chai chat: all about therapy + anxiety medication

[@GraceFay]

As someone with a psych degree, I just wanted to say that although therapy is super expensive, and not covered by most insurances, I want to discourage people specifically from DIAGNOSING themselves. You should always go to a therapist to AT LEAST be diagnosed, because sometimes a licensed therapist will not even diagnose you correctly, let alone yourself. From there, reading material and other non-therapy sources (if you can’t afford it) could be used to help you if you don’t have a severe form of whatever you’ve been diagnosed with. If you need medication, or more serious coping mechanisms, therapy is still super necessary despite being very expensive. I was consistently discouraged from diagnosing myself, my friends, and my family, because although I do have a degree, I’m not licensed, and it’s also not acceptable to guess when it comes to other people’s diagnoses without a more supported baseline in a counseling/therapy session.

[@jillschwartz9403]

Hi! I also have a psych degree and I can confirm!! There are very specific symptoms and characteristics of disorders that need to be analysed by a professional! If you get medication, just know that medication and therapy go hand in hand!

[@aeolist-jess]

As someone who also has a psych degree (and who has tons of personal experience with therapy and mental illness), I agree that self-diagnosing can be very damaging and often counter-productive. However, I think there's a lot of inherent privilege in assuming that people have the resources available to them to go to therapy but just choose not to use them. Unfortunately, many people simply cannot afford to "go to a therapist to AT LEAST be diagnosed" for so many potential reasons. Not only is a national average of $90 per session completely out of many people's budgets, but we also have to consider people who live in rural areas, who do not have adequate transportation, or those who do not live in a supportive household that would allow them to go to therapy. On the topic of price, we also have to consider that many proper diagnoses don't just happen after the first, second, or even third session. It took upwards of a year for my first therapist to properly diagnose me -- and this was after weekly 1 hour sessions. Imagine asking someone who is living paycheck to paycheck with only necessary expenses to fit in a bill for ~ $90/week for a YEAR on top of everything they already have to pay for. Again, I completely agree that self diagnosing is very damaging and should be avoided at all costs; however, I think we have to open up a conversation about creating a more inclusive and accessible system of therapy for EVERYONE that is far more effective and of higher quality than what we have now. As folks in the psych world and with the privilege of a degree, we can make accessible therapy happen. :) (no offense intended, i'm just adding to the conversation!)

[@GraceFay]

@@aeolist-jess completely agree! I think the system as a whole, and how we treat healthcare as only physical, is incredibly flawed, and built for the upper middle class. Something that is great about the pandemic happening is that things like Better Help (where you can see a licensed therapist virtually) have been developed, and a lot more therapists are doing online services, which is helpful to those who may not have the time or resources to travel to therapy. It’s still very expensive though, which is the main issue. I think more basic level Heath insurances should be including things like therapy (my insurance doesn’t cover therapy, dentistry, or my eye appointments).

[@raven-dl1uo]

this is so true!! i got misdiagnosed by a therapist twice and it just goes to show that diagnosing yourself is not ideal haha. im so lucky my insurance covers all my therapy sessions though!!

[@SamElle]

i used to be REALLY against medication and didnt want to use it until the last resort. It wasn't until I had a huge meltdown when I realized how necessary it was for me. Best decision I made!

[@lori6704]

Same! I had a complete breakdown and realized that I couldn't keep burdening myself with the responsibility of trying to "fix" myself. It was just too heavy and my body was too tired from fighting every single day.

[@ronbisti4352]

“Not Another Anxiety Show” Podcast is a good one I have listened to for those who can’t afford therapy.

[@ngoclambui7798]

I also love “The Anxiety coaches podcast” ^^

[@lindseyrem]

My background with anxiety 1:33 Questions about therapy 5:00 Questions about medication 10:41 Once again these are my personal experiences and opinions, I am not a licensed mental health professional. ❤️

[@dannithegirl]

Lindsey I'm so glad you did this video, I'm on SSRI's too & I have to remind myself that it's needed and I'm not just weak. The stigma is ridiculous, thanks for being so open xx

[@astrochelz96]

This is a great video! I just wanted to add at 7:46 you say “someone with a PhD like a full blown psychiatrist” but I just wanted to clarify that they are two different professions! A psychiatrist has a MD and a clinical psychologist would have a PhD! Still awesome video Lindsey ❤️❤️

[@lindseyrem]

Thank you for the clarification!

