Meds vs Therapy: How to know Which Professional is Actually Helpful

Sometimes, what many of us really need is someone to just listen. Someone we can tell our worst thoughts to, without fear of judgement. Someone who can call us out on our bullshit, if necessary.

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You've figured out you need help. Now, where do you find it? Do you need to see a therapist or a psychiatrist? And what's the difference anyway?

Psychiatrist vs. Psychologist: What's the Difference?

A psychiatrist is a doctor who specialized in mental health and related disorders. (Source) A psychologist is not a doctor. They cannot prescribe medication or diagnose illnesses/ disorders. What they are trained to do instead is to talk to you - to help you see what is tripping you up, and what can help you get better. (Source)

Whether you need a psychiatrist or a therapist largely depends on what you're dealing with, and the severity of it. But by-and-large, some combination of help from both is usually required. 

A psychiatrist prescribes medication, which can help alleviate symptoms. Anti-depressants can help increase the level of serotonin to your brain. Mood stabilizers like lithium work on the brain and the central nervous system (CNS). If you have insomnia, sleeping pills act as an external sedative. 

But while meds work on the chemical and biological aspects of the problem, there is also the mental aspect to be considered. Often, mental patterns need to be identified and evaluated. Intrusive or overly negative thoughts need to be challenged. The mind can be trained just like other muscles in the body - to an extent. Repetitive exercises and some discipline can often go a long way toward improving mental health. And that's where the therapist comes in. 

The First Step

A good first step would be to see a psychiatrist. They should be able to tell you whether you require medicinal intervention. If meds aren't needed, chances are that you can sort this out in therapy. Sometimes, while your symptoms are severe at the moment, the underlying problem might be something that therapy can help you with. In this case, you may be prescribed medicines to begin with, and advised to start therapy at the same time. Over time, the medicines will alleviate your symptoms. It will then become easier to work on what the therapist recommends. Eventually, you might be able to go off the meds altogether. Even in their absence, you can keep using the tools and routines that you gained in therapy. 

In other cases, such as with psychosis, medication is an absolute must. Psychosis is a condition where the sufferer loses sight of what's real and what's not. (Source) Under those circumstances, therapy may not be of much help at the beginning. Once the meds have helped get their reality back in perspective, a therapist's work can begin. 

Yes, It's Subjective. But...

...but, you'll never know which applies to you until you take the first step. If the idea of seeing a doctor is overwhelming, or if you're scared off by the idea of taking meds, you can always see a therapist first. If they recommend that you see a doctor anyway, you can revisit the idea. A good therapist is not going to lay down rules for what you should or shouldn't do. You can always tell them you're not comfortable yet. They may even be able to find common ground that takes your comfort into account. 

What About the Apps?

Using only an app can perpetuate the isolation that someone who's already struggling with mental health is feeling.

Ah, yes, the apps. Google Play Store has mental health apps coming out of its ears at this point. Meditation apps, Mindfulness apps, Mood Tracking Apps, even Journal Apps. So why spend money on a therapist or a psychiatrist when you can just download one (or all) of these for free? 

For one thing, there's no way to ensure that you actually use those apps after downloading them. Scheduling a session means devoting a block of time to your mental health. 

For another, apps are vague and generic in their helpfulness. They can be useful therapeutic tools. But they cannot diagnose you. They cannot tell you that you're repeating an old pattern. They cannot prescribe lifesaving medication. Most of all, they cannot make you feel seen, heard, and understood. 

Using only an app can perpetuate the isolation that someone who's already struggling with mental health is feeling.

We're social animals. Yes, even the most introverted among us. Sometimes, what many of us really need is someone to just listen. Someone we can tell our worst thoughts to, without fear of judgement. Someone who can call us out on our bullshit, if necessary. Someone who can get us immediate help if they know we're in an emergency. 

So take that first step today. Speak to a professional - they're trained to help you. It's their entire job. And, as my former therapist used to say, if improving your mental health was so easy that you could do it on your own, then they'd all be out of a job.