Has your anxiety or depression been treated by therapy or medication? Are you still struggling after it didn’t work out the way you hoped? You are not alone: 30 to 40 percent of people cannot recover after first-line mental health treatment. These people are called non-responders.
In the event that psychotherapy or counseling doesn’t lead to recovery, good therapists will work with the patient to determine what might be preventing the patient from making significant improvements. They may change their therapy approach or may refer the patient to another provider with a different skill set if therapy isn’t helping. The patient must decide whether he or she wants to try something else if their therapist won’t admit that their approach isn’t working.
Often, prescribing doctors will try increasing the dose of a medication, adding another medication, or switching to another medication entirely when a particular dose does not work. Sometimes, this approach works, but some people cannot tolerate the side effects associated with higher doses or multiple medications, or they are just tired of trying various medications that do not work for them.
Treatment non-responders tend to be physically and psychologically unwell, as well as performing poorly in various areas of life. Perhaps they are discouraged and hopeless that their treatment isn’t working. The problem is, there are many reasons why therapy and medication don’t work. According to mental health experts, no single treatment works for everybody.
Even if you tried medication and/or therapy but still experience depression and/or anxiety, do not give up. Psychotherapy may be worth trying after your first treatment has failed. The study, published in this month’s Clinical Psychology Review by Andrew Gloster in Switzerland, gives us this conclusion. The authors reviewed 18 psychotherapy randomized control trials involving 1,734 nonresponders, and their results proved that therapy is a successful treatment for nonresponders.
Study authors found no differences in outcomes among non-responders based on the type of psychotherapy they received. Some Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) approaches did, however, have a particularly significant impact on reducing symptoms and improving patients’ quality of life. The three approaches are Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT).
Even though it can be difficult to seek therapy after unsuccessfully trying to deal with anxiety or depression, keep in mind there is no “one size fits all” solution when it comes to psychological problems. There are numerous reasons why medication, therapy, or both do not work for some people at certain times. When mental health treatments haven’t worked in the past, it doesn’t mean that you can’t be helped; it simply means that you must muster the courage to try again.
Be sure to do your research before selecting a therapist, and seek recommendations from friends, family, or your primary care doctor. You can also visit Psychology Today’s Find a Therapist directory to find local specialists. After that, speak with a few potential therapists through initial consultations so you can “shop around” before you choose one. During your initial consultation with this provider, take note of your feelings, as well as how they envision working with you on your specific problem. Do not be afraid to ask any questions you may have. It is your treatment, so you will need to decide who is the best match for you. After choosing a therapist, set out on this journey with the hope that this time, therapy will be successful for you. That seems likely because chances are, it will work.
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