I apologize if this is inappropriate for this forum. I have been suffering from anxiety and depression for the majority of my life and with the recent birth of our first child it is as bad as it’s ever been, the anxiety that is. In the past I have seen numerous therapists and gone through CBT to no avail. I’ve learned to sort of cope with it the best I can but it’s really starting to destroy my quality of life. When levels are high I literally have no appetite what so ever which obviously kills my training outcomes due to not getting in sufficient calories. My questions are first, who in your mind is best equipped to treat such issues. There are so many different people who offer Counseling/Therapy but similar to your article on pain not everyone might be properly trained to deal with these issues. Also are you aware of any data out there on the use of medications such as SSRI’s and their long term side effects. My approach up and to this point is to learn now to control it on my own without medication but I’m at wits end at this point. Thanks in advance.
I’m sorry to hear about how challenging things have been for you.
I certainly agree with your idea of pursuing counseling/therapy (CBT is generally the best-supported, though you may need to find a specific therapist who works particularly well with you), but given the severity I think you should also be seeing a psychiatrist for these issues. They are well-equipped to discuss the role of medications and/or other adjunctive therapies for anxiety and depression. There are lots of data out there on the use of medications, and while I understand your concerns regarding side effects, 1) the most commonly used medicines tend to be very well tolerated, and 2) the low risk of side effects is undoubtedly outweighed by the potential benefits given the severity of your symptoms. I would not go seeking out / searching for / reading about side effects of these medicines, as it substantially increases your risk of perceiving them (i.e., a nocebo-type effect).
Thanks so much for the advise dude I appreciate it. I’ll look into some psychiatrists and give someone a call tomorrow.