[@theneuroreport]

Just a heads up to everyone watching: while CBT can be very effective it can also be triggering to some people. Please do your research and proceed with caution if you plan to implement CBT without also seeing a licensed professional. No hate at all towards Lindsey. I understand this was all perspective, I’m just putting this out there so people can hear a different perspective!

[@JoycieSunkimdot]

chai chat needs to be a podcast and regular thing asap!!!!

[@tuan9108]

Vouch!

[@christieleigh7728]

Agreed!

[@EmilyMilobar]

therapy is life changing!!!

[@juliataylor7598]

haven't watched the video yet but i just let out an audible "yesssss" when i saw you posted this. I just started therapy 2 weeks ago and this is EXACTLY what i want to watch right now thank you xx

[@lindseyrem]

proud of you!!!

[@patricemelville7653]

Thank you for sharing your experience! I had a similar experience with going on meds around age 20, I’m now 31 and can’t imagine where I’d be without them (and therapy). Something that was really helpful in challenging the stigma around meds for me was my dr. saying “you don’t think less of diabetics for needing insulin, you need something your body doesn’t make too”.

[@kailywhite]

I really needed this video! I have an auto-immune condition called Dysautonomia and I have severe anxiety and panic attacks. I recently started lexapro and it has changed my life. It's so cool to see someone else so comfortable talking about these things!

[@kendallconstable7861]

what you said about starting therapy when you are in a good place !!!!! its so hard to motivate yourself when going through a hard time to seek out help, and sometimes they wait lists, so its such a good idea

[@bekkkabby]

thank you for being transparent about mental health!! therapy has been life changing for me & I felt confident enough to try it because of videos like this.

[@isabelacoelho6644]

Your videos always make it easier to breathe for a little while. Thank you for all your work and dedication throughout the years and for sharing your journey with us

[@ohpinkiepie]

such an informative video!! i myself started therapy this year. having medication "just in case" helped me to feel more secure and it enabled me to travel to the other side of the world without a single panic attack. i'm so happy i finally decided to talk to a therapist

[@kendall2119]

this couldn’t have come at a better time, thank you SO much

[@flower94180]

This needs to be talked more often! Thank you for validating anxiety, it is so hard to go through it. Post traumatic stress affects me on the daily. But, I try to focus on what I love to do in life instead, and it fades. Hope you can find peace within yourself. To whoever is reading. I love you. What you feel is valid.

[@laurenmw9629]

As someone who has gone through this entire experience, I thought this was such a good overview of how to deal with anxiety. I wish I had this info when I was a teen/in my early 20s and trying to understand what I was going through. Thanks for sharing!

[@eleanorking9312]

seeing this video an hour before my doctor appt about my anxiety meds. how convenient

[@Jordan_Dale]

Seeing this video just as I’m getting BACK from my doctor’s appointment!

[@stef.daprile.7]

first therapy appt tomorrow I feel like lindsey really intuited when we would need this vid the most

[@PriscaL]

Watched this while I cleaned my sink and then did my skincare. We love self care 💖✨💕

[@emilymann8443]

When you read the last question I teared up, I rarely take the time to look at those little moments and things that show improvement. It was a good reminder that it’s worth it 💗

[@akh6256]

watching your earlier chai chats about anxiety years ago gave me the courage to get the help i needed back then :’) thank u for normalizing talking about mental illness, meds & therapy. i’m in a much better place than i was, healing is not linear but i feel so far from the depths of my anxiety/depression now💗💗💗

[@serenitynow9980]

This is a good video. I struggled in the past with medication because I thought it would fix my problems. I was wrong and I just deal with them without meds but I am glad it works for so many.

[@aDayDreamerTalent]

Appreciate your vulnerability, thank you for this ❤️❤️

[@nicoleisasupreme]

you’re the only person i know who views taking mental illness meds in the long run positively. i’m a mh advocate and had also taken anxiety meds for 13mos before, and yet it never occurred to me that it does actually make sense if one is to take meds for their mental issues without seeing its end, like if you have a chronic physical disorder, and that it is okay. thank you for making me realize this. maybe i still have internalized stigma, maybe it’s self-hatred that made me think that i’m somehow weak for taking meds and that i HAD to quit, idk. but thank you for this.

