Discussion [Poll] Are you receiving therapy/ professional MH care?

[BrownNoise]

Just meds at the moment. No hate to therapy at all.

I am not in therapy right now because I, and my most recent counselor, agreed I have gotten all I need from counseling at the moment. We agree that I am treatment resistant, but that a few techniques I can implement myself will provide a small amount of relief. Of course, what really has made a change is that I am now taking meds for the first time in my life, due to refusing them since I was a child despite every counselor recommending I see a psychiatrist. They haven't helped as much as they should, so we are still adjusting. I am hopeful that we find a cocktail that works for me.

 

[Nemaki Arber]

Only taking meds, tried countless types of therapy and other medications with little to not results, feels pointless

 

[BroodingBleu]

I have seen three different therapists in Outpatient. The first one just wanted to dope me up and say I'm schizophrenic [which I am not.] The second one was amazing, and actually listened to me when I told her about my thoughts of suicide and such rather than immediately call the EMTs to send me to a facility, until she HAD to. The last one was appointed by the County due to my number of hospitalizations within a certain period, also ending me up in a Group Home.

Unfortunately for me during my time of being discharged and sent to the home, the medication regime they had started me on in the facility hadn't taken an affect and I was having a manic episode, and all I could think of was leaving and going home. Absolutely tweaking for two weeks straight until I got them to discharge me somehow.

Anyways, I am supposed to be taking Lithium, Prazosin, Trazadone and Gabapentin. Which I haven't for months, besides my Trazadone for sleeping, which doesn't even help anymore anyways. Wish I never went to the hospital, because now all i ever think about is going back, just about every day.

 

[Heartaches]

Unrelated but thanks to this thread I remember I had to take my pill, I struggle to keep track of my intake

 

[RadiantNumber]

I got it but lost my job and can't afford it anymore, but I am taking medications

 

[itswhatits]

I've had 3 different therapists/counselors in my life, have yet to find one who isn't mediocre. My first two were both your typical CBT practitioners. I'm sure that CBT has its applications, but there are so many therapists who just lazily apply it as a generic framework to their patients. It feels like they don't even listen to you, it's all just dull platitudes and basic advice. 3rd one's been a bit of a stinker so far, too. Just asks me some random question, types something into his computer, asks me another random question. Only get to see him once a month, too, which I feel like can't be doing that much, but they won't schedule me for weekly. I'm still gonna keep going, since that clinic's the only viable spot for me right now, but I'm starting to remember why I ditched after just a couple sessions the first time I went to his clinic.

People online have taken this sort of cargo cult mentality to therapy, like it's this magical ritual that purges your mind of all evil and pain. Therapists aren't anyone special, they're just psych majors who landed a gig. There's the same amount of morons and sleepwalkers in therapy as in any other profession, they ain't special.

 

[Lady Laudanum]

"It works if you just put your mind to it and believe! You must not have tried hard enough!" There's always some fucking excuse for why we haven't done enough to be allowed to say we're done.
It's quite telling that over half of the responses are actively receiving some kind of treatment and almost everyone has at least tried it in the past. Should mean something to those who claim if we just get help it'll fix us.

Have you tried praying the depresso away? Duh.

I was obviously joking there but that has actually been suggested to me so many times. It's the fucking worst.

 

[willitpass]

Have you tried praying the depresso away? Duh.

I was obviously joking there but that has actually been suggested to me so many times. It's the fucking worst.

Obviously I just haven't gone to the gym enough.

 

[Lady Laudanum]

Obviously I just haven't gone to the gym enough.

yeah become gym bro who grunts and screams while benching and then chugs protein shakes. that's obviously the solution to your problems. duh. I'm not even mentally ill and I know that. how come you don't know? /j

oh my god I cringed at myself. but going to the gym has also been suggested to me many times lol.

 

[willitpass]

yeah become gym bro who grunts and screams while benching and then chugs protein shakes. that's obviously the solution to your problems. duh. I'm not even mentally ill and I know that. how come you don't know? /j

oh my god I cringed at myself. but going to the gym has also been suggested to me many times lol.

