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Yokker wrote:They way you describe it makes me feel like she only thinks you can get well by starting medication. Which is not true per se. You also sound like you are still kind of going on with life even though you are depressed, but are not suicidal right ? (correct me if I'm wrong).
I don't exactly know what kind of qualifications your social worker has, but where I'm from they do not know enough to say such things (even though they'd like to). Actually, the fact that she would say something like that makes me think she is actualy not really that capable of treating someone. You would need at least a doctor but preferrably a psychiatrist to advice you about medication. But speaking to a good therapist might help you more in terms of getting information about treatment without pills.
The thing she is trying to say is that a combination of therapy (talking to someone) whilst taking medication has over all yielded the best results for the most people. Some times (not for everyone) medication makes you feel a little (sometimes alot) better so you are ale to work through whatever it is you need to work through in therapy and get more motivated to change. But it is definatly NOT the only way to help.
Research also shows that excersice such as running can improve depression greatly in certain people.
Depression isn't just about a faulty brain-chemistry because often times people are greatly helped by changing their thoughs, behaviour and environment and not their brain-chemistry.
If you feel like you can try to work through your problems without the help of pills (given that they would help and you wouldn't suffer from side-effects) you have every right to say you want to be treated without them. Cognitive behavioural therapy is an example of a type of treatment that does not require medication.
The fact that you can give a (supposed) reason for why you are depressed makes it more probable that solving this reason/problem will relieve your depression (given that it can be solved).
I think she wants to help you but is not educated enough to give you the right information. She is a social worker, not a therapist/doctor or psychiatrist.
Yokker wrote:Where I am from a social worker is not a therapist or psychologist, so in my understandig she can't put you on medication, she could refer you to a doctor or psychiatrist who is qualified to make that decision.
And a therapist is always more qualified than a social worker but maybe that's just where I'm from.
Why wouldn't you tell your therapist you are suicidal? I understand it can be hard to be open about everything.
Your social worker may indeed see that your depression is worse than you may think it is. But adding medication to that might actually make you suicidal again. I'm not against medication, I have benefitted greatly from it but I don't want you to have any misconceptions about it.
I feel your reply was somewhat defensive, as if you didn't like what I had to say? You don't really have to state that you think your problems may be unsolveable. High standards and being overstimulated are things that can change very well.
All I'm saying is that you social worker doesn't sound very knowledgeable and you'd be wise to look for someone who is (more) qualified. And it is very possible that you are more depressed than you though you were and medication might help with that but I wouldn't know.
Oliveira wrote:Let's all please keep this conversation nice, OK?
I understand the confusion -- in my country a "social worker" is a person that sits with you and helps you with your bills because you're so sick you can't do them yourselves, or helps you fill forms. A social worker is nowhere near a therapist or psychologist. So I understand where Yokker comes from.
If you feel uncomfortable with the idea of medication it is ultimately up to you anyway. Even if a dozen of psychiatrists all diagnose you with X disorder and prescribe Y pill, they can't make sure you actually take that pill unless you're in a hospital and very strictly monitored. But also we can't diagnose you from here and say "she is right, you need pills" or "naah, you're just fine". I am definitely inclined to agree that only a psychiatrist should do that -- but your therapist might be able to assess correctly that you need psychiatrist's advice and that possibly medication would be helpful.
Big hugs and I hope all gets resolved soon -- in a way that satisfies you and doesn't make you uncomfortable.
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