Trevor’s buddy wouldn’t let it go: Wellbutrin XL and therapy big-time eased his depression. So a month ago, Trevor started on an antidepressant (but blew off therapy). When asked how he’s doing, he growls, “Why don’t mental health treatments work for everyone?“
Do you believe it only takes a few therapy sessions, and you’ll be happy like everyone else? Expecting yourself to become ‘normal’ can lead to severe disillusionment.
Like many Americans (and Trevor), you may come to realize a single treatment isn’t the key to improving your psychological distress.
With so many conditions researched daily, why aren’t more people getting “better?” Let’s take a look at some of the factors driving the thinking that mental health treatment doesn’t work.
The right medication and therapy go better together
Some people think a prescription is more affordable than therapy sessions, which may make them mistake it as a quick solution. Pills are seen as having an instant effect, but successful treatment depends on your willingness to stick with the medication and a suitable therapist until you can start reducing your dosage.
For instance, if you have a serotonin deficiency, it can trigger depression. A selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) may help your body make the most of the available natural serotonin. However, you may also need guidance to address negative thought patterns you’ve formed as a result of the lower serotonin levels.
You may have up to 75% better results when combining various treatment modalities into a comprehensive plan that helps you build better mental health.
Therapy or meds: it isn’t a coin toss
Psychiatric medications work better in conjunction with correct therapeutic guidance toward self-awareness and positive actions.
A treatment plan focusing only on helpful medicines may not offer a full spectrum of benefits, but combining them with effective counseling could be a winning solution. Plus, you’ll need to discuss any side effects or a lack of changes with your provider, as it may take several tries to find the prescription that works best with your brain chemistry.
If you’ve successfully used medications for a while and decide to add therapy to your treatment regime, you may find the wrong provider – just like switching to an incompatible prescription – may have a negative impact.
So, with medication and counseling, the key to success lies in finding a winning combination that meets your healing needs.
Your expectations of “normal”
Do you believe it only takes a few therapy sessions, and you’ll be happy like everyone else? Expecting yourself to become “normal” can lead to severe disillusionment. Therapy doesn’t “fix” you or make you fit in.
Healthy expectations of therapeutic guidance are that you’ll get to know yourself better and live more comfortably within your world and your abilities. With 15% of the adult workforce experiencing a mental health condition, healing may depend on finding different combinations to manage your condition.
Social expectations of “better”
You may have lost faith in therapy because people challenge you by asking why you’re not better after a few pills and a quick therapist’s chat. They don’t understand your journey, so by imposing their idea of what “better” looks like, society undercuts the healing process.
Progress is an internal measure. When you try to listen to outsiders about how “far” you’ve come or how “little” you have accomplished, you may give up altogether before experiencing a breakthrough.
Biomedical modalities
Science continues to view the brain as a machine with predictable components. Just as a mechanic won’t expect BMW parts to fit a Tahoe, there’s a medical expectation of what “functional” looks like. Perhaps your brain is a Ford engine in a Tahoe body, and only with real and continuous therapy can you and your therapist begin to understand that.
Our dynamic brain: cookie-cutter solutions or thinking won’t cut it
Cookie-cutter solutions or thinking have no place in therapy. Viewing the brain as a predictable entity is dangerous and can cause people to think mental health treatment doesn’t work because, instead of seeing the person experiencing the symptoms, this approach treats them as “diseased” and in need of a “cure.” But mental well-being is about you and not an outside cure.
Answers to successful mental health treatment
So, how do you find a therapy that works for you? First, accept that the real driving force toward healing is you. Getting better is not about fitting in or meeting some societal standard. Only when you realize that you are the one who has to discover your inner landscape and take action can you live a satisfied life.
Modern medicine is one part of the puzzle toward self-discovery and positive action-taking. Therapy is another, but how you place them in your puzzle depends on your needs.
For example, the studies and measurements of mental health conditions among Native Americans may provide an incomplete view because researchers applied the measurement methods used on other population groups. Similarly, your culture, past and family history affect your well-being, so any successful therapy should accommodate these.
The right treatment provider will listen to your concerns and help you formulate a plan that guides you toward mental health and wellness. They are a partner, not a fitness coach shouting at you to do more and push harder.
Compatible therapists offer compassion, guidance and genuine care. If yours dismisses your concerns about a medication or their style not working without having a helpful conversation, they’re probably not compatible with your healing journey.
A better approach to the journey
Instead of relying on only one approach, find a balanced and inclusive plan to help you improve your mindset and health. Therapy and prescription medications aren’t one-and-done solutions to managing your mental health. Instead of choosing one over the other, utilize both alongside:..
- Journaling: Gratitude journaling can impact your self-perception and wellness.
- Movement: Psychosomatic symptoms are often your mind crying for help, but instead, people ignore these signs. Use judgment-free movement to release stress and anxiety.
- Connection: A good friend or compassionate partner can be a shoulder to lean on when you’re struggling day to day. Spending time discussing how you’re feeling and doing something that lifts your spirits can help you continue the work of self-healing.
Making your mental health treatments work
If you think mental health treatment doesn’t work for you, it may be because you haven’t used a comprehensive approach. You could benefit from one that considers your health, context, culture and uniqueness.
Like a good pair of training shoes, mental health treatment can support you in the race of life, but you have to put in the work to run the marathon toward your mental wellness.
I’d like you to take a look at more of my work. If you’re in, go ahead and tap the links in my author box just below. For my Chipur articles, tap my name below my picture.
For Bill’s Chipur emotional and mental illness info and inspiration articles, review all of the titles or by category – scroll down on mobile, right sidebar on desktop.
Beth is the mental health editor at Body+Mind. She has five-plus years of experience writing about behavioral health, specifically mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Beth also writes about the power of human design to reveal our full potential and purpose. You can find her on X @bodymindmag.
