Talk Therapy & Anxiety?
I’m an 18 year old senior in high school. I’m current on 150 mg of Zoloft a day. I’ve been recieving therapy for several months, but I really haven’t improved at all. I have problems with anxiety and depression.
The Zoloft has really helped with depression, but my anxiety is still very bad (if not worse then before the medicine). I’ve had a few panic attacks since starting the medicine (one very serious one in the middle of class). I also twitch quite a bit, it could just be that I’m so cold though…
My therapist would not diagnosis me with anything because I think she said she was more of a humanist or something. However she said that in order to treat my anxiety we would probably have to get the depression under control and it is pretty much now.
So I was wondering how effective talk therapy was for helping with anxiety? I’ve always thought I had social anxiety disorder, but my therapist is reluctant to diagnosis anything.
Also what other forms of therapy may be more effective?
Description of my anxiety
Well like most highschool guys I get most anxious around girls, but for me it isn’t uncommon for me to have anxiety or panic attacks.
I usually try to flee from conversations because I never have anything to say and I’m worried for some reason. So it will usually come with faster breathing & heart beat… possibly some twitching.
When just being in public I’m told that I look very uncomfotable and even at time that I look like I’m going to pass out.
Just sitting in class I will have problems twitching (mainly hands shaking and mouth doing something similar to shivering).
yes my depression has pretty much subsidded (and only in about a months period with the first medication, everyone was telling me change it and not even to give the zoloft a chance).
I really don’t feel a need to be diagoisnised with a specific disorder, I just feel my anxiety symptoms best first social anxiety disorder for best reference as to what my problems are like and what therapy would be useful in treating it.
I’ve heard a lot about CBT for treating anxiety and I think my therapist may use some.
I don’t see where you got the impression that the therapist does not listen to me. Just because she won’t diagonis me with some medical term doesn’t really mean anything to me. It won’t change how I’m feeling or the symptoms I’m experiencing and it would not change her method.
Isn’t it better to form the therapy to the individual patient instead of just switching because of something like that?
Tagged with: amp • anxiety and depression • anxiety symptoms • conversations • diagnosis • girls • heart • humanist • medication • medicine • panic attacks • social anxiety disorder • zoloft
Filed under: anxiety attacks causes
I’m not a doctor and only have a bachelor’s degree in Psyche so I can’t say too much here – but I personally believe that talk therapy is paramount when you are also on medication for any type of mental illness, anxiety issue, depression, etc. I assume your therapist is your doctor prescribing the meds (that wasn’t real clear). I believe talk therapy is effective because otherwise the doctor is nothing more than a pill dispenser and may not know other factors in your life that could be contributing to the problem. A therapist’s job is to ask questions and try to provide the best course of care for that specific patient’s issues. If they don’t know, how can they treat you most effectively? Just my two cents.
Really glad that your depression has subsided…If your therapist is humanist, and you feel that you can gain the most out of therapy by getting a diagnosis, please tell your therapist that…Humanistic therapists are client-centered and they will respect what you need and what meanings you make of your world…
that said, you don’t necessarily need a diagnosis to get good treatment (though it might affect your insurance coverage?)…and your therapist might be shying away from that to protect you from the mental illness label…who knows?
Also, since your depression has been suppressed successfully by the meds, you may want to try CBT (cognitive behavior therapy) for the anxiety. It has proven in past research to be quite effective for anxiety problems.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
and/or
Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)
might help you other then that I would change your therapist to someone that will listen to you more and maybe give you a fixed diagnosis. the best thing about having a fixed diagnosis is that you can get the help you need by focusing on that disorder.
Dude,
I got your answer. Switch from Zoloft to Welbutrin for your depression. 150mg. tablet twice a day. Get Xanax for your anxiety…it’s extremely effective and you don’t suffer any dizziness, drowziness, ect. Carry the xanax with you and take one before you enter a social setting. This combo will be very effective for you.
Meds are good, but you need to have some CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) as well. You need to be able to recognize and blunt the triggers that cause you to have the anxiety. Sounds like you have insurance, which is good. I use a free group (runs on donations) that meets in most cities called Recovery Inc. It’s been around a long time, longer than A.A. They have meetings most every day of any week in most cities. It is not affiliated with any religion or belief system, and is operated entirely by non-professionals.See link below. I wish you the best.