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

[SewingDust]

I have been on pills since I was a teenager. Maybe 7 psychiatrists and a different diagnosis from each of them. I feel like a lab rat. This year I finally got a referral for psychotherapy, but they said I have to wait 2 years... Long live free european healthcare~

 

[onmywaytothebusstop]

Not sure what is considered therapy but both i guess.

 

[niki wonoto]

I'm from Indonesia (42/M). For me personally, I think it's a lot more complicated. I've tried what's probably considered as 'therapy' for five times or move in the past. I was diagnosed having Major Depression back in 2020 by one of the therapist/counselor/psychologist. I used to also receive meds but only once, and since it had bad effects on me physically (ie: heart problems increasing, can't sleep, nightmares, palpitations, etc2), it kinda left some sort of 'trauma' in me, that I've decided to never use meds anymore (which usually were obtained from psychiatrists). And it got worse ever since when I've read many accounts/stories of people saying how medications/meds have bad side effects, & even literally could destroy some people making things much worse. My close/best friend, who was also a member of this forum/website, committed suicide in 2023, and sadly it was also due to the medications factors/effects.

It's sad & frustrating how 'therapy professional mh care' still failed to really help me all these times. Yes, of course I know that it's not a 'magic pill/wand' that can be guaranteed 100% to cure/heal you, and changed you to become a better person, or even (naively) become a 'successful' person in life. But that just seems to be common narrative people have in their minds, which is just unrealistic.

I don't know, but I honestly feel like I still have a *lot* of the so-called 'mental health' problems/issues, that are unfortunately still remained 'undiagnosed', to name just a few for example: OCD, ADHD, neurodivergent, anxiety (& social anxiety), bipolar, depersonalization, maladaptive daydreaming, existential depression, & even I probably might belong to some 'autistic/aspergers' spectrum. I've usually just researched things by myself (mostly online nowadays on the internet, but I have also read some 'professional' books discussing the mental health aspects). And that's why I think that what I feel should be 'valid' too. Even though I also genuinely admit that I might be wrong (or perhaps even *totally/entirely* wrong!), ie: maybe my (Asian/Chinese-Indonesian/chindo) parents (especially my father/dad) is right/correct, when he *simply* just say that I'm just 'lazy'. That's it. Or another 'close' friend of mine who used to think that I'm not depressed (or I don't have depression), again, even though I've literally been diagnosed with Major Depression back in 2020. Or maybe it's true that I'm basically just a 'fraud', 'fake', faking all these things & simply just 'making excuses' for everything I did (or mostly even haven't really done anything 'good') in my life. Maybe it's true that I'm just a sad, pathetic loser/failure, & lastly, I'm just a waste of space & oxygen (& a 'wasted potential/wasted talents') that should not exist but yet still exist anyway.. this is why I even feel more guilty, & feel more like a useless pathetic sad middle-aged loser that should just stop existing in this world.. if only committing suicide were that easy, simple, accessible, quick, & painless...

This is why I've said in the beginning that things are a lot more complicated in reality, unfortunately. I wish it was easy, & could 'magically' or 'miraculously' just heal/cure away all my problems, & changed me to be a better person, or even 'successful' person (especially in the eyes of my parents). But, we don't live in such a 'perfect' nor 'utopian, heavenly, rainbow & sunshine' world, life, & existence, sadly. This is just the harsh reality.

 

[durros]

I have been in therapy for nearly a decade. It has been helpful at times, but I've also felt like it wasn't doing much for me.

I had one therapist for many years who was intelligent and kind, but we never seemed to make much progress. After switching to a new therapist, there was an immediate improvement. Their style was better suited to me.

Obviously, I'm still here on these forums, so life is still a challenge for me, but I would recommend everyone try to find a compatible therapist. Give each one some time, and if after a few weeks or months you don't feel much improvement, you can consider meeting someone else.

It's also important to put in work in your therapy sessions. Do your best to organize your thoughts and feelings, communicate what you need to, and be as open as possible. We cannot really be helped if we don't approach therapy with honesty.

Therapy is not the whole story, but I do think the right therapist can help many of us. Good luck to you all.

 

[Jaded_Wolf]

I'm currently doing therapy and taking medication.

