Do You Need a Pill?

It's nearing that time of year for me to climb up on my soapbox and talk about one my favorite topics - the confluence of medicine and psychology. If it doesn't apply to you, maybe it applies to someone you know.


It's that time of year in that it gets colder and darker and our bodies tend to feel like hibernating. The holidays are drawing near, which is typically a wonderful time of year, but one full of stress to "get things done" and the reality of revisiting the dysfunction of our families - it's a mixed bag to say the least. Let's not forget our tendency to spend more, eat more, and exercise less over the next two months. All factors that lead to the decline in our overall mental health, and the statistically highest rates of depression recorded through the year.

What can you do about it?

You have several options:

If you know you struggle with depression, or anxiety, or seasonal affect disorder; if you have come to the realization over the past few years that you struggle through the holidays, maybe it's time to get some help.

If you have seen your physician for these concerns over the past few years, maybe it's time to check in again. If you have been on the same anti-depressant for a few years, it's probably time to try something different. It's my belief that you really aren't meant to be taking these kinds of medications for extended periods of time, anyway.

Another option is to talk to someone about it. You could chat with a friend or a trusted peer - it might help and you could get some really good advice. However, it could be a good idea to chat with someone with a history of successfully helping people who are struggling with stress, depression, anxiety, etc. Working with a counselor, therapist, social worker, or psychologist will help, and it might be the best solution for your situation. Their job, their education, their vocation in life is to help people who struggle with these issues, it's what they do. If there is a good fit between you and your therapist, the results of the work you do can far surpass your expectations.

Sometimes, most of the time, the best results are found at that confluence of psychology and medicine - when your physician and counselor communicate. Research tells us that the BEST solution to situations such as depression, anxiety, or other mental health concerns is a combination of medication and talk therapy.

Your other option is to ride it out - it's only two months. Grind through the stress of the cold months and holidays with a fake smile and an attitude of "bah humbug". Just get through them. Maybe it could help if you had a few drinks to cope, right? Once you get to January, it all get's better... doesn't it?

As a therapist myself, I may be a little biased in saying that the final solution isn't always the best. But like I said, I know I'm biased. With that bias comes a natural inclination to encourage you to match your needs with what is going to help the best. If you historically struggle through the end of the year into the new year - whether it is a family situation, a marriage concern, or difficulty drinking too much through the holidays; or maybe you simply find yourself struggling through the next few months in a haze of depression or anxiety - there is help available. Ask your physician who she would recommend you see in a counseling situation; if they can't refer you to one, give me a call or email, I would be happy to help.

Dan Recommends


If you've read these articles much, you know I'm a huge fan of meditation for anxiety and depression. I'm not sure if I have recommended this work - truly one of my favorites - because I have not been sure if it has been available on Amazon. But now it is. This is a great book and CD on meditation by fellow professor Rev. Sam Boys. If you are at all interested in learning more about meditation with music, I highly recommend you take a look at his book: