Dear Jennifer~
I get the feeling you like starting thoughtful conversations -an excellent idea.
For you it looks like what you call talk does not work well, and meds are the big help. Everyone is different of course and respond differently to different things, plus of course there is the severity of their condition to take into account too.
For those who are fortunate enough to have milder conditions medication free on-line therapy like Mindspot Clinic's courses do get favorable comment.
For me there has always been meds, though I did not get the right sort, or treatment until I was really bad, suicidal in fact. There meds helped, but so did hospital, which was therapy of a sort I guess.
At the same time there was other therapy, which over the years has become more talk therapy than anything else, and is a stabilizing influence. I'd miss it if it was no longer there.
It took a long time for medications to be sorted out - now I have an excellent regimen that does the job with few side effects, however that is not the end of the story.
Even with these my sleep was terrible, a conditon that seemed to be permanent. True one could be 'knocked out' for a limited time with strong medication, however that is not practical. Reactions the following day, side effects plus developing tolerance are reasons it cannot continue.
Years ago I had hypnotherapy and was taught relaxation. I thought it a complete waste of time. The only time I was relaxed was when I was actually in the consultation room with the psychologist coaching me. When I went out the door there was no difference. I kept at it for a long time -no better.
Around 5 years ago I was put on a new drug, and found it enabled me to use the relaxation techniques I'd been taught so many years before. Bedtime was no longer something I dreaded, I could - very often - get quickly to sleep doing those exercise.
I've no idea if this is an answer to your question, perhaps I should say "Yes and No" (but don't quote me:)
Croix