[@danaoliivia7758]

thank you SO much for sharing you experience! It is so wonderful to see people talking so openly about medication. I am so happy to hear you had such a great experience with it since I know it can take people some time to find the right one. Love your channel so much, you are such an angel! xx

[@ximenareyna2237]

I have been waiting for this video 💕 so happy you are in a good place with it! Your videos about it while you were in college encouraged me to be more open about taking medication and it has helped me so much too :)

[@rochelledsouza1250]

Always love these videos Lindsey! 100% agree about making notes throughout the week for anyone who struggles to bring up things to talk about during a session. I've started to journal again recently whenever my anxiety hits a high and i found it really beneficial to just skim over any recent pages before my sessions. Those words i've written are my own about how I feel and flipping through them before a session can help me articulate my feelings in way that doesn't make therapy feel like an interview- more like a safe space where I can just be myself.

[@nickcurl]

we love vulnerability and honesty

[@gabrielaniero8265]

oh I was WAITING FOR THIS CONTENT!!!!! Lindsey you're a true queen ❤️ thank you so much for talking about that! 😸 I've started medication last year and am currently on the process of changing to another one, so I related to what you said, but also related to the positives and can't wait to be stable in it!

[@musicsmiles174]

i literally needed this video because I've been considering meds!! thank you for doing the lord's work lindsey

[@ashleyibarra4504]

This video is SO important thank you so so much!!! Watching this convinced me to give therapy a try. I never tried to because of how expensive I thought it was and because of the bad experience I had when I tried to reach out a few years ago. It is very comforting to not feel like I am the only one that goes through this. So excited to finally get some help

[@sarahbeliveau2466]

Thank you for talking about this! I recently began therapy after much hesitation so this video couldn't have come at a better time

[@nadinedelgallo3620]

you have turned into one of my favorite youtube’s and i have never seen a video like this thank you for sharing your experiences and knowledge

[@Jordan_Dale]

My girl, this could not have been better timed. Goodness. ❤️

[@mariavbutler9284]

been waiting for this vid for so long it was so helpful

[@helenakalman1455]

I definitely agree that therapy can be extremely expensive and inaccessible- BUT a lot of places take sliding scale payments, take some insurance (and you can search psychology today for which insurance they take) or some places offer therapists who are still in training for a very reduced rate. My therapist is $25/ hour as a co-pay. Some good places to look for affordable therapy specifically would be your college, community center, primary care physician, or place of worship. You can also use your FSA/HSA for therapy, which means it isn't taxed, which can make it 20-30% cheaper.

[@rebecca4007]

ive been waiting for this video since your chai chat 4 years ago 😭 not at all meant to translate pressure it's just so cool to see you sharing this!

[@hiiragy]

it was really helpful, thank you lindsey

[@lorrainerl6139]

Thanks so much for this, I’ve been thinking of going to therapy, and i love how you explained it and the way you show us how it is normal☺️

[@Saadysalma]

I had depression and chronic anxiety for the whole of my teenage years and I didn't know it until I had experienced a severe psychotic breakdown which sort of cured me of all of my symptoms. My psychiatrist put me on SSRI's and anti-psychotics for a year and right now I don't feel the need for any medication cause I've lost the anxiety for good. I think the best method for treating mental health issues like anxiety is exposure therapy. The more exposure you have the less chaotic life seems and the more control you have.

[@ecofriendlyhippie]

That’s awesome for you

[@sabrinalea5981]

I love this video so much! I have been on a SSRI for about 4 years as well and often get ask if I ever plan on getting off of it this is usually from someone who doesn't deal with anxiety themselves and have more of a negative view on it but for me its just like how I take vitamins every day a way to help my body. I have had a very positive experience with medication and I think that more people need to talk about it. I know for a fact that I wouldn't be where I am today without it! Love the transparency and I feel like most people that do take medication more or less feel the same way! Lets normalize mental health and the treatment of it like any other health condition!!

