I'm thinking about seeing a counselor or psychiatrist

[Scustin Bieburr]

Talk to your family doctor first. They can give you a questionnaire to fill out to see if you meet the markers for depression or anxiety. Then your doctor can reccomend that you see a psychiatrist who can assess you further and determine if you should be on medication.

Psychiatrists are doctors who can prescribe medicine a psychologist doesn't prescribe(depending on the state youre in) a psychologist can help you determine whether you're going through shyt and need some coping strategy or if you may actually have something physically wrong with your brain that you need drugs for.

Never a bad idea to see a psychologist or counselor because we typically see things from one perspective and shyt changes when someone talks to you about your issues from a perspective you never thought about. They can help you re frame things and look at them in a way that helps you act more rationally and calmly.

I saw a counselor around the time covid was about to start and it was helpful

 

[Mowgli]

and I'm saying you have no idea wtf mental illness is or an anxiety disorder by the time people like OP are seeking help it is because they tired of living with it.

you don't have control over it. exercising helps thats it. Not a cure and the causes are not because you did some shyt to yourself. I visit group homes often. Seen kids who didn't have poor habits dealing with depression and anxiety disorders

stop framing mental illness as something people have any control over that is not true and it has contributed to shaming people preventing them from getting professional help because an illness is being categorized as a weakness.

Help yourself by taking care of yourself and get the help you need. Talking to someone won't relieve anxiety if it's a physical issue triggered by thoughts. Excercise is a solid route to take to manage it before you take on a medical subscription. If possible.

Don't ever tell me how I'm framing shyt.​

 

[Tommy Lee Jones]

if you can afford it do it. even if its only once a month. if they try to prescribe you anything find someone new. you have to find the right person you connect with too. but when you find the right person it makes things easier.

 

[CoryMack]

I'm extremely skeptical and I don't want to end up being prescribed medication or being milked for my health insurance but I feel like that's going to be the end result 9/10.

I'm only considering it because I think there could be value in having a different perspective on what I feel are consistent problems in my life.

Anybody have experience? Did it make any difference? Would you do it over again?

tell me your issues friend, and I’ll tell you how to deal with them

 

[cheek100]

My only advice is make sure your therapist is black
I’ve seen white, black and asian psychologists depending on who is available in the city I’m in. Black therapists understood way better and are less likely to misinterpret. Simply put: they understand the burden black ppl carry.
Also physical therapy was often the cure I needed all along.

So yes a psychologist and a chiropractor is something we all should see at some point

 

[Fletch]

Help yourself by taking care of yourself and get the help you need. Talking to someone won't relieve anxiety if it's a physical issue triggered by thoughts. Excercise is a solid route to take to manage it before you take on a medical subscription. If possible.

Don't ever tell me how I'm framing shyt.​

Talking with someone will actually help a lot because you can get to the root. Exercising is helpful but more of a distraction. CBT helps a ton with anxiety, no drugs.

 

[Mowgli]

Talking with someone will actually help a lot because you can get to the root. Exercising is helpful but more of a distraction. CBT helps a ton with anxiety, no drugs.

Excercise, like cardio is superior to cbt.

If you
Drink coffee
Drink booze
Smoke
Don't excercise
Don't drink water

And have anxiety?

No amount of conversation in the world will cure you without pills.

Get fit and see how real your problems truely are.

 

[Capitol]

what are you problems? depression?

I dealt with anxiety and depression most of my life. Anxiety is a lot better than before at least

 

[TELL ME YA CHEESIN FAM?]

He gonna bring out the lil doll

 

[FaTaL]

I dealt with anxiety and depression most of my life. Anxiety is a lot better than before at least

is all this from work? being around other people?

 

[Sauce Dab]

If you think you should then you should. Most posters on here should go too

 

[Capitol]

is all this from work? being around other people?

My current job certainly doesn't help with depression but it has put me in situations of getting over social anxiety. I always had what I consider to be 'existential' anxiety. Even from a young age it just felt like I was going through the motions letting life happen to me rather than living . Hopefully that makes sense to you

 

[Afro]

I'm extremely skeptical and I don't want to end up being prescribed medication or being milked for my health insurance but I feel like that's going to be the end result 9/10.

