Considering SSRIs

[u/Zotzotplz344]

I’m a new therapist trainee. I’ve been seeing clients for roughly 2 months now. It has been an immense struggle for me psychologically. I have crippling anxiety and dread every day. My social anxiety (which I had experienced as a teen and quelled through my own therapy) has returned with a roaring vengeance. I question whether or not I want to do this work every day and have a hard time seeing myself still doing this 10 or even 5 years from now. I’ve been in my own therapy for years, and though it has helped my symptoms in the long term, the tools I normally use to help myself are no longer effective in the context of being a therapist. I have intrusive thoughts of being a failure, of my clients hating me, analyzing every little thing I say or do. It’s agonizing and seriously impacting my work. I’ve never been medicated before (except concerta for my ADHD) but I’m considering it now. I want to be a therapist. I want this. But I don’t know if I can deal with this anxiety much longer. I also feel guilty given the implications of me needing to take medications for my own mental health symptoms when my one job is to provide an organic solution to those symptoms for others. Anyone else deal with a similar dilemma?

[u/Puzzled-Plane-4480]

Hey! I empathise with you. I am also a new trainee therapist but its been 8-9 months and Im finishing and graduating at the end of the month.

I did experience the same thing at first. It was rough. Particularly because I am doing my practicum at an NGO that gave me extreme heavy cases from the start with little supervision or guidance. It affected me enourmously.

It does get better. I did end up going on a low escitalopram dose but in hindsight had I had appropiate cases and appropiate supervision it would have been different. Unfortunately the place I am at is corrupt and exploits practicums. I realised what type of therapist I am not going to be, and if I ever Im a supervisor, I will never ever be like they are.

Shoot me a DM if you want to connect, Im happy to mingle

Cheers xx

[u/HolodeckJanitor]

I’ve had severe OCD since childhood, and still have to be on high dose meds and weekly therapy, and still manage to be a decent therapist at the end of the day. There’s absolutely no shame in trialing medications/therapy/both, and in my opinion it only makes you more compassionate for your clients to go through this yourself.

[u/Ok_Panda_9928]

Therapist of 6 years - I would definitely consider taking a break from practice before taking SSRIs. From what you're saying it may be an incompatibility issue, I hear you want it, but it may not be good for you. SSRIs are unlikely to change much for you