With antidepressants being advertised all over the place and becoming more and more common, many people wonder if they would benefit from psychotropic medication. The therapists at Urban Balance are experts in conducting clinical assessments and determining the need for a medication evaluation.
First, UB therapists gather a psychosocial history, assess symptoms, and discover the level of client functioning. Many clients can alleviate symptoms of depression or anxiety through skills learned in therapy combined with proper self care - rest, nutrition, exercise, and social support.
Second, while it is always the goal to help people recover from depression or anxiety without medication if possible, some clients may be in need of pharmacological help to stabilize their mood. The goal is to get to a level of functioning where they are able to utilize the tools learned in therapy. Some psychological conditions - major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, OCD, and ADD - have a strong propensity for genetic predisposition, and sometimes medication is an extremely important and useful therapeutic intervention.
Many people try to self-medicate their symptoms of depression or anxiety with alcohol, drugs, and over-the-counter sleep remedies. This can be extremely dangerous, can worsen symptoms and lead to addiction and medical problems. Being prescribed the correct medication can reduce substance abuse and self-medication.
Unfortunately, some people still feel a stigma about taking medication for mental health issues. There is a common misconception that if they just work harder they might be able to manage their disorder without medication. While this may be true for some who have situational depression that was triggered by a life event, this may not be true for somebody whose biochemistry contributes to full fledged depressive episodes. Most people wouldn't contest taking medication prescribed by their cardiologist or taking insulin to manage diabetes—they would accept that the medication is something they need to live a healthy life.
The therapists at UB aim to alleviate symptoms without medication if possible. However, in some cases, medication is a necessary component to treatment. In these cases, we refer to top-notch pschiatrists with whom we trust and collaborate frequently. We recommend seeing a psychiatrist, who is a specialist in mental health conditions and medications, rather than asking your primary care physician or OB-GYN for medication. It is always best to participate in therapy in addition to your medication regimen to maximize progress and improve overall wellness and functioning.
For more information, please contact Urban Balance at 888-726-7170 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .