<p>Hi, parents! I’m posting here because I’ve learned not to ask these things of people my own age.</p>
<p>So, been going through a really rough time this semester, still not quite out of the woods yet, but I might be getting there.</p>
<p>I’ve been going to counseling at my college’s student health center, and that has helped to keep me centered through a lot of drastic life changes (death, family illness, etc.). Just been informed, though, that because of the center’s rules, I only have two more meetings with my therapist left before I have to make a choice to go to someone in the local community instead or to just stop therapy. In addition, my therapist informed me today that he thought I am showing symptoms of anxiety/depression, and he scheduled me to meet with a psychiatrist next week in order to get an evaluation for meds.</p>
<p>Does anyone feel like there is a disconnect here? That meds would be suggested, but that further therapy was not pushed at all? What do I do if, next week, the therapist recommends meds? Do I accept, even if I am aware that my therapy might be ending? I’m losing faith in the whole system at this point; I feel like right at a time when I could have the potential to be recovering they just dump this on me. I didn’t even know there was a limited number of sessions allowed. I feel like it’d be completely wrong to be on meds but not be going to therapy; am I mistaken about that? I’m not even sure I trust their opinions now, but, at this point, it is the only place I’ve really turned to and I feel like I can’t figure this out on my own.</p>
<p>Your therapist on campus can’t make you see someone in the community, so it has to be your choice to make. All campuses that I know of have a maximum number of visits; their purpose isn’t to provide on-going therapy for students who need more extensive care. This is similar to the medical side of student health centers, too: they’ll give check ups, STD checks, and see you if you have an infection, but if you have a chronic condition or something undiagnosed, you’re referred to a local physician.</p>
<p>I agree with your inclination to not take medication without therapy. It’s more effective, safer, and that’s what you feel comfortable doing. If you feel you’re “getting there” without meds and continue to improve, it’s OK to not take meds or put off the decision.</p>
<p>I suggest you talk to your current therapist about how you feel. Talk about whether you feel you still need therapy, and ask him his opinion (it sounds as if he’d agree). Then ask for a referral for someone in the community. You’ll need to look into how therapy is covered under your insurance. If your parents know about your therapy, ask them.</p>
<p>Yes, it does feel like there’s a disconnect. A disconnect that exists throughout our health care system. Many health insurance companies only allow a limited number of visits for mental health. Although, some insurance companies will provide additional visits if your therapist documents the need for additional visits. I’m not sure whether or not a student health center could or would provide additional sessions if the need is documented. And maybe someone else here on CC knows more about how that works. </p>
<p>It sounds like you’ve been through a lot. Does you’re health insurance/student health pay for therapy off campus? Personally, I agree meds without therapy is not the right thing to do. Meds and therapy make sense. But that’s just my own personal take, I’m not a professional. </p>
<p>Perhaps you can call your therapist and get referals for someone in the local community so you can start working on finding an outside therapist now so you don’t get left “alone” while trying to figure all of this out. </p>
<p>Good for you for posting here and asking for help. Keep us posted on how things are goiong.</p>
<p>Ask your counselor if you will be allowed to continue in the group you mention in your other post. If the answer is no, and you do not have access to personal health insurance which would provide additional sessions, ask about a medical/student ombudsperson who might intervene. You have taken responsibility for getting help, and it is not reasonable nor medically sensible to deny you. Good luck. Lorelei</p>
<p>I am a professional and again, welcome to the reality of insurance and medical resources. Please don’t make the error of feeling rejected/uncared about…you are smart to be diligent about coming to terms with feelings and experiences that can swamp your boat if ignored. Absolutely meds work best when talk therapy is offered (all research says so and last week they published a study about how very much talk therapy reduces suicidal ideation in young adults and teens–people your age really like to talk it out and deserve the chance to talk, not just get medicated). At your age, your brain is not finished developing and executive functions are not all in place, so please know that your coping skills/ability to sit back and know yourself well… will get more sophisticated with time. You sound like a person who can make use of talk therapy…you can be articulate and you are working through some challenges. Most people muddle through without any help whatsoever, but people who won’t seek counseling sometimes have prolonged and debilitating battles with anxiety and depression, and at your age during your education…you don’t want prolonged feelings that interfere with your social life and ability to study. You want to avoid a major depression if possible by taking care of dysphoric feelings early on. You may be able to simply get to know your self and your vulnerabilities now while you are young and this is golden to accomplish…life is tough on all of us and we all hit the skids sometimes, and this is what the process being an adult is all about. You are not supposed to have it all together at this age, and when you leave home, many many great young adults find they have some things to sort out with family issues or loaded up biological issues.</p>
<p>Please allow the psychiatrist to evaluate you and just be frank and then listen and make a judgment later. I don’t believe the psychiatrist will give you meds without a good solid sliding scale or insurance paid for referral to someone he or she thinks has good relationship skills as a counselor. You don’t have to agree to use meds, but a short term round with them may help you get to a new place and feel better, and you can talk to him/her about tapering off when you feel you are in a new phase in your life. </p>
<p>If you are dealing with depression and anxiety…good news is these are things that are extremely responsive to talk counseling and meds…view your life as chapters…this is only one chapter in your future.</p>
<p>Alligator,
I’d definitely follow thru with the appt with psychiatrist. Faline explained the benefits of meds plus therapy well.</p>
<p>I’d also ask for help with a T in the local area. The counseling center probably has a list of “preferred providers” in the community. It is common with SHCs to offer 5, 10, or at most 20 sessions, and then refer into the community. (This is true in large companies too.)</p>
<p>I agree with you that this transition could have been discussed early in the treatment. Its hard to attach to one therapist and then have to shift. I also don’t understand why the time lapse in setting up the referral to psychiatrist. What I do know is that therapists in the community will probably have years of experience and will make the transition as smooth as possible.</p>
<p>Hi again, thanks so much for the feed back!</p>
<p>I met with the psychiatrist today and she told me what I already knew:
The symptoms for depression and bereavement overlap. My symptoms are at that fine line between depression and bereavement, so it is hard to say whether I am depressed or not. However, they’re obviously interfering with my day to day life, and they don’t seem too closely associated with any feelings of loss, so because of that, she gave me an antidepressant subscription. </p>
<p>Not very reassuring. I’m not sure I’ll actually use it.</p>
<p>On a side note, I’m very disappointed, looking back, with the feedback my counselor gave me the last time I met with him; I think I’m going to cut ties with the counseling center here on campus. I’m considering whether to look for someone in the community or just try to weather the rest of the semester on my own.</p>
<p>I think my campus could benefit from a student organization focused on bringing awareness to mental health issues faced by students on campus. I had to apply to drop some classes earlier for psychological reasons, and the process was grueling; it took me 6 - 7 meetings. How is someone suffering from really severe depression or some other mental issue supposed to get through this system? What a discouraging pain.</p>
<p>I know I’m lucky to have this health care, but there are ways that it could be improved.</p>
<p>I do hope you’ll look into finding a counselor off campus. I love the idea of a student organization focused on bringing awareness to mental health issues I think every campus needs one. And it would be a great way to get support. Good luck. And keep us posted.</p>