I've been told to go to the gym. Pray. Meditate. "Just change my thinking" and "reframe things" like yeah let me just stop every thought process I have had since I could count my age on two hands I'll get right on that. The suicide hotline told me to eat a brownie, paint, and go on a walk at 1am as a young female. Thanks, I'm cured.

 

[Lady Laudanum]

I've been told to go to the gym. Pray. Meditate. "Just change my thinking" and "reframe things" like yeah let me just stop every thought process I have had since I could count my age on two hands I'll get right on that. The suicide hotline told me to eat a brownie, paint, and go on a walk at 1am as a young female. Thanks, I'm cured.

dude, I made the mistake of losing my temper at the suicide hotline when I was in my teens and they fucking sent the police to my house. needless to say, I never called those motherfuckers again.

doctors have told me that I'm obviously not that depressed because I'm still relatively functional and I should consider journaling. same with therapists. I've fired many therapists, psychologists, social workers, etc. for saying shit like that even after I told them not to.

 

[standingfast]

I have been with my psychologist for over ten years now. She is very aware of how severe and actively suicidal I am. But I have past PTSD and trauma with hospital stays. She encourages me to go voluntarily but said she would not commit me thus far. I can't be sure she won't ever. She is my only safe place from the war that is my life, but her kindness and care is a reminder of what I have been seeking since age 4. But I have failed to find it in my 50 years of life. It is maddening that the quality of love I need is so close, yet so far away. Life is cruel.

 

[willitpass]

dude, I made the mistake of losing my temper at the suicide hotline when I was in my teens and they fucking sent the police to my house. needless to say, I never called those motherfuckers again.

doctors have told me that I'm obviously not that depressed because I'm still relatively functional and I should consider journaling. same with therapists. I've fired many therapists, psychologists, social workers, etc. for saying shit like that even after I told them not to.

I haven't used a suicide hotline in years because they always told me the stupidest shit like the brownies or painting or whatever. It was a waste of my time to hear meaningless platitudes and bullshit coping mechanisms from someone who had no choice but to read off a script. They never sent anyone to me because I've always known to be cautious with my word choices. "Yes I'm suicidal, I have questionable intent, no I don't have a method or access to do anything, yes I promise to call someone if I think I can't keep myself safe".

 

[Lady Laudanum]

I haven't used a suicide hotline in years because they always told me the stupidest shit like the brownies or painting or whatever. It was a waste of my time to hear meaningless platitudes and bullshit coping mechanisms from someone who had no choice but to read off a script. They never sent anyone to me because I've always known to be cautious with my word choices. "Yes I'm suicidal, I have questionable intent, no I don't have a method or access to do anything, yes I promise to call someone if I think I can't keep myself safe".

I didn't know better and thought nothing was going to happen, so when they said something I didn't like, I said that I was going to find the call center where they worked and blow my head off with a revolver in front of that building (even though I obviously couldn't do that). I definitely did a big dumb there.

 

[willitpass]

I didn't know better and thought nothing was going to happen, so when they said something I didn't like, I said that I was going to find the call center where they worked and blow my head off with a revolver in front of that building (even though I obviously couldn't do that). I definitely did a big dumb there.

The first time I went to the ER for a mental health crisis I was 10. I told all of the staff I didn't feel safe and thought if I went home I was going to hurt myself. I told them I didn't trust my own brain. They were trying to find a pediatric psych bed anywhere in the state but I think there were wait lists. Instead of continuing the search, a nurse pulled me into a room and told me that I didn't want to go to those places. That they were scary and traumatic. So my mom and I decided to go home. While I've spent far more than enough time in my life in psych wards since then to know she was telling the truth, I've always wondered if maybe going at the age of 10 could have done something. Maybe if they hadn't talked me out of it then I could have gotten better help earlier on in life and things wouldn't have spiralled to where they did.

