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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To suggest therapy over meds for MH problems?

86 replies

AliceScarlett · 23/08/2015 19:35

Maybe it's just me but it feels like when people talk about mental health problems, (depression in particular) the default position in response seems to be suggesting medication. Or seeing their GP. All very useful and helpful suggestions don't get me wrong. But I wonder why the general trend isn't to suggest therapy? Is it seen as something to be ashamed of? A friend of mine told me she was suffering from anxiety and when I suggested CBT she got pretty defensive and said "I don't need my head looking at thanks". Maybe the insult "you need your head looking at" is causing people to think therapy is somehow wrong?

If anyone asks for my advice in the future I'll still suggest therapy because I think it could be more/as beneficial as meds, but I'm kind of worried people will be insulted Confused

I see it to be the same as, idk, physiotherapy. You hurt your back, you go get some treatment as well as take painkillers. I feel like I'm missing something here.

OP posts:
peachypips · 23/08/2015 19:43

I work in mental health. There isn't much stigma about therapy as opposed to medication, but there is still a little stigma attached to mental health problems generally.

Therapy can be as beneficial as drugs in mild to moderate mental health problems, but serious mental illness is treated best by drugs initially to move beyond the crisis and then therapy when the crisis is past.

The reason that drugs are used is there is not enough money for therapy in the NHS budget. Drugs are free. Therapy is very expensive. We need to pay more tax to get the best possible mental health service.

museumum · 23/08/2015 19:44

I'm sure therapy is great. But I'm under the impression the waiting lists are crazy whereas medication is available immediately.

Sirzy · 23/08/2015 19:45

The main problems are the fact that the system is so over stretched already so for most therapy on the NHS wouldn't be possible as the system can't cope with those who desperately need it.

It certainly shouldn't be discounted as an option though.

MinesAPintOfTea · 23/08/2015 19:45

To get referred for cbt someone has yo visit their GP. Even if paying for therapy privately oughts probably best to ask the GP rather than finding someone through the internet.

Also most people are limited to what the nhs will pay for. That means a short course of cbt and or meds

CrohnicallyAspie · 23/08/2015 19:46

There is also a relatively long waiting list for NHS therapy... I think I waited 2 months for a fast track service, but I was on drugs within 2 days. When you're in a downward spiral or indeed have hit the bottom, the quicker the better.

PS, telling someone to see their GP does not mean recommending drugs. The GP will know what psychological treatments are available in the area and can recommend those as well as or instead of drugs.

MammaTJ · 23/08/2015 19:46

Depression in particular, but you generalised about all mental health conditions. Shall we just bob along for a bit of counselling for schizophrenia, perhaps art therapy will make my friends bipolar go away?

Dementia, now that would be easily solved by family therapy, perhaps?

Why just stick to mental health, why not physical health, bit of counselling to cure cancer? Got flu, deal with it with cognitive therapy, that will teach you how to deal with it?

Actually, in all seriousness, a lot of 'mental health' conditions DO have a physical cause, with a chemical imbalance in the brain. Surely it is better to deal with that than leave people floundering around thinking a bit of a chat, however in depth, will make them better, then feeling a failure when it doesn't.

ghostyslovesheep · 23/08/2015 19:46

drugs worked for me - therapy - not my thing unless it's solution focused - all a bit navel gazingly other wise (for me)

both are valid options but often meds are needed before someone is well enough for alternatives

and for some mental health conditions meds are essential - no amount of CBT will stop my sister being bipolar

KurriKurri · 23/08/2015 19:49

Well yes as others have said -medication is more quickly available - my Ds had to wait a year for therapy, if he'd had nothing to help him in the interim goodness knows what would have happened to him.

Also MH problems is an enormous all embracing term - different illnesses need different or combined approaches. Not sure therapy would be the answer for someone with schizophrenia for example.

Its a bit like saying surgery is better than chemo for cancer treatment.

Sometimes you need one sometimes the other sometimes something else or a combination of answers.

ilovechristmas123 · 23/08/2015 19:52

i have Bipolar

i have had councelling,26 sessions,done nothing for me

im on medication (anti psycotics) they saved me

Original poster
AliceScarlett · 23/08/2015 19:54

Shall we just bob along for a bit of counselling for schizophrenia, perhaps art therapy will make my friends bipolar go away?

Sorry that made me laugh, I have a dark sense of humour. You're not wrong. No amount of therapy or meds is going to make something like dementia or schizophrenia go away. I just think therapy as well as meds can help people cope better, or live better alongside mental illness, if it can't be "cured" (I don't know what cured means).

minesapintoftea People can self refer to some IAPT services.

OP posts:
peachypips · 23/08/2015 20:00

Most people don't self-refer as they've never heard of IAPT. GP is almost always the first port of call with depression.

CrohnicallyAspie · 23/08/2015 20:03

alice they can self refer if they know it's there... I didn't have a clue till I went to my GP and he told me.

