How can they help me in treatment for depression?

[silent staring void]

Hello. I'm going to be accepted into an outpatient program in a week. But just seems pointless to me now, I don't think that there is anything to be fixed.
A psychologist asked me how I would notice if I started to feel better and honestly, I have no idea. I had months to think about this. Does anyone here have experience with outpatient treatment?

 

[Sensei]

Up to 80 % of all suffering from depression get better when they receive treatment, so I think it's always worth a shot. Some are unfortunately treatment-resistant, though, which seems to include many members of this forum. In any case, 8:10 are not bad odds.

 

[ScornedStoic]

Not trying to be a downer, but not a single therapist, psychologist, or whathaveyou has ever helped me even 1% in my entire life, and I've basically been in the mental health system my entire life. I wouldn't be exaggerating if I said I'd probably been to/seen at least almost 100 "mental doctors" for a lack of a better word.

Not one ever helped or provided any wisdom I hadn't already thought of years prior. It's my personal opinion that the majority of the mental health "industry" for a lack of a better word, the DSM-5, the doctors, almost all the diagnoses, it's all a sham. They're quacks and they don't know that much more than you about the brain or your brain or the problems you're having. They're there to tell you what you want to hear and make money.

 

[Sensei]

Not trying to be a downer, but not a single therapist, psychologist, or whathaveyou has ever helped me even 1% in my entire life, and I've basically been in the mental health system my entire life. I wouldn't be exaggerating if I said I'd probably been to/seen at least almost 100 "mental doctors" for a lack of a better word.

Not one ever helped or provided any wisdom I hadn't already thought of years prior. It's my personal opinion that the majority of the mental health "industry" for a lack of a better word, the DSM-5, the doctors, almost all the diagnoses, it's all a sham. They're quacks and they don't know that much more than you about the brain or your brain or the problems you're having. They're there to tell you what you want to hear and make money.

Still, treatment does help many people. I know at least half a dozen myself. Just because you're treatment-resistant it doesn't mean that everyone else is that too. Also, if psychiatric care doesn't work in your country, it doesn't mean that it's not working in other countries. This is after all an international forum.

 

[Flippy]

Sometimes it can seem like things are stacked against you. Particularly if you are given meds that don't work, or work for a time, or even make you feel worse. I think it comes down to a genuine wish to get well and when it doesn't work it can feel like you were sold a turkey. Continuous disappointments can really wear you down and you form a very cynical view of the whole system. I feel quite cynical at times, like I'm being treated like a pain the arse because I don't get better, or at least not for long. I wouldn't want to put people off getting help due to my experience as there's every chance it could work for them.

 

[BPD Barbie]

Don't give up at the first hurdle, that's my advice. Usually you have to go through several therapists and try several different medications to find something and someone that works for you. It isn't the ultimate cure, it's only part of it, you have to find something deep within yourself as well. Good luck! Let us know how it goes

 

[randomz]

Hello. I'm going to be accepted into an outpatient program in a week. But just seems pointless to me now, I don't think that there is anything to be fixed.
A psychologist asked me how I would notice if I started to feel better and honestly, I have no idea. I had months to think about this. Does anyone here have experience with outpatient treatment?

It depends on the person getting treatment but doing CBT actually helped me at least a little with my depression. Granted, I am still far away from fixed, but things are a little better now, and I even have fully good days now. So, don't lose hope, treatment can definetely help you feel better, and yes, you will know it when you are improving.

 

[ScornedStoic]

Still, treatment does help many people. I know at least half a dozen myself. Just because you're treatment-resistant it doesn't mean that everyone else is that too. Also, if psychiatric care doesn't work in your country, it doesn't mean that it's not working in other countries. This is after all an international forum.

Doctors in other countries follow the same practices and are taught the same way, that's why I mentioned the DSM-5. And I clearly said it was my opinion based on my experiences.

Also "treatment resistant" lol? Now that's some woo

 

[Flippy]

Why is it woo?

 

[Sensei]

Doctors in other countries follow the same practices and are taught the same way, that's why I mentioned the DSM-5.

Now you're doing it again. Psychiatrists and psychologists get different education and follow different pracitices in for instance my country and the USA, to mention two countries whose psychiatric care I'm knowledgeable about. DSM is just a manual and isn't followed slavishly, at least not over here, as there are so many spectra. Furthermore, DSM is not the main manual everwhere. In several countries, ICD is used more frequently than DSM.

And I clearly said it was my opinion based on my experiences.

Fair enough. In your last sentences it seemed like you were trying to present some general truths, but you did state in the beginning that you presented your own opinions.

Also "treatment resistant" lol? Now that's some woo

You state yourself that you have received different kinds of treatment and that nothing has helped. That means that you are resistant to treatment.

 

[mathieu]

Therapy never helped me. Lamictal (lamotrigine) is the only thing that helped and it stopped working after a year or so. Good luck with your program. I hope you get something from it.

 

[silent staring void]

Okay so I've been there for a week now and I'm seriously considering quitting tomorrow. I have a hotel room booked for Friday so I can finally kill myself. Literally none of the therapy there applies to my life at all and I guess the biggest issue I have is that I don't even know why I'm there. Other that i want to kill myself but I can't even tell them that of course. I'm supposed to know what I want to fix and to have the ability to do so, and I have neither. I really should have seen that coming.
I'm just venting, feel free to ignore me lol.