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Do you see a therapist?
- Thread starter MrDawn
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Technically speaking I should be looking for a new therapist, for future events. And just to help keep my head on straight with the way my living arrangements are at the moment. But I ain't really in a hurry.
I saw a host of psychologists, therapists and counselors twice a month for somewhere approaching twenty years. Also had a stint with a psychiatric clinic/hospital in my mid-to-late teens, though largely in an outpatient capacity. Which is to say that I was a fucking mess. Personally, that was virtually all wasted time - not a single person I saw managed a correct diagnosis for the root cause(s), problems persisted, and eventually my medical insurer cited lack of progress and just refused to keep paying for services. Ironically this happened several months/a year into me really deciding to give life another shot independent of and unknown to (typically don't do this, FYI) said professionals, and so it wasn't catastrophic or anything. I barely noticed the lack of appointments by then, honestly.
They were all well-meaning, I'm sure. Things just didn't work out for a variety of reasons, on both my end and theirs. I at least walked away with a handful of diagnoses that could act as anchors and springboards and learned a variety of coping methods if/when the need arises.
I always, always recommend that people seek out professional help if they're having problems themselves despite this. You just gotta go into it with the right mindset, be open and honest with them, and actually (attempt to) follow their advice. Most things you would see professionals for aren't a matter of willpower or anything like that; you're not just going to bootstrap yourself into being healthy again. If anything, you'll simply hide the problems under a rug and the next bout with them will be much worse.
I saw a host of psychologists, therapists and counselors twice a month for somewhere approaching twenty years. Also had a stint with a psychiatric clinic/hospital in my mid-to-late teens, though largely in an outpatient capacity. Which is to say that I was a fucking mess. Personally, that was virtually all wasted time - not a single person I saw managed a correct diagnosis for the root cause(s), problems persisted, and eventually my medical insurer cited lack of progress and just refused to keep paying for services. Ironically this happened several months/a year into me really deciding to give life another shot independent of and unknown to (typically don't do this, FYI) said professionals, and so it wasn't catastrophic or anything. I barely noticed the lack of appointments by then, honestly.
They were all well-meaning, I'm sure. Things just didn't work out for a variety of reasons, on both my end and theirs. I at least walked away with a handful of diagnoses that could act as anchors and springboards and learned a variety of coping methods if/when the need arises.
I always, always recommend that people seek out professional help if they're having problems themselves despite this. You just gotta go into it with the right mindset, be open and honest with them, and actually (attempt to) follow their advice. Most things you would see professionals for aren't a matter of willpower or anything like that; you're not just going to bootstrap yourself into being healthy again. If anything, you'll simply hide the problems under a rug and the next bout with them will be much worse.
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(Also be prepared to go through several therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, etc...you will not click with everyone you meet and if you don't click it don't work. I went through, and I'm dead serious, 30 therapists before I found the right one...and then a second was added...but be prepared for rejection, be prepared to not connect with your therapist, and be prepared for multiple therapists before you find the one. It happens. If you get lucky first time, awesome! But be prepared for the chance that you won't)
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i've been seeing my current therapist for nearly six years now. i lucked out; the first therapist i tried as an adult was the perfect one for me. she is great and has helped me process and work through so many things. i strongly believe therapy can benefit anyone, even if you don't have any mental health issues or stressful life things or anything. it just helps to have that added perspective. you just have go to into it with an open mind, be persistent (i am a rare case of finding the one who worked for me on the first try), and be willing to grow. willpower is most of the battle
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It is this type of attitude that perpetuates stereotypes that seeing a therapist is something to be ashamed of. If it isn’t for you, then that’s fine, but it sounds like you’ve never tried it
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To be fair, given our ages, it's possibly a little of Column A and a little of Column B. Like if you're doing okay, adding in the stress of formal diagnoses for things can be counterproductive in the short term. I remember, say, the first mental health thread GWF had where people (myself included, to be clear) were sharing that they had inklings that they were somewhere on the spectrum but had never gotten properly tested out of various fears and concerns.
Emphasis on the short term though, absolutely. And I concur with FQ that everyone can stand to benefit, so long as they gel with their therapist. Having a confidant is important, and even if you have good friends - there are things you don't necessarily want to share with them just anywhere/at any time, y'know?
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Hell no, they would kick me out LMAO.
I used to have this same attitude for years, for a number of reasons. I was too tough. I was too good at compartmentalization to need it. I had my bearings on straight. Whatever rationale kept me away from actually dealing with the man in the mirror.
Once you talk to someone that gets what you’re thinking, it’s so much easier. It’s just like talking to anyone else here. The trick is finding the right person, because there is no “one size fits all” for mental health.
…ain’t no wonder you were mad about being up late when you had church the next morning. You need saving.
All of it, actually.
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