Most children see a pediatrician regularly whereas few will ever see a psychologist. With the advent of newer and safer medications, more children and adolescents are getting medicated than ever before for problems such as depression and anxiety. On the one hand, this may be beneficial given that these problems might be causing significant distress, especially if untreated.
On the other hand, this could represent a lost opportunity as medications typically do not resolve the underlying tendency for these young people to get anxious or depressed.
Given current trends in medical practice, many children grow up to face a lifetime of more or less continuous reliance on medications, without taking advantage of equally effective and longer-lasting alternatives. It is not that pediatricians or primary care physicians do not want to help — they do — but often the only way that they know is by prescribing medications.
But many young people with nonpsychotic disorders or problems e. Moreover, these methods teach skills that are lifelong. This allows the person to not only feel better, but gives them something to fall back on if their stressors return at some point in the future. Unlike with the potential of some psychotropic medications, psychotherapy is not addictive.
Furthermore, some studies have shown that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can be more effective at relieving anxiety and depression than medication. Depression medications and anxiety medications are among the most prescribed drugs worldwide. Advertisements have taught us to recognize drug names and to request them from our medical professionals. Indeed, the benefit of psychotropic medications is that some people may see a quicker, short term improvement in their symptoms, especially if their case is severe.
Medications are generally cheaper than psychotherapy and are often covered under insurance, while therapy is sometimes limited or may not be covered at all.
That being said, there are drawbacks to psychotropic medications. Some of these drugs have very adverse side effects — a fact many people ignore when they see the list of them scrolling rapidly through an advertisement.
These medications are often prescribed on a trial-and-error basis, wherein the drugs are changed if the person is not getting the symptom relief they are hoping for.
It shows people how to identify situations that might cause problems, understand their thoughts, identify any negative thinking patterns they engage in and then challenge such thoughts with more constructive alternatives.
This helps people respond to their problems more effectively and learn new ways of coping that can be applied to future situations. As such, it can help alleviate anxiety symptoms on a long-term basis. Some brain imaging studies have shown that there are actual physiological changes that take place in the brain when undergoing CBT.
The amygdala, which is responsible for the fight-or-flight response appears to calm down. Although studies have shown CBT to be an effective treatment for anxiety, the fact is, no singular treatment works for every single person. Then there are situations in which, due to practical or other concerns, individuals may have difficulty committing to regular sessions.
In all these cases, CBT might not be the best solution. From a medical perspective, the exact roots of anxiety are not known. The lack of a specific cause means that finding a medication that can completely cure it is difficult. However, certain medications have been shown to help relieve anxiety symptoms. Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors are one of the more common classes of medication used for anxiety. Benzodiazepines are also used in some cases for their relaxing effect.
That said, these medications do not work for everyone. They carry a number of side effects that some people find off putting such as weight gain, sexual dysfunction, gastrointestinal problems and sedation. In addition to this, it can sometimes be difficult to establish the right dosage. The particular diagnosis and its severity can be key in making the best choice for yourself. Below are some research findings on what tends to be the most effective type of treatment.
Remember, results vary and many people have a natural preference for medication or therapy and so long as it has been shown to be effective, you are more likely to follow through with the treatment you are most comfortable with. Depression: Cognitive-behavioral therapy and interpersonal psychotherapy, as well antidepressant medication have been shown to be helpful and effective treatments for depression. Often when symptoms are in the moderate to severe range, combining psychotherapy and medication may be more effective than either treatment alone.
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