For many patients with Persistent Depressive Disorder (the old term is dysthymia) and Generalised Anxiety Disorder, the treatment will be on an ongoing basis.
The first task is to find a mental health professional whom you are comfortable with. Many doctors in Singapore are trained in providing talk therapy, typically cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and supportive psychotherapy. For supportive psychotherapy, a typical session will include checking on your symptoms and life situation. The mental health professional will then explore with you how you cope with stresses in the pasy and how you can harness your inner potential to deal with the current challenges. For CBT, the therapist will help you identify the maladaptive thoughts that emerge in your mind and think of ways and means to work with you to modify those thoughts to make them positive or neutral ones.
Many patients told me that a combination of a low dose antidepressant and talk therapy work for them. So I would also urge you to seriously consider this option as well. Antidepressants are not addictive or habit forming. For someone who has been taking antidepressants for many weeks, if he or she wants to stop taking it, then it is advisable to gradually decrease the dose of the medicine to avoid withdrawal symptoms. The doctor who prescribes you the medicine will be able to guide you on how you can wean it off.
Hope that you will find the mental health professional that best meets your needs.
Cheers!