I've been on medication for about 14 years now, with two breaks. First time I didn't like how the (new) medication was increasing my appetite, as I didn't want to gain weight. Second time was last November, as I was concerned the medication might be muting my emotions. Since December, I've been back on all my medications, but with some changes.

Feels like I've been on a long list of mood management and/or sleep medications: Celexa, Effexor XR, Wellbutrin, Buspar, Remeron, Zoloft, Prozac, Trazodone and Abilify.

Currently I'm on Lexapro and Risperidone for mood, while taking Ambien and Hydroxyzine to help with sleeping. I think they help with regulating my mood, but I still have chronic thoughts about suicide and death/dying.

I started therapy about a few weeks prior to going on my first medication back in 2011. However, there has been gaps where I wasn't either seeing a therapist, or it was once a month or something. I'm currently seeing a therapist once a week now, though I'm on waiting lists for more frequent treatment. For therapy itself, I've been through both CBT and DBT. I have more of a preference for DBT, as I think some of the skills have more real-world application.

 

[MountainMonkey]

Pick the answer most suitable for your situation.

Fuck your therapy

 

[iamthezero]

Have tried everything short of ECT and am not willing to even go there. Way too much risk for memory loss.
Was seeing 3 therapists at one point. Currently have a therapist, psychiatrist, and a psych NP who are all trying much harder than me to improve things. Nothing is working. My situation is not fixable.

ECT should most definitely be banned. I did six sessions myself only to still be suicidal and now have cognition issues. It's a fucking joke.

 

[_Minsk]

i tried and it helped a bit, but no long term fix..

 

[Hikari.]

I'm doing therapy but so far no benefits

 

[ForgottenAgain]

ECT should most definitely be banned. I did six sessions myself only to still be suicidal and now have cognition issues. It's a fucking joke.

It's not the first time I read people in this forum having horrible experiences with ECT. That method scares the crap out of me. I'm really sorry you were harmed that way, I find that inhumane.

 

[onthefence]

I'm starting to wonder if my therapy is actually making things worse. I dissociate every time and am a wreck afterwards. Last time, after sitting for a long time not talking I said "Let's call it." And got up and left. I wasn't nearly as miserable afterwards and have been a bit more functional the last few days. At least while I'm on stimulants….. in the morning before they kick in and at night after they wear off I spend a good amount of time sobbing on the floor.

 

[no.death.bed.reQ]

Looking into getting like a referral to a psychiatrist to figure out like specifically what is wrong with my brain and maybe get on like meds or something but idk if i'll try therapy cus i tried stuff in the past and they did nothing because i just kinda shut down and dont open up. also idk if i even would because the badness is kinda comforting in a weird horrible way, and also i dont deserve help because im a bad person.

This!! It's like you took the words from my head and put them in my mouth. Thank you!

 

[NonEssential]

If that counts for anything, I visited the school psychiatrist for the first time last week (well I had also been to one at my last school like 5 years ago)
No idea what she can do to remove/reduce my thoughts to ctb, but at least I can say I tried I guess.

 

[DunnoWhyButYeah]

Medicines do not help, and that's why doctors no longer prescribe them. I have been to therapy once and it helped. Then something happened and I would need help from therapy again, but I can't get it yet...

 

[SchrodingerIsDed]

Pick the answer most suitable for your situation.

SWIM does not believe in Big Pharma except when it comes to fun pills. SWIM trusts the medical industry much more and only uses pharma for narcotics. Very occasionally. SWIM thinks that it's all a big scam. 40% of America is medicated. Or some big number. The norm cannot be abnormal. SWIM believes more in health through nutrition exercise socialization. Those are the things humans need to be healthy. Our new technology age has destroyed social belonging and since people are social creatures this is highly damaging to mental states by itself. Mix in lack of exercise and terribly unhealthy food and you get "mental illness". Which is just a natural side effect of an unhealthy society. But it feeds the food industry, the health industry, and the psychiatric industry which increases GDP so it perpetuates itself through the capitalist system. Which I used to think was still better than any other system but am wondering about now. It's funny how my beliefs did a 180 since I was a teenager, then just switched right back in my 30s.