I'm only considering it because I think there could be value in having a different perspective on what I feel are consistent problems in my life.

Anybody have experience? Did it make any difference? Would you do it over again?

I have plenty of experience, I'm back in therapy after about 10 years.

You can tell whoever you see that you want to try talking first, not medication immediately. But anyone worth their salt will have you fill out questionnaires first.

I have CPTSD from my childhood, so I could workout, eat right, whatever, I still felt like a void was missing in my life.

Being back in therapy, being open to finally fixing my issues has brought me a sense of peace that I have never known before.

I started taking an SSRI (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) so I now get more Serotonin in my brain.

I've had major depression since I was seven, so we are talking 20 years of untreated depression and anxiety from childhood traumas.

I feel pretty good (I felt good after therapy and before the drug) but it's not a band aid. It just helps to even you out as you work through whatever it is that is bothering you.

Like @Mowgli said, yea they can get you on some shyt for sure, but it really is up to you to take it. Start with just talking.

My side effects from taking Lexapro was some nausea (gone after two days), agitation (gone after two days) and fatigue (lil bit, slowly going away).


You don't have to take this stuff for ever either, but like everything else, withdrawal is going to be a bytch

But I ran out of ideas and I'm done with feeling like I don't deserve to be here anymore. So I made the choice to do whatever it takes to fix myself

 

[Mowgli]

I have plenty of experience, I'm back in therapy after about 10 years.

You can tell whoever you see that you want to try talking first, not medication immediately. But anyone worth their salt will have you fill out questionnaires first.

I have CPTSD from my childhood, so I could workout, eat right, whatever, I still felt like a void was missing in my life.

Being back in therapy, being open to finally fixing my issues has brought me a sense of peace that I have never known before.

I started taking an SSRI (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) so I now get more Serotonin in my brain.

I've had major depression since I was seven, so we are talking 20 years of untreated depression and anxiety from childhood traumas.

I feel pretty good (I felt good after therapy and before the drug) but it's not a band aid. It just helps to even you out as you work through whatever it is that is bothering you.

Like @Mowgli said, yea they can get you on some shyt for sure, but it really is up to you to take it. Start with just talking.

My side effects from taking Lexapro was some nausea (gone after two days), agitation (gone after two days) and fatigue (lil bit, slowly going away).


You don't have to take this stuff for ever either, but like everything else, withdrawal is going to be a bytch

But I ran out of ideas and I'm done with feeling like I don't deserve to be here anymore. So I made the choice to do whatever it takes to fix myself

For someone who may have symptoms of extreme stress do you think it's a good idea for them to embrace sobriety and fitness before they start assuming they have mental problems.

Ultimately if you have a real mental problem, medication is in your future. You can't escape it. If you don't and just need an in person pen pal fitness taking care of your body is the most obvious and efficient medication.

????

 

[Afro]

For someone who may have symptoms of extreme stress do you think it's a good idea for them to embrace sobriety and fitness before they start assuming they have mental problems.

Ultimately if you have a real mental problem, medication is in your future. You can't escape it. If you don't and just need an in person pen pal fitness taking care of your body is the most obvious and efficient medication.

????

I would say that speaking to a therapist to help you get to the crux or the core of what is bothering you may be key.

Therapy doesn't automatically mean you have mental issues, sometimes you need an expert on the mind when life has you overwhelmed.

Clean eating and fitness helps plenty, but if your mind isn't right, the benefits will not be felt as much. Some people workout to escape their issues, it's just that the workout high won't kill you.

If just telling someone to workout or eat better was that simple, America wouldn't be number 1 in people taking depression meds and obesity.

Some folks may just need to hear that they are just going through a rough patch and that one session was all they needed.

So my simple answer would honestly be, do both if you can. You need to take care of yourself both emotionally/mentally and physically.

Speaking to someone for an hour who won't judge you, then heading to the gym after for 45mins-1hr, going home and eating a clean meal, getting a good night sleep.

That would be the goal. Work on everything at once, so it feels like you are making headway.

I go to my first BJJ class on Monday so, I would say this therapy/depression drug stuff does something

Would have never thought to even try it