[@melsroy19]

I’m not going on the

[@alexasunshine83]

Such a good video 💕

[@miladiyah]

Thinking about giving a therapy one more chance since my last appointment wasn't going well............. anw thank you lindsey

[@christieleigh7728]

Thank you for sharing. I have bad travel anxiety as well and it helps to know I am not alone. 🙏

[@angelinat505]

thank u for making this video !! i agree with all the other comments that this is very relatable and useful to my life at this very moment

[@sharpayyevanss]

I have also been on the same medication as you and had a great experience with it.

[@sariwinter4764]

I have been on SSRIs for over ten years (initially for depression and generalised anxiety disorder), finally weaning myself off them. It’s a long process... When I started on anti depressants many years ago, I most definitely needed them but I think nowadays anti-depressants are very over prescribed. They’re a bugger to come off and most people don’t understand that you can’t just decide to stop taking them like painkillers. My two cents:) Loved this video though ❤️🌻

[@v3nus1nfurs]

this!!

[@renatawaldmann3448]

thank you for everything lindsey 💜

[@FashionbyMer]

super helpful! I started therapy a few months ago but have also been loving reading books about it. I'm def checking out the CBT book. Thanks for sharing! I love your chai chats :)

[@SivanIlan]

Love love love this video! Thanks for talking openly about this topic! You’re approach is so positive and balanced 🙌🏼

[@aly6876]

thank you. I just started anxiety medication, I'm kind of anxious about it so these videos are very helpful.

[@annacollett5839]

This came at the perfect time for me! Thank you for sharing!!

[@goldmineknits]

thank you so much for making this video lindsey i’m sure it will help a lot of people ❤️

[@wendyshantz9801]

Thank you so much for sharing your story, as someone who is likely going to start with medication soon (doctor recommended) I really appreciate your openness. Stay strong, and keep growing:)

[@courtneypratt4353]

will probably watch this video over and over. amazing advice, thank you!!!

[@marianaminjares]

Thank you, Lindsey! I was on celexa for 3 1/2 years and have been able to get off over the last couple months but it really helped (:

[@luanaschmid2009]

I really can't thank you enough for that video!

[@evawang5745]

thank you so much🤍 take care

[@ecofriendlyhippie]

This was so incredibly helpful Lindsey ❤️. I have struggled with anxiety and depression for the last 5 years and actually have pretty severe medication anxiety/fear. But I’m realizing I may need to give it another shot. I did take an SSRI in the beginning but I remember it made me feel drowsy/floaty so I just stopped taking it. Maybe I didn’t take it long enough to get past the adjustment period 🤔. Either way, I finally made an appointment with a pyschiatrist and am going to discuss the possibility of medication. Thank you!

[@winniekyn6162]

Any update?

[@paramorexlove10194]

Thank you for this video! Super helpful to know I'm not alone!

[@jb2wavy]

you are glowing and looking so beautiful!! I never comment but I always really enjoy your videos

[@livbustos]

Thank you for posting this

[@Spreadthep0sitive]

Thank you so much for creating this video.

[@sarahbuckman9860]

this was such a helpful video!! thank you so much!

[@tiffanychen9936]

thank you for sharing ❤️

[@michelleleigh7200]

Love this. So true. So thorough! Thanks for sharing! :)

[@NikiKuchipudi]

also wanted to say that if you are a college student, your university might offer free therapy resources!

[@lindseyrem]

Yes!

[@deIcorazon]

thank you for doing this 🥺

[@eliferisik2185]

I too am on lexpro!

[@Jega1688]

this is so helpful!! thank you

[@annmorey]

my therapist is always giving me homework of books and podcasts so i thought i'd share some of her recs! (she is always encouraging me to journal so if that's something that you're into, i find that super helpful) mind over mood (another CBT workbook) anything by brené brown (i love her book daring greatly and her podcast unlocking us) attached by levine and heller intuitive eating by tribole and resch obviously these are recommendations tailored to me but i think they'll be helpful for others as well!

