapy sessions, started exercising and eating better. I use my exercise time to really bring up the things that are bothering me, and work them out mentally, and physically.

What have you learned most from therapy? Did you pick up any good cognitive therapy points?

One thing that my therapist said, that really has stayed with me, was that exercise was just as effective of a treatment as talk therapy and medication, for mild to moderate depression. She helped me understand that exercising, and by visualizing my issues, while doing it, really was a great way to treat myself.

I also learned not to keep things in, and that it is ok to express my feelings. I often felt as if I was a burden to others, and she assured me that if I thought I was a burden, than I was least likely to actually be one. Those who truly are burdens, never suspect that they are.


I had so much happen to me in such a short period of time, and no one to really talk to about it. I just kept everything in, and just kept plucking away at what I was doing, but I was barely functioning. I was full of rage, and was always yelling at my children. While I never beat my children, I did have the urge to hit them. Thank goodness I was able to suppress those urges, and not damage my children. Exercising has kept those feelings at bay, and I can thankfully say that I haven't had urges like that since before I was medicated.

I also now know what to look out for, and if the depression starts to slowly creep it's head, I will be prepared.

Thanks! However, I feel if you let people know how you feel they would feel uncomfortable or feel you are too negative. People want to be around positive people and not people who complain. This board is nice because it is anonymous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:has anyone managed their depression without pharms?

I posted earlier. I have been off my meds for about three or four months now, I just don't need them anymore. Like the PP I don't feel depressed, and things are going really well. I didn't join a group, and stopped going to therapy seven months ago now.

I really think that I needed to make all the changes I did, when I did, to better things for me. I started my medication, then two weeks later started weekly therapy sessions, started exercising and eating better. I use my exercise time to really bring up the things that are bothering me, and work them out mentally, and physically.

What have you learned most from therapy? Did you pick up any good cognitive therapy points?

One thing that my therapist said, that really has stayed with me, was that exercise was just as effective of a treatment as talk therapy and medication, for mild to moderate depression. She helped me understand that exercising, and by visualizing my issues, while doing it, really was a great way to treat myself.

I also learned not to keep things in, and that it is ok to express my feelings. I often felt as if I was a burden to others, and she assured me that if I thought I was a burden, than I was least likely to actually be one. Those who truly are burdens, never suspect that they are.


I had so much happen to me in such a short period of time, and no one to really talk to about it. I just kept everything in, and just kept plucking away at what I was doing, but I was barely functioning. I was full of rage, and was always yelling at my children. While I never beat my children, I did have the urge to hit them. Thank goodness I was able to suppress those urges, and not damage my children. Exercising has kept those feelings at bay, and I can thankfully say that I haven't had urges like that since before I was medicated.

I also now know what to look out for, and if the depression starts to slowly creep it's head, I will be prepared.

Thanks! However, I feel if you let people know how you feel they would feel uncomfortable or feel you are too negative. People want to be around positive people and not people who complain. This board is nice because it is anonymous.

Not if they love you, and truly care for you. I have been there so many times for my friends and family, and I just didn't feel like I could burden them. I realized that it's not complaining all the time, but asking them for help, or just to listen, isn't bad.

I need love and support, and was ashamed to ask for it. There is no shame is asking for someone to listen, if you feel you can't ask a friend, or spouse, then talk therapy itself is great.

[bigmaman]

Anonymous wrote:Contrary to what others have posted, I believe you should start with a psychologist. A psychiatrist is going to try to push meds initially. I would try to start out with psychologists first and the psychologist will assess whether your level of depression is in need of med management or can be treated with psychotherapy. I am bias to psychologists because social workers don't have near the level training as psychologists do.

This wasn't my experience with my psychiatrist at all. Not. at. all. In fact, I found my GP much more willing to push meds. (not that there's anything wrong with antidepressants, antianxiety meds or anti-whatevers when they truly are indicated).

[Anonymous]

bigmaman wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Contrary to what others have posted, I believe you should start with a psychologist. A psychiatrist is going to try to push meds initially. I would try to start out with psychologists first and the psychologist will assess whether your level of depression is in need of med management or can be treated with psychotherapy. I am bias to psychologists because social workers don't have near the level training as psychologists do.

