Therapy is just as important as the medication - my experience — need advice

From the other side of the consultation, briefly.

Anxiety increase on mental health: counterintuitive, but losing weight rapidly triggered anxiety for me. Change — even positive change — is stressful. I was anxious about whether I deserved to feel good.

This is more common than people admit. A therapist who specializes in weight management has been invaluable. Don't neglect the mental health side of this journey.

Dr.SurgeonPGH said:

Anxiety increase on mental health: counterintuitive, but losing weight rapidly triggered anxiety for me.

Dr.SurgeonPGH said:

...mental health should only be used alongside therapy...

I'd say therapy should be AVAILABLE to all GLP-1 patients, but requiring it as a precondition for treatment would create an access barrier.

Not everyone can afford therapy. Not everyone needs it. Some people do just fine with medication + lifestyle changes. But for those with emotional eating, body image issues, or disordered eating history, therapy is extremely valuable.

My recommendation: make mental health screening part of the initial assessment, offer therapy as a recommended adjunct, but don't gatekeep medication access behind it.

Dr.SurgeonPGH said:

Anxiety increase on mental health: counterintuitive, but losing weight rapidly triggered anxiety for me.

Agreed, and one caution: a single measurement is not a measurement. Anything that moves day to day needs a trend before it means anything at all.

Dr.SurgeonPGH said:

Anxiety increase on mental health: counterintuitive, but losing weight rapidly triggered anxiety for me.

Thank you — that is the clearest version of this I have read, and I have read a lot of them. Taking it to my next appointment.

Moderator note: leaving this open. It is being argued well and the disagreement is the useful part. Tagging this one for the weekly digest.