[@lindseyrem]

yes!!! I have a brene brown book on my nightstand right now

[@ohpinkiepie]

noted!! thank you

[@gitzieisreading]

i go to an ed specialized therapist so her rates are $150 an hour before insurance, but i only pay $30. especially if you live in a progressive state, you can (hopefully) find inexpensive therapists. they won't be as high caliber as a specialized therapist usually, but they're still a therapist! that being said, i totally understand that even paying $30 for a session is outside of some people's budgets. if it isn't out of your budget, definitely do some digging and you can hopefully find a great therapist for an affordable price!

[@emwyyn]

where are your necklaces from?? also thank you so much for this video and helping to break the stigma

[@amtm1982]

thanks!!! gracias por hacer un video positivo!! saludos desde México

[@derek9387]

i love this!! i love you!!!

[@lindseyrem]

love you derek!

[@melancholicdaydream]

i love this so much, thank you so much

[@todaystiffy7780]

Hey Lindsey! I spent a couple months in the hospital a couple years ago & became super anxious & cbd really helped me. The liquid drops are pretty pricey BUT Redwood reserves makes pure hemp flower "CBD smokes" if you ever want to try it out again. One smoke lasts me two days & it's actually helped a lot with pain too. they're about $13-$20 for a pack of 20 sticks

[@miacomparan9475]

Thank you ❤️❤️

[@vanessacasillas5379]

Where did you get that mug? I’m obsessed with it😂

[@xitlalisotoryan2420]

yesss needed this today

[@janine7384]

My Dalmatian loves your mug :)

[@lindseyrem]

🥺🥺

[@caro0258]

I just started taking lexapro last week, and also take levothyroxine for hashimotos so it sounds like we may be double med twins :))

[@winniekyn6162]

Any update?

[@andreiadgraca]

Great video! Thank you 🥰😊

[@sxrahmaria7850]

My naturopath recommended lavender supplements to help with some anxiety (had it always but was never serious enough for full-on medication) and it was something that helped a lot!

[@cutedoclila]

pharmacy student here, you absolutely can drink on lexapro :)

[@lindseyrem]

Maybe it depends on the dose, I’ve only gotten dangerously drowsy from the combination and depressed the following day.

[@ecofriendlyhippie]

I thought you couldn’t have any alcohol on SSRI’s

[@msdothedash]

Do you get any side effects taking the medicine ?

[@alexandrabernheim]

if anyone is lower income in the los angeles area there is an option for therapy that i believe is donation based and its called San Fernando Valley Counseling Center :);)

[@ninacampbell2911]

Me when this popped up twenty minutes before facetime Therapy 👁👄👁

[@ninacampbell2911]

wanted to add: i really appreciated this!! i've been stuck on a lot of therapy / self-diagnosis tik tok and it's nice to see a detailed + chill + comprehensive video. thank u!

[@franciscoguerra6860]

Do you know if you have a b1 deficiency? I do, and it makes me have a lot of anxiety, It takes a long time to fix too because It damages parts of your brain, my symptoms seem similar to yours, maybe you should check and see if you have that

[@laurab.e.k.7437]

I'd love to know more about this. What were your symptoms and what did you do about it?

[@franciscoguerra6860]

My symptoms were anxiety and sensitivity to stress, chest hurt, rapid heart rate, my forehead burns throughout the day and also the back of my head. For treatment I've been taking 6 tablespoons of nutritional yeast since March, I also ate sauerkraut everyday for 5 months, it helps with the absorption of nutrients. I'm slowly getting better, but my vitamin B1 deficiency still seems pretty bad. I got the condition from drinking too much alcohol too frequently. I've only drank 4 times since I started taking nutritional yeast in March, and I don't see myself drinking regularly again anytime soon, drinking agravates my B1 deficiency.

[@sarahmurray2845]

lexapro gang🤪

[@Lovely_Blooms]

I can't even leave my house. No I can barely leave my room do to anxiety :(

[@EmilyLowe15]

me watching this before i have therapy in an hour.... hi

[@magdalenaolech4402]

[@aysenurdeveli8369]

You must not talk about this because you are not a professional ! and yoga praying these kind of things can NOT help pyschologic problems. And books are just for INFORMATION. and If you can talk to your therapist face to face you Must! ıt is much more effective for sure. I mean when you are cold do you read a book or listen a youtuber ? NO! so dont do this!