Hi, I've recently been told I have GAD and I'm on the severe spectrum for depression. I've never even considered this could be affecting me until something happened and all I could put it down to be an anxiety attack.
When I look back there is a lot of stuff I can relate to anxiety but never depression. I saw my GP who refererred me onto a CBT scheme. I'm currently doing an online course. At first I found this really helpful but now I'm onto week 5 I've realised how depressed it's making me feel.
I just want to know if anyone else has felt like this from CBT. Is it common that it's put me in a darker place and made me feel suicidal when I'd never had these thoughts before?
im considering stopping my CBT and just getting back on suppressing my anxiety as this has worked for so many years so far.
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LibertyB
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Hello Liberty, the trouble with depression is defining where exactly you would have been without what ever treatment they give us. For example if they give me say Prozac and I feel more depressed who is to say I might not have been even worse without the Prozac. There's no spots or symptoms to watch getting better or worse-- its just us telling the doctor. As another example I've been treated with many ADs over 35-40 years of depressive spells and usually have come out of depression in about six months. Who is to say the pills did anything and I would have come out of depression in six months (maybe even quicker) without them.
I'm not a great fan of CBT myself,and a recent poll on this forum as I remember it, did n't rate it very highly. The medics don't like to hear this of course as it means another of their juju magics is near useless and they usually really want to help. I don't blame them for this,treating depression involves the mind ,which is the most complicated thing we know in the Universe , besides which treating cancer is probably a doddle.
If I were you I would go back to what worked for you before, but do thank your doctor for advising you to try it as they were only trying to be helpful and indeed CBT does help some people.
This reads a bit like a rant against medics. It is n't meant to be ,I've generally had very good and caring GPs who I know have done their best for me. Its just that sometimes its as frustrating for me , as it must be for the medics, that medical science is so far from effectively treating depression.
I tried CBT and didn't get anything out of it. What I needed was counselling for the death of my father md a magic wand to make my twins sleep more than 2 hours in a row at night. But my city pushes CBT, I don't know why prob a cost issue.
Have you been to your doctor/GP and discussed what you have discussed here? In the fact the CBT isn't helping and how much worsenyou are feeling? It could be the CBT or you could have taken a hit and the depression is getting worse.
Have you thought about any other treatments you would like to try e.g. Anti depressants, other talking therapies?
Hi, thanks for your message. I have tried to put my thoughts to a therapist but she seems not to realise it and just speak about the positives of the programme. I think I might speak to my GP about it but he's very pro CBT and anti medication. When I mentioned medication he cut me off straight away. I would say before starting this programme I was in quite a happy place but suffering severe anxiety that was making me ill. Now I feel that the anxiety is still bad but I just can't see a worth of my life anymore.
I had a GP for a very short time who was anti antidepressants, saying to me that regardless of whether I feel better or not he will take me off the tablets at 6 months as they are addictive! I was shocked! Needless to say, I changed GP the next day.
Are there any other GPs at your practice you could see?
It does seem irresponsible to be so anti drugs. I wonder why?
Have you thought about changing GP?
Sorry not much help but I think you need an understanding GP that is open to all therapies, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological.
I see your point. The issue is my GP is one of the best in the area. I think I need to give him another chance as now I've tried CBT. You mention other talking therapies. I was only aware of CBT. Have any of these worked for you?
Other talking therapies, e.g. Counselling, mindfulness, group therapy. I'm not sure of specifics but I know there are other methods aside from CBT. Maybe your GP will know of them.
I didn't mean to sound rude or harsh about your GP. If he is good and you like him then counts for a lot. Maybe he will be more open now you have done some CBT.
That really helps thanks 😊 I haven't had much dealing with my gp, that's why I think I should give him a chance. I think I need something face2face as I just feel like this cause has been too generalised to the issues. You have really helped me. Thanks x
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