Me and my parents decided it's time for some psychiatric help, but I'm a little foggy on what I should be looking for.
Basic reason being:
Major depression probably stemming from
-lack of direction
-lonliness
-overthinking purpose, life, etc
Yes, I've thought about suicide. No, I don't want to talk about it. What I do want to ask is what kind of counselor should I be looking for?
Options:
Psychologist
Psychiatrist
Therapist
Family/Other Counselor
Other Suggestions?
Also a note: We have carpenter's insurance and a lot of the options listed are covered under it, so money will probably not be too much of an issue. (There's a list with a ton of names that I plan on researching a little about that my mom gave me.) Mr. Gainsborough fucked around with this message on 04-05-2007 at 07:02 PM.
That having been said, there's not a hard and fast guide as to what you need. If your problems stem from family interaction problems (which your list does not suggest) I'd say a family therapist. Deal there is that sooner or later they'll want to (surprise) get the whole family involved. If anyone is not 100% committed to the process (being honest, being open, being ready to work toward a compromise resolution) it gets sticky.
I'd start with solo sessions. My stepmother insisted I go to a psychiatrist for a while. She did it for all the wrong reasons, but I found it surprisingly useful for airing thoughts and getting my mind in order. Sometimes all you really need is someone to air your thoughts to. To say the unthinkable and have someone non-judgmental hear it. That's why it's such a shame there's a stigma attached to seeing a psych specialist.
sigpic courtesy of This Guy, original modified by me
I've yet to run into a doctor in any speciality that cant give a good recommendation for any other type of doctor you may need.
The big thing is trusting the word of the guy you're asking. If you've got one you've had good experience with, take any reference you can get from them.
I'd check out a Therapist/Psychologist and see how it works for you. Just go in there open, honest, and willing to continue and you'll get a lot out of it. The people who say "I went to a therapist, but it didn't help" are usually the people who don't do anything, lie or just ignore the therapist in general.
Stay as far as possible from social workers and people calling themselves "counselors." Unless they have specialized training in Mood Disorders they can be really bad at treating them.
As others point out, be as open and honest as you are comfortable doing.
The more aggressive you are about dealing with your issues now, the less likely they'll be a problem later and the more time you get to enjoy life.
quote:
ACES! Another post by Mr. Parcelan:
The people who say "I went to a therapist, but it didn't help" are usually the people who don't do anything, lie or just ignore the therapist in general.
True with Parcelan's qualifying statement, but there are many really bad therapists out there who don't know what they are doing when dealing with a mood disorder. If you aren't sensing any growth, if you aren't getting any insights, if you aren't sensing any difference in how you react, then find a new specialist. Vernaltemptress fucked around with this message on 04-06-2007 at 12:26 AM.
I'm speaking on the whole here, and your own experiences might end up being different from mine, but here is roughly how it went for me.
Psychologists are nice fellows to chat with, vent out issues and bounce ideas off of. If all you need is to let off some steam to someone you otherwise don't know, then this is your best bet. They'll try to give you alternate insights on things you already know, but pretty much only base themselves on your current state of mind. But they have no medical power to prescribe any sort of medication.
Psychiatrists are more interested in the how than in the what. They'll try to find out patterns in your mood, and see if there's something pathologic about it. If there's something to fix, they'll prescribe medication and monitor its effects over a few more appointments. But if there's no neurological cause for your particular moods, then they're not the best therapists to just talk about life to.
I pretty much consult an army of specialists for various aspects of my mental and physical life (you can figure out why). But for depression and its effects, I pretty much hold myself to a psychiatrist for medication and her social worker colleague for life in general. That might be a bit expensive without public health care, however.
YMMV.
P.S.: If you need an armchair psychologist to just randomly vent to, I genuinely love listening to people. I'm no professional, but I'm free. Just look me up on AIM. Asha'man fucked around with this message on 04-06-2007 at 06:07 AM.
Push it to the limit
Walk along the razor's edge
but don't look down, just keep your head
and you'll be finished
Open up the limit
past the point of no return
You've reached the top but still ya gotta learn
how to keep it
"Don't want to sound like a fanboy, but I am with you. I'll buy it for sure, it's just a matter of for how long I will be playing it..."
- Silvast, Battle.net forums
quote:
Mr. Gainsborough had this to say about John Romero:
maybe you can help me i have an obsession with stalking people
Sweet burn man.. Me mentioning a few times I think a clearly shady person is not who they say they are is most defiantly equivalent to your posting, I'd venture to guess, over 1,000 x-rated drawings of girls who are clearly in the age group between 8-12.
he's an internet detective, he knows his shit
quote:
Yuri had this to say about Cuba:
Sweet burn man.. Me mentioning a few times I think a clearly shady person is not who they say they are is most defiantly equivalent to your posting, I'd venture to guess, over 1,000 x-rated drawings of girls who are clearly in the age group between 8-12.
go away
am I missing out?
quote:
Kegwen had this to say about dark elf butts:
go away
maybe you should seek psychiatric help
gay
xenophobe
pedo-defender 
quote:
Yuri had this to say about Robocop:
Sweet burn man.. Me mentioning a few times I think a clearly shady person is not who they say they are is most defiantly equivalent to your posting, I'd venture to guess, over 1,000 x-rated drawings of girls who are clearly in the age group between 8-12.
Ok, so Gains is admitting he needs help, is going out on a limb for support, and you take this opportunity to flame him to boost your own sense of self worth? Wow. Fuck you.
quote:
Maradon! said:
you know, I've never seen gains post one loli picture.
Only because he's worried he won't be able to get away with it. 
quote:
So quoth Mortious:
Only because he's worried he won't be able to get away with it.
Actually, I know that this board has a particular aversion to that kinda stuff.
quote:
Liam had this to say about dark elf butts:
why am i on yuri's ignore list
Leftover from that mass ignore thing that happened I suppose
quote:
Mr. Gainsborough said:
Actually, I know that this board has a particular aversion to that kinda stuff.
Post some furry porn.
We all love that. 
Ask him.
quote:
Mr. Gainsborough said:
I get most of my furry porn via Jargum. Mostly unwillingly.
You too? He's become the crack dealer of furry porn. He used to be so young, so innocent. Now he can't get enough of that furry poontang.
Poor Jargum.
But you do post a lot of good porn. Maybe that is deserving of a worthwhile post?
I don't need any more. 
Carry all of this wherever you go, it will help you out
