Medication or not?

[Regularbutnewname1]

I’m currently off work as feeling really low in mood. I’ve been off for four weeks now.
The low mood is due to an ongoing grief type situation.

Im having counselling and have spoken about medication, which I’ve been on before but don’t like taking due to the way it makes me feel.

The counsellor has discussed this and has advised that ordinarily she would not suggest medication as I need to process what is going on. I agree to some extent.

Along with the counselling I am trying to do other things to help my mood, going for walks, seeing friends, journaling although this is sporadic at the moment.

Ive been signed off for another 4 weeks following GP appointment last week, and am also booked in for some bloods to check there’s nothing physical going on as am just so wiped out.

Just posting for advice really, regarding the medication aspect.

Medication can give you a bit of breathing space in order to put the things learnt in therapy and counselling into context. It doesn't have to be a long term strategy but a 3-6 month trial whilst you do the ground work for longer term improvements

I'm bipolar so it is a bit different in that I am on life time medication but I have had episodes where I have needed higher doses of medication or more medication in order to get the most of out of the therapy that gives me a longer term strategy to manage the episode and life in general.

It's worth a conversation with your GP and what could be offered.

I agree with @Superscientist but also do you take B complex? I've been taking it and if I miss I can tell. I've also been on citalopram for many years but off for over a year now. I'm post menopause and think a lot was hormonal but also circumstances. If you start meds again come off very slowly when you decide to.

Good luck and keep posting we're here for you.

Thanks both.

@Superscientist I think you’re right, my mind is all over the place. Definitely need it to be calmer so I can focus.

@alrightluv I do take a multi vit and super strength vitamin d. I’ll have a look at b complex. Won’t hurt to add it in.
I’m also post menopausal and am prescribed HRT which helps with the menopause symptoms.

@Regularbutnewname1 I'm glad hrt helps. I was on it a while but had to come off.

I think if you are seeing a counsellor I would delay having medication as I would hope they would help get your feelings and sadness out .Medication can numb your feelings . Which medication was it ?

I would probably try the medication as it could give you a platform to do the processing that you need to do. However I accept that there are heavy prices to pay with some of them and you may not feel able to do that.