“I am feeling better with just my anti-anxiety medications. Do I still require counseling?”
I work for a startup and have high levels of stress and anxiety. A few months ago my psychiatrist, who I was seeing frequently, prescribed Escitalopram 10 mg for me. I am feeling much better with this drug. Would I still require counseling?
15 Answers
If your psychiatrist does counseling, this would be useful. Most of us know how to do it but some don’t.
I'm a believer in not always doing regularly scheduled therapy, but doing sessions as needed, once you are stable.
Yes. It is recommended that you build an understanding of what the medication is doing for you, what has changed or become easier/more tolerable as well as working on ways that one may help the medication help themselves.
That's up to you. I always recommend therapy but if you are doing well on medication, you don't HAVE to be in therapy.
Hi, thanks for your question.
If you are feeling back to yourself, it is your choice. I would suggest you discuss it with your psychiatrist.
Y. Hall, MD
If you are feeling back to yourself, it is your choice. I would suggest you discuss it with your psychiatrist.
Y. Hall, MD
Jan Fawcett
Psychiatrist
This is a good question. I would go along with your psychiatrist's opinion and rationale. After all, he/she has provided you with effective treatment.
Good to know that you’re feeling better. Medication and counseling both work individually. However, the combination works better by treating the symptoms and helping you learn skills to recognize and manage your stress which might help mitigate future mood episodes. Discuss your options with your psychiatrist. Good luck.
If your goal is to get off the medication at some point then yes. You need to process the reason why you have not been able to handle the stress or just learn other, new coping skills through counseling. If you don't do that, once you get off the medication, there is a chance that any other moment of stress the same thing could happen.
Sometimes just medication does the trick if the illness has more of a biological causation. If that is the case with you, then you may not need to see a therapist or counselor. However, the studies have shown that combining both is more successful particularly in treatment-resistant illness, which doesn't seem to be your case.
Counseling is (most of the time) helpful and we would enhance or add to improving your situation. I recommend counseling at least for the short term.
Dawit Zemichael, MD, MS
Dawit Zemichael, MD, MS
C Marlo Baird
Psychiatrist
To be precise you require oxygen, water, food, and little else. Your best interests may be served by attempting counseling in order to use the relief you are experiencing to look at your patterns of handling stressors.
That depends on your own goals. If you are merely looking for a palliative relief, then continuing in psychotherapy is unnecessary. Remember that many anti-anxiety medicines can become addicting. To get to the root of the problem and alleviate the cause, psychotherapy becomes necessary. The basic choice is yours depending on your own goals.
Donald A. Moses, MD
Donald A. Moses, MD
That is a very individual question. There are many factors to consider, including if you are sleeping and eating well, concentrating, etc. The best thing to do would be to discuss this with your therapist and psychiatrist who know you well. You can also taper down the frequency of your therapy sessions as well. You have many options!!
Good luck!!
Good luck!!
Counseling can help you learn some coping techniques to deal with the stressors in your life. Medications are good, but best results are achieved through a combination of medications and therapy. What you learn in therapy may go a long way towards your recovery and maybe even getting off medications eventually as you learn to cope better and feel more confident in yourself.
Good luck!
Good luck!
The best combination of treatment is to do psychotherapy and psychopharmacotherapy. There are some relaxation techniques that can be taught to the individual which ultimately helps them; no need for medication or do well on lower doses of medications.
Noor F. Husain
Noor F. Husain
