Maybe your life isn’t going so well. You have tried to solve your problems on your own but you haven’t found success. You decide you need professional help. What route do you take? Psychotherapy or medication? It is a question that many people ask when suffering from mental health difficulties. There are pros and cons to each. And in certain circumstances, it may be advisable to pursue both types of treatment at the same time. Let’s take a closer look at how medication and therapy can help alleviate problems and if combining them may be right for you.

Why Go To Psychotherapy?

Going to psychotherapy may seem a daunting proposition. You might wonder how telling your problems to a complete stranger will help. Maybe you feel like you don’t need something so serious. I mean, isn’t therapy just for deranged people? The truth is that some of our troubles are hard to solve on our own. We often don’t have the insight or skills to improve our situation. A therapist, on the other hand, has been specially trained to help us conquer our demons. If you have been putting forth the effort to feel better and it just isn’t working, therapy is probably worth a try. And just so you know, almost no one that attends therapy is crazy, at least not in the clinical sense. They are people just like you having trouble managing their complicated—and often overwhelming—lives.

The biggest reason to attend psychotherapy is that it works. It has been found to be effective for most people who do it. Studies suggest that 75 percent of individuals who undertake therapy derive some benefit from going. Not only will therapy help you in the present, but you will also learn skills that you can use throughout your life. That is the major advantage of psychotherapy. The investment will pay off now and in the future. Plus, there are no nasty side effects. The only real downside is that it takes time and effort (and some money if you don’t have good insurance).

What Should I Expect From Psychotherapy?

First, you need to find a therapist. Psychology Today is a good resource if you don’t have a recommendation. Look for someone local who has experience with your type of problem. If you have questions about what type of therapy you should be seeking, check out my post on cognitive-behavioral therapy, the most well-known and researched type of therapy. Definitely see if the therapist accepts your insurance. Out-of-pocket therapy usually costs at least $100 per session and can be much higher depending on the therapist and where you live. You can expect to go to weekly therapy sessions for at least a couple of months. Some types of therapy are briefer than others and certain problems may demand more time, but it is not uncommon for people to be in therapy for four months or longer. That is definitely the biggest (and maybe only) disadvantage of psychotherapy. You might feel like it is too large a commitment. But ask yourself: Isn’t your well-being worth some effort?

Why Use Medication?

The biggest reason to use medication is that it is a quick and easy way to alleviate unwanted symptoms. You can pop a pill every day and usually feel better within a month, if not sooner. In addition, certain problems may be best helped through pharmaceutical intervention. For instance, disorders such as schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and bipolar disorder often require medication to make a meaningful difference.

The downside is that you can become dependent on medication and never take the time to learn to help yourself. Plus, medication doesn’t always work, even for some common problems. For example, recent studies suggest that antidepressants have no significant benefit unless the depression is very severe. Finally, medication often has side effects, including dry mouth, dizziness, and weight gain. When medication is safe and effective, it can be a lifesaver. However, it is clear that medication alone is not the answer to every problem.

Why Combine Therapy and Medication?

The biggest reason to combine the two is that it improves outcomes. Certain disorders are best treated when you take medication and attend therapy. For example, symptoms of major depression, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder are best reduced when medication and therapy are used simultaneously.

Another reason to combine therapy and medication is that medication allows the therapy to be more productive. For example, say you have a client that has severe depression. They would rather go to therapy to feel better but their depressive symptoms are so severe they don’t even want to get out of bed each day. In that case, a regimen of anti-depressant medication may give them the boost in mood that they need to get out of bed and attend therapy. Then they can make gains that can help them cope with their present symptoms and ward off future depressive episodes. Think of it as a tag-team treatment.

What Should I Do?

It can be difficult to decide between psychotherapy and medication. They both have been found to be effective for most mental health problems. It may be tempting to take a pill and hope that is all you need to do. Unfortunately, it is not always that easy. Medication is helpful for many people. But, let’s face it, it is a band-aid, not a cure. Psychotherapy, on the other hand, is an investment in yourself that may pay off for a lifetime. One of the great things about therapy is that there is no binding contract. You can go, and if it isn’t working for you, you can stop. When choosing between medication and psychotherapy, my advice is to start with therapy. You will get many more long-term benefits. Besides, why put something into your body if you don’t have to? If therapy is not providing you positive results, you can always try medication later. Either way, don’t stand still. You have the ability to help yourself. Take the first step toward improved mental health. You are worth it.