Don't know if there's a thread for this, but i figured if it wasn't, it could help some people, myself included. Are any of you on meds, but don't have a therapist? If so, how do you work to change the way you think? Are there any therapeutic techniques that you can use that don't require a therapist to conduct? Thanks!

On meds, no therapist, but on a waiting list for one and hope to get in soon. I think it's better to have both. Though you can't always help how you feel, the therapy could still help and definitely worth a try if you can do it. What's holding you back? Is it what you wrote above?

I'm on Dosulepin but have no therapist anymore. To be honest I don't actually know whether the meds I'm on are for anxiety or depression... I know that sounds crazy lol
Anyway, I was on Prozac a few months ago and saw a counselor every week at the same time. Seeing the counselor didn't really help me though as I have huge problems when it comes to talking about my feelings face to face with someone. Talking about childhood and my dad was hard for some reason. So in a way I find it easier on my own. I think I'm in the minority there though. I tend to do best when I'm diagnosed with whatever it is, given the necessary information on it and some basic guidance, then left to sort myself out, knowing there's still support there if I need it. And that's kind of the position I'm in now, if that makes sense.

Like I said, I have difficulties talking about how I feel, but getting it all out really helps. That's where sites like this come in. I run a forum for people with Aspergers and Autism, and I've met my best friend on there. I talk to her a lot on MSN and post about how I feel on forums like this one. And that kind of helps me sort out how I'm feeling, get my thoughts together, work out what's going on in my head and think about how I can get through it. I guess in a way it's like having a diary, although I feel uncomfortable with things like that so it's easier knowing I'm typing it to someone, rather than just for myself.

Other than that, I do things to take my mind off it all. Because of my social anxiety, this can be difficult sometimes. But I've found a couple of ways. Mainly, I take some time out now and then to listen to music an relax. This might not work for everyone, but for me, listening to music can really take me away from my other problems for a while... some form of escapism I guess. Now that I'm back at university I also have a bit more freedom to do things I'm otherwise unable to do (because of transport problems and anxiety etc); sometimes I walk up to the museum after lectures. It's only about 5 minutes walk from my building and it's free to get in and usually fairly quiet, (with the exception of the odd group of noisy schoolkids on a trip out lol) so it's ideal for someone like me. I get to walk around and look at the Egyptian mummies and the frogs and snakes in the live animals section. I like taking photos so I take some pictures of them and sometimes post them online when I get home.

That probably sounded like it had nothing to do with this, maybe I should have explained myself better. But what I meant (in a long, rambling kind of way) was that doing something you like every now and then, giving yourself a break from thinking, can really help. I know it's hard when you're depressed, and over the summer I've found it particularly difficult, but if you can give yourself some time out now and then, you will probably find it easier to deal with the problems that you have, whether it's anxiety, depression, or something else. I don't know if that helped or not but I hope it will be of use to someone, I'm typing too much today so I'll stop now.

This post has been edited by Gimmik: Oct 16 2007, 06:58 PM

Hi btab1085,
I highly recommend the book, Feeling Good by David Burns. I don't know if you're familiar with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), but if you're willing to invest the time and effort, it can help you overcome negative thoughts and self-criticism. He's very thorough. He covers negative thought processes, depression, and many of the issues that come along with depression, like guilt, low self-esteem, need for approval, etc.

Take care.
- Elly

I tried the therapist thing, It was great even for the few sessions I went to. I didn't carry on with it myself. But in those few sessions I did attend she helped me learn allot about myself. A properly educated counselor can help one figure ones self out. Go for it. Sometimes it's nice to speak to someone who knows nothing about you. But after you tell them about it, they are able to tell you so much about yourself that you never thought of. Then things seem a little clearer.

Allot of times all we need is some one to talk to, who doesn't know us. It pays to break down those walls and talk now and then.

Some times med's can make all the difference too.

I was in therapy for as long as I could afford it. Even with insurance it's too expensive. My old therapist helped when I went to her, but she didn't really give me any tools to help myself without her, if that makes sense.

Yeah, i was in therapy for a while and it was still hard to talk about the major stuff and my feelings. I found myself answering a lot of questions with "i don't know" Anyway, I'm with you on the getting out and doing something you enjoy, but I still find myself feeling so bad and thinking so much that I can't really enjoy what I'm doing as I should. But you're right, it totally helps. That's so cool that you have a museum so close to your campus. I wish I did. We don't have anything here and I don't have a car so I pretty much just stay around campus. But I watch a lot of TV and listen to a lot of music, and that helps a little. Thanks for your response!

And everyone else, thanks for your responses as well!

I think it is individual.
I would recommend finding a T or a counselor - just someone to offer an objective viewpoint.
Personally, my irrational beliefs are so deep seated that I need a professional to reroute me away from these falsified notions of reality - mainly it's just teh way I view myself in relation to the world. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps changing thoughts. Others can be helped by reading self-help literature and doing exercises. A book recommended to me is called the Struggle Against Yourself and it is a workbook that has been found helpful.

btab,

what is your diagnosis? i was thinking that i could give you some more specific ideas based on what you are having to deal with.

i'm between therapists right now. i'm on meds for bipolar disorder, anxiety, ADD, and PTSD. i've found online resources like this site, especially the forums, are wonderful. you'll receive support and information here.

books can help. my prior therapist recommended a book called "Mind Over Mood" -- to help with negative thinking, etc.

also, i highly recommend that you get into a support group (local) and go to meetings regularly. they are free and you'll receive tremendous support. bipolar support meetings are really helping me right now.

also, try to reduce the stress in your life as much as possible.

keep us posted. take care.

Yeah, that book is quite popular. I've read part of it and found it pretty useful. It's just a matter of finding and investing the time, because it's filled with exercises/worksheets. We need more hours in the day! 24 is not enough.

There are bits of self-help topics in the Psych Ed 101 room that may be helpful for you. I found the affirmations to be of great help. I have them on the fridge and read through them a lot. It's a lot of hard work to make changes on your own. It's sad that your prior tdoc didn't give you any tools. If you're determined to make self-changes, you can. Take it one step at a time so as not to get overwhelmed.

I was in therapy for years along with medication. The tdoc finally urged me to go it alone since I had tools and built coping strategies. So, I was just medicated for many years and did quite well. When the med combo started failing (14 years on it), the world fell apart, too. My old tdoc told me therapy doesn't last forever. How true. After many changes in meds to find the right combo, I am back in therapy.

Have you tried going to the student health center on campus? They can refer you to a tdoc. Some will see you at no cost and others will have a sliding fee schedule that fits in your budget.
Sheepwoman

Hey, sorry it's taken me so long to respond. I'm diagnosed with MDD. I'm very suspicious of borderline personality disorder as well. I just found out that we have free support groups on campus so I'm gonna look into that as well. What exactly do you do in support groups? I'm trying to contribute more to this forum, so I'm hoping to give and receive support here as well. I think I'm gonna try reading that book, or another one like it. Thanks for your response!

I found out we have therapists and psychiatrists here, it's $15 dollars a session, which isn't bad. I might be able to work that out, hopefully. Thanks for your response!