 

[ForgottenAgain]

Currently in therapy but I've been in therapy for 16 years and I'm still miserable. I've also tried group therapy and taken medication for a total of 6 years.
Unfortunately, came to the realisation that MH services in England are horrible. Back in my home country it was far, far superior. I can't believe the horrible psychiatrists I saw here, they're the reason why I gave up on medication and I'm currently just doing therapy, I won't subject myself to those uncaring bastards again. I can't imagine what inpatients in psych hospital must go through and I don't want to experience it myself.

It's hard to say how much therapy helped me. My past psychologist was almost a father figure to me and I don't think I can evaluate him in an unbiased matter. I miss him so much, I miss a lot of people so much...

 

[Life'sA6itch]

Tried therapy which was horrific. Each "therapist" didn't know WT hell they were talking about, one made snap decisions in our 1st, thirty min session (I immediately quit after that one) telling me I should pack up and move out of state due to problems with horribly loud and constantly weed smoking neighbors. What sense does that make, to uproot your entire life due to horrific apartment neighbors? I may be depressed but that advice was stupid AF and made no sense. Another took our 1st two hour long sessions up by constantly over talking me whenever I tried to speak and she never asked me any questions, she kept bringing up politics and religion. It was surreal and not helpful at all for someone severely depressed. So, no more "therapy" for me. Regular Dr. gave me Cymbalta which made SO MUCH roll off my back for a few months and then it quit working maybe 3 months in at the most. First reprieve of my depression I'd had since I was a young child. I tried Prozac and Wellbutrin, nothing works.

 

[ShesPunishedForever]

I've been in so so many different kinds of counseling and therapy some for gender stuff, PTSD, DM situations, psychosis, and SA which I recently finished my round of sessions for. I've been medicated in various ways throughout but nothing ever stuck, honestly my therapists weren't ever too bad maybe one or two was a little touchy though. I got into some good programs though, and they helped me buy a gaming PC for me. Honestly looking back I should've stuck to my medication or found the right one for me, lately im too dejected though and think maybe that boat has sailed and am one of those ppl who think it might mask my genuine self. I just hate going to new services and having to re-hash my whole history, it almost feels like im just being interviewed sometimes and not that solutions are being worked on.

 

[ItsyBitsyWeetard]

Tons of therapy, tons of medication. The only good thing is that after all these years, nobody can blame me that I didn't try.

Same here man
ive been to 7 therapists in total around 5 psychiatrists and ive gotten ketamine infusion therapy nothing helps not only with the mental illness but with the other symptoms. theres a whole list of symptoms that i have and they're incurable for fuck sake

I've been told to go to the gym. Pray. Meditate. "Just change my thinking" and "reframe things" like yeah let me just stop every thought process I have had since I could count my age on two hands I'll get right on that. The suicide hotline told me to eat a brownie, paint, and go on a walk at 1am as a young female. Thanks, I'm cured.

the suicide hotline i called straight up said "you're 19 if u wanna do it you're gonna do it" and her other suggestions were doing jumping jacks and she told me to listen to music but that was after she asked me what could provide some relief so i said music. they're actually so useless

 

[Just_Another_Person]

The "No - Can't afford therapy but use medication" means I can't afford a therapist but I go to a psychiatrist?

Good thing my insurance covers at least the psychiatrist, some people don't have this option.

Regarding my psychiatrist, I like her, always listen, she cares enough to ask outside the clinic if I'm doing well. These last 2 years were better thanks to her. One of my fears is how she is gonna take the notice I ctb. I'm even gonna write an official "responsibility exemption" document and register on the notary office (without mentioning suicide but mentioning I lied about how I felt) so she doesn't have legal problems.

 

[Priestess]

Yes i am, but only because I'm going through a disability benefits reassessment, and in my experience if you aren't accepting all the help offered, they stop your money permanently. I've had 5 therapies and at least 5 antidepressants, all crap, none helped. As soon as I get my benefit money I am quitting therapy and meds. Actually I don't even take the meds any more. They didn't help and had awful side effects. I just get them dispensed to help my benefit claim and then throw them in the bin.

