My therapist wants me to go on mood stabilizing meds. She will make a recommendation in two weeks. I am not sure if I really want to go on such medications. I know my posts indicate I am burned out and depressed, but really, if it is my job that is making me unhappy, won't these medicines only cause me to stay at my job and be unhappy longer? Maybe my body and my mind are giving me warning signs? I was never really unhappy before:( I hate to go on meds for any reason, especially Psych ones

Jim

My therapist wants me to go on mood stabilizing meds. She will make a recommendation in two weeks. I am not sure if I really want to go on such medications. I know my posts indicate I am burned out and depressed, but really, if it is my job that is making me unhappy, won't these medicines only cause me to stay at my job and be unhappy longer? Maybe my body and my mind are giving me warning signs? I was never really unhappy before:( I hate to go on meds for any reason, especially Psych ones

JimI think your instincts are right; maybe all you need is a realistic and executable plan to get a new job. There is also the possibility that the meds wont really change your opinion on your work at all because it's a perfectly valid one.

Mood meds can make a big difference but in my experience that effect doesn't last forever. The best approach in my experience has been to have a plan. These drugs are going to give me some stability and a different perspective in order to change things that are wrong with my situation, my outlook, my habits, my attitudes, my perspective, my behaviour. I negotiate this with my therapist. If I don't do that then ultimately I end up in the same place or worse but with one less option for coping, since the meds are no longer making a big difference.

It's not a single kick at the can -- I've come off of antidepressants when they've stopped working and when I've gone back on after a break they worked just as well as the first time. But they've been most effective when I've used that period of stability and positive outlook to integrate some new insight into how I move through life, and change habits and behaviours that were self-defeating.

Nature

The meds will help reduce your symptoms of stress and depression, so you can better focus on making a change.

Yes, of course your body and mind are giving you warning signs. There's no reason you can't pay attention to that AND use meds to help you act on those warning signs. (I don't know what meds she's suggesting. Heavy sedatives are not what I have in mind here.)

Nature is right: you need a plan. And as he and Susane say, the meds could help you to bolster you while you become more active. With the right plan, the right meds and continuing clarity about your job, it's very unlikely that meds will increase your passivity and keep you in your job.