OK, I know the Bitches are down with the meds and the talky meat therapy:

So, if you feel like you are falling apart and suspect you may need both medication AND talky meat therapy, who do you call first? I don't want to call up a talky meat person who can't prescribe drugs if they decide I need them, but do they usually have a relationship with someone who can? Would they be someone on my insurance if the talky person was also on my insurance? Or do I call a psych person first? Or just go to my GP and start crying? That seems a tad melodramatic, but OTOH melodramatic is how I'm feeling these days...

Melodramatic is an accurate view of your symptoms, so there's nothing wrong with it if you want to go that route.

Other than that, IME, talky and prescribe-y people both tend to have networks that they work with and can give recommendations about -- in other words, you should be able to get a referral to either one from the other. But I'd start with the talky, since having a good relationship with them is more important; and obviously be sure that both are covered by your insurance. You can specify that, and they'll totally understand.

(At least around here, they're pretty much all covered by all the big providers, but we're also a big-time medical town, so it may be different elsewhere.)

So, if you feel like you are falling apart and suspect you may need both medication AND talky meat therapy, who do you call first?

Go to your GP and tell them how you feel. They should be able to give you recommendations for therapists AND be able to suggest what meds you may need (and prescribe them!). That's what I did last summer.

And meara, I am SO ANGRY with the universe for mucking you around about employment.

It's a pity you're not Cuban, meara-- we're big on the self-dianoses and the networking with which to obtain the meds without a lot of insurance interference, AKA, the Cuban Grapevine.

I think the first step is your GP-- they can usually get you the referrals you need. Actually, I've also gotten that sort of referral from my GYN, as well.

And meara, I am SO ANGRY with the universe for mucking you around about employment.

Shit, I TOTALLY forgot to say this part.

If you know and like your GP, that might be a good first step. S/he can probably prescribe some drugs (some will, some won't, and some will write scrips for things you've taken before but not other things, and all can refer to a psychiatrist) and give a referral to a talky person.

meara, I'm so sorry. Stupid universe and stupid economy.

If you have a GP in Seattle, I'd definitely go there first. ADs take some time to work, and while they do, you can get referrals to a talky person.

{{{{{meara}}}}}

I have gone both ways, meara. I've found the talky meat person, and had her contact my GP to discuss meds; And I've gone to my GP to ask for meds, while simultaneously getting a referral to a talky meat person. It does pay to call the insurance company first, to find out what their procedure is, regarding mental health benefits.

(((meara))) Either your PCP can perscribe drugs and recommend a talky meat therapist or you can find a talky meat therapist who can recommend a psychiatrist for the drugs.

Also? There's at least one AD on the $4 prescription list, so there's always that. It's Citalopram, which is a generic of Lexapro, which is pretty commonly prescribed. You can always ask your GP to look into those options first if insurance coverage is ever an issue.