Same here man
ive been to 7 therapists in total around 5 psychiatrists and ive gotten ketamine infusion therapy nothing helps not only with the mental illness but with the other symptoms. theres a whole list of symptoms that i have and they're incurable for fuck sake

the suicide hotline i called straight up said "you're 19 if u wanna do it you're gonna do it" and her other suggestions were doing jumping jacks and she told me to listen to music but that was after she asked me what could provide some relief so i said music. they're actually so useless

Like you, I've had stupid advice from therapists. One, an NHS hospital therapist, when I said I was considering suicide again, told me to buy the New Age book "The Secret," about the law of attraction and use it to attract whatever I want into my life, then I won't be depressed any more. Another one, to cure my eating disorder, depression and anxiety, told me to make lists of all the reasons I have to eat healthily and not be depressed/anxious, and whenever I am depressed/anxious or dealing with my eating disorder, just look at the list and I won't be depressed/anxious any more and will eat healthily. My current therapist is obsessed with me making timetables. Apparently if I plan my day out with timetables and stick to it, I'll be cured. It's just so stupid.

 

[IBGONE]

IMO, any professional therapist,psychologist, or psychiatrist who has to be paid to listen to my inner issues doesn't really care one way or the other about me or my demons as long as they get paid.

 

[Bitchophrenic]

I am in therapy but it doesent help.

I started it at the start of the year, and I feel as if I've just gotten exponentially worse since. My brain almost feels like now that I'm in therapy, it has an excuse to be miserable. It doesn't aid in the fact that I refuse any sort of medication, because I fear I might get addicted to it if it does actually work.

 

[somewhat_damaged]

Most therapists are malignantly useless.

 

[Sans]

No. Talking to some overpaid quack about the injustices I face won't make them go away.

 

[vagabond_concerto]

I haven't had much success with therapists. Tried a few already.

I've tried to explain myself and what I dread in life, my fixations (concepts, ideas), and I can't help but get mad when they try to put me in a box, or give me vague textbookesque answers. Then I feel rushed through the time they have to give me, I info dump to hell without coherence. then I hate to keep in mind that it's not a genuine interaction because I have to 'pay' them above all else.

If I didn't pay them, they wouldn't "care" for me. So, it doesn't let me actually see them as helpful.

Behavioral therapy or whatever conventional methods relying on convincing yourself of something else doesn't work for me. Maybe I'm too cynical.

 

[DontTouchMeImFamous]

I would never consider trying therapy again. Traumatizing experience.

 

[heliophobic]

I'm currently just on medication, which doesn't do much other than keep me alive. Not currently in therapy because it gets frustrating finding someone I like and trust. I've been inpatient too many times to count from the ages of 11 and 33. None in the last ten years, and hopefully I won't have any. I've contemplated TMS therapy but I absolutely refuse to get ECT ever.

 

[revontulet]

No. I took meds for years but it didn't help at all. 7 years ago MH care recommended psychotherapy but I had no interest to start it. So I never went to therapy.

I got a so called "B statement" which means the social security system would have covered the biggest part so it was not about money. I just had no interest to try psychotherapy.

 

[hopemeetshopeless]

I feel like more nuance is required than the options provided to answer. I've tried therapy. More than one. I've tried medication (anti anxiety/adhd meds, afraid of ssris.) I've tried therapy (had a therapist, was going well, went 5 sessions. lost health insurance through work, unable to keep same therapist, tried to find another one, was about the worst case scenario). The last behavioral health specialist I saw as a couple months ago. they threatened to put me in involuntary mental hold for mentioning that I had a single solitary thought about suicide in the last 30 days. Lost all trust in therapists since then, will never, ever, ever go back now.

I would never consider trying therapy again. Traumatizing experience.

same. they are control freaks and sociopaths.