Posted by pandora on March 30, 2001, at 22:35:58
In reply to Re: Meds are only a TOOL, posted by Noa on March 30, 2001, at 17:55:45
I have to join Noa in disagreeing that therapy is useless and especially to the statement that "All psychotherapists are intrinsically 'wrong' since their thinking is fundamentally flawed". As a trained psychotherapist, as well as a person who suffers from depression, I wholeheartedly believe that meds are a lifelong need for some and that a lot, if not the majority, of depression/anxiety/OCD sufferers have chemical imbalances that cannot be fully corrected with therapy.
However, depending on the individual, there is great benefit to psychotherapy! As one who takes an eclectic approach, I generally don't rely on stereotypical "Freudian" psychoanalytical therapy, which is the face of therapy that many people think of when hearing the word "psychotherapy". Depression, anxiety, OCD, and even psychotic disorders to some extent can be alleviated with appropriate therapy. In many cases, therapy can augment meds, not the other way around. Take the person who has suffered for years with anxiety or depression. He may find the "miracle med" that takes all his symptoms away and corrects whatever chemical imbalance started the illness, but there are years of learned behavior (defense mechanisms, avoidance, poor social skills, etc.) that, if not dealt with, can lead to other problems.
The bottom line is, don't discount therapy, especially if your social support system is limited. Even if you simply need someone unbiased to talk things out with as you find your way to the right med combination, it can be a valuable tool for recovery.
Erin
poster:pandora
thread:5334
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20010324/msgs/5415.html