Yes, therapy alongside meds is probably a good idea, and that goes for physical illnesses as well.

Just thought of something else, talking specifically about anxiety and depression when you're feeling that low, sometimes it's nice to be told 'take this pill and you'll feel better' because taking the pill is something you can manage. Being told 'go to this clinic and meet this person for one hour once a week for the next 8 weeks' sounds like an insurmountable task. I needed DH just to drive me to the clinic because I couldn't face taking myself, I needed all my mental energy to meet a stranger and tell her all about my problems, I couldn't manage driving myself to a place I had never gone to before as well.

MammaTJ · 23/08/2015 20:09

Alice such a balanced reply without an actual AIBU verbal beating! What are you doing, messing with our heads? You are meant to insist for at least 24 hours you are correct. Then give in with good grace while people still berate you because they cannot be bothered to RTFT because it is so long.

No such difficulty here.

howtorebuild · 23/08/2015 20:17

In my case, anxiety & depression, comorbidity of a misunderstood chronic health condition is they waste money by being a blind man feeling an Elephant.

I have wasted loads of nhs money due to them not understanding my conditions. I didn't bother Doctors much either. Many with my conditions have wasted far more nhs resources. Our condition is multisystemic too.

I had over a year of psychological abuse, that's what it feels like. Of psychology directed that I was making up my very real physical health, when it wasn't the case. What a fucking waste of money that was.

They need to ensure they sort the physical stuff first. A fbc test won't check for vitamin deficiencies for example. Sleep apnoea is another one missed in Women along with autism. I think if they rule things like that out there may be not as much pressure o. Mh services. Too many practicing lazy medicine out there imho.

reredos1 · 23/08/2015 20:26

If I had relied on therapy and not taken medication I would be dead by now.

If I had relied on one particular therapist that totally fucked me up, I would have probably taken them with me.

swisscheesetony · 23/08/2015 20:31

I spent about 30-40k on therapy to treat borderline. Worth every single fucking penny.

Still need meds from time to time... but not anti-psychotics or mood-stabilisers - just what you or I would call "low-grade" pills.

Original poster
AliceScarlett · 23/08/2015 20:33

Alice such a balanced reply without an actual AIBU verbal beating! What are you doing, messing with our heads? You are meant to insist for at least 24 hours you are correct. Then give in with good grace while people still berate you because they cannot be bothered to RTFT because it is so long.

Hahaha, I like you.

Sorry to hear people's stories about harmful therapy. Awful.

OP posts:
MammaTJ · 23/08/2015 20:40

Hahaha, I like you.

I think I like you too, although I tend to take a bit longer to make my mind up nowadays than I used to.

Original poster
AliceScarlett · 23/08/2015 20:43

alice they can self refer if they know it's there... I didn't have a clue till I went to my GP and he told me.

Good point.

Also didn't think about meds kicking in quicker.

As per usual there is no one perfect answer. Pesky, complicated grey areas Angry

OP posts:
PunkrockerGirl · 23/08/2015 20:48

Drugs worked really well for me. Counselling did nothing and, if anything, made me worse.

OutToGetYou · 23/08/2015 20:53

I think YABU to think you can work out what is best for someone when you are presumably not their GP.

I have had both medication and therapy and each has their place.

TheoriginalLEM · 23/08/2015 20:58

I suffer from general anxiety disorder. I have been on medication for years. I have also had several rounds of "therapy" with varying results. Generally, not working very well.

It is categorically wrong to say that depression and anxiety isn't an illness like schizophrenia. It IS an illness, it is just not a specific illness like schizophrenia or bipolar. It might have a genetic link in some, in others it might be a reaction to life events. Either way there will be a chemical imbalance caused by stress or a physical defect in hormone systems involving seretonin and or dopamine.

I think that therapy is an essential part of treatment for mental health issues, and for some people, it is enough - but if you have been depressed for a long time or you have an actual physical/genetic cause for your illness then medication is essential. I know i am likely to be on anti anxiety medication for the rest of my life. I am ok with that.

If other people want to judge me based on my illness, that is their problem not mine. I am very open about it.

Original poster
AliceScarlett · 23/08/2015 21:07

I think YABU to think you can work out what is best for someone when you are presumably not their GP.

I specifically said I'd -suggest- therapy, if asked. I have no idea what could be best for anyone else.

OP posts:
CrohnicallyAspie · 23/08/2015 21:11

lem I don't think anyone said that depression and anxiety isn't an illness like schizophrenia. Or if they did, you're reading it wrong way- depression isn't an illness like schizophrenia (depression isn't a illness but schizophrenia is) as opposed to depression isn't a illness like schizophrenia (depression is an illness but a different sort to schizophrenia).

howtorebuild · 23/08/2015 21:13

Have you had tests to show you have reduced serotonin, are they checking your bloods to see if the drugs are improving levels?