Question : I am taking medicines for anxiety and depression for the last one year. Sometimes I feel that it helps but if I don’t take them I feel very low and helpless. I am not going for therapy because I think medicines are enough. My friends keep asking me to go for therapy so that I can talk to them about my concerns. Do you think I need to do both?
Dear Teentalker,
Thank you for reaching out to us about your concern. I can only begin to imagine how disconcerting it must be for you to take medication for almost a year now and continue to feel low and helpless. Anxiety and depression can be really tough to cope with.
The thing about medicines is that they are able to offer temporary relief and solution. They are surely helpful in times of severe experiences of anxiety and depression. However, medicines alone cannot cure or provide a long term solution. Your friends are looking out for you by suggesting therapy as that would be a space where you can be completely open and honest about your deepest thoughts and feelings. It will offer you a mode of expressing yourself in the truest form and find ways of coping with what continues to bother you. Therapy can certainly be done alongside medication and your therapist can also be aware of the medicines you are taking.
When you find your own space to be uninhibited and someone who is willing to listen unconditionally, it helps you become more self-aware and find resources for yourself. Consider this suggestion and see if there is a therapist in your area.
Hope this helps. If you wish to discuss your query further, please chat with us from Monday through Saturday between 11am and 6pm or leave us an offline message.
Regards,
Expert Teentalk India