This wasn't my experience with my psychiatrist at all. Not. at. all. In fact, I found my GP much more willing to push meds. (not that there's anything wrong with antidepressants, antianxiety meds or anti-whatevers when they truly are indicated).

I agree, MD's are not all about meds. The psychiatrists tend to be better trained too.

[Anonymous]

I also agree you should begin with a psychologist. I had a horrible experience with a psychiatrist who did not properly assess my need for medication. He initially put me on antidepressants and in hindsight could have been worked out through therapy. My depression became increasingly heightened with the antidepressants. I am by no means saying antidepressants are a bad thing (so calm down all you flamers), but I do believe beginning with a psychologist is a good starting point. Only you know you level of depression. If you are at all feeling suicidal or homicidal, you may need to see an MD (psychiatrist) first.....

You should be proud of yourself for seeking services

[Anonymous]

Just want to answer a previous query that I had three years of therapy but no drugs. It worked for me. I was really depressed but not suicidal. I went to a psychologist and we decided together that I didn't want to do the drug route. I'm not opposed to it in general, but it wasn't right for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just want to answer a previous query that I had three years of therapy but no drugs. It worked for me. I was really depressed but not suicidal. I went to a psychologist and we decided together that I didn't want to do the drug route. I'm not opposed to it in general, but it wasn't right for me.

What did you learn the most out of your 3 years of therapy?

[Anonymous]

Well, after three years, I learned how to recognize a feeling when I had it. Sounds weird, no? But one of my main problems was that I was totally numb when something happened to me and was blocking out all my feelings...good and bad. I was basically bottling everything up and it was making me very depressed. It took a lot of talking and analysis to figure out all the triggers for those behaviors and how to actually feel something when it happens. It was a long process of going once a week, but I thought it was really helpful and I learned to reverse maladaptive behaviors that I had developed through my adolescence.

I felt like I could stop going to therapy when I realized that I was coming every week to just recount my week rather than working on an emotion or an issue. I actually miss my therapist quite a bit (even 2 years after stopping therapy)...she was a mother figure to me...but am grateful that I have new skills that make me a happier and more self aware person.

[zumbamama]

14:06, I've been following your posts and think that is sooo awesome for you! I love stories like yours. I have several students battling depression, and this was my pep talk in my May newsletter for what it is worth here.

STRESS IS LIFE: Take a moment to think about all life on this planet and you will see that stress is a natural part of life. In the wild, animals must constantly worry about finding their next meal or if there is a predator around the corner....talk about stress! But it is what drives them to survive. The fittest are often the ones who learn from the stress and adapt.

Many of us don't have to worry if we will catch our dinner tonight or if there is a wolf spying on us from the brush...but many of us do stress about a million things...
what others think of us, what we think of ourselves, of how much we need to get done this week, how much we don'?t have, or dealing with life's misfortunes and obstacles. This kind of stress is often what causes us to fall into a state of unfitness if we don't let that stress go.

When you're frustrated, bored, unhappy, sad or angry, what happens to your body? Your mind withdraws, your shoulders cave forward. your metabolism decreases, slowing your energy level. As your spine misaligns, your body becomes imbalanced and function impairs. Years in this physical/mental state can result in pain, disease, low immunity, weight gain, fatigue and a variety of chronic conditions that will not heal until you are able to restore balance to your body and mind. Stress comes inevitably...and you must let it go or it will stay with you as longs as you hold on to it.

Sstress comes at me everyday....life is full of stress everywhere you look. But who wants to be stressed out everyday? I have to remind myself to focus on the positive. Yes deadlines are a pain, but I have a job. Yes I have lost loved ones, but I keep them alive in my mind. No, I don''?t have a perfect body, but I'?m so much healthier than I was three years ago. I'?ll probably be crammed into the metro like a sardine tomorrow, but it'?s a beautiful spring day when I step off the train. So while I realize letting go of your stress may be easier said than done, you owe it to yourself to at least try for a happier you. Trying counts! So kick those bad thoughts in the butt and make room for the good ones!


Anyway, don't mean to hijack. I'm not one to decipher between who is better to seek help from (psychologist, psychiatrist, social worker, etc.) but enjoyed PP's post and wanted to share my 2 cents about those triggers that come at us everyday. I of course feel it is very important to stay physically active...and find a source of fun to maintain a healthy mind.