 

[restlesseyes]

I feel like therapy does not work for me I've seen a few therapist but I just don't see how talking about my problems out loud fixes those problems once I leave I have to deal with the same problems I understand they give you (tools) to use in life but every tool I got once when I'm depressed it just goes out the window and I don't use it maybe that's a personal issue though

 

[TheShadows]

I currently have therapy and medication.

 

[Mitch3ll]

My answer isn't available to select. I've been trying to get help. Everyone is like, yes you need help. But you're not quite in a range for us to help you yet. Get worse and then we'll help you keep you at being worse but always promise to help. It's a losing battle here in Western Canada and Vancouver.

 

[Marbas]

Currently only in therapy and not really noticing a difference. I've been on and off so many pills since I was a teen and the only thing any of them did was make me worse instead of better.

 

[DarknessAtNoon]

I have severe social anxiety(avoidant personality disorder if I'm being honest). The idea of opening up to a therapist is absolutely terrifying to me, there is no way I could ever do it.

 

[notgonnamakeit]

Currently, I'm getting therapy every 2-3 weeks and started sertraline ~3 weeks ago. Tbh I want to only do the therapy and skip the medication for two reasons.
For one, I don't really like feeling like I'm changing the chemistry of my brain, I'm a huge fan of living naturally, and medication makes me feel like I'm some artificial robot. That's not to say it's effects aren't helpful to some people, I don't have anything against other people using medication or anything.
Second of all, and I'm sure some people here can relate, I really find comfort in my sadness. Taking medication scares me because I kinda like being a depressed person, as stupid as it may sound to some. I've just always kinda been this way, and I'm scared taking medication would change me too much.

 

[zappynomore]

No I really should be though, I know that for sure the last year just been so tough on my physical and mental health. And 2 people close to me passed away last year.

Currently, I'm getting therapy every 2-3 weeks and started sertraline ~3 weeks ago. Tbh I want to only do the therapy and skip the medication for two reasons.
For one, I don't really like feeling like I'm changing the chemistry of my brain, I'm a huge fan of living naturally, and medication makes me feel like I'm some artificial robot. That's not to say it's effects aren't helpful to some people, I don't have anything against other people using medication or anything.
Second of all, and I'm sure some people here can relate, I really find comfort in my sadness. Taking medication scares me because I kinda like being a depressed person, as stupid as it may sound to some. I've just always kinda been this way, and I'm scared taking medication would change me too much.

Yeah I get what you mean I feel that as well. It's like I have been this way for so long, the thought of it changing me scares me.

Even though I suppose the crazy thing is maybe there is a small chance it would make me so much happier and that my life would change for the better. I often wonder is this all a sign I am too far gone. Because I feel like would a logical person not atleast take a chance even if it was just a small one to see if it would help. I Don't know.

I have severe social anxiety(avoidant personality disorder if I'm being honest). The idea of opening up to a therapist is absolutely terrifying to me, there is no way I could ever do it.

Same its just a total non starter for me. Like no matter how hard I could try it would just be actually impossible for me to do.

If that counts for anything, I visited the school psychiatrist for the first time last week (well I had also been to one at my last school like 5 years ago)
No idea what she can do to remove/reduce my thoughts to ctb, but at least I can say I tried I guess.

I mean its kinda worth at least trying right? Then atleast at the end if it comes to that you can tell yourself you tried.

If it comes to the end and you have regret about not even having tried something like that then its just tragic.

 

[AloneInCollege]

I've been on meds for 12 years now. Just about every depression and anxiety med. Most of them help at first then stop, some of them never do. I got a new psychiatrist recently and got new pills. Been on them for a few weeks, I don't feel any better, if anything I feel worse.

 

[sadalways]

For now, only medicine. SSRI's mostly for anxiety and was taking aripiprazol but i found out it can kill your will to do anything which was the case for me and i quit them cold turkey few days ago. As for therapy - not at the moment. Been before, for anxiety, which didn't do anything mostly because i had the mindset that it will not help. HOWEVER i am going to a psychiatrist in 10 days to talk about medicine and depression in general, since i haven't mentioned it ever to them, so i will see how it goes.

 

[celery]

I am seeing a psychiatrist who is really sweet and has done an amazing job listening to me over the last year. I'm also on SSRIs and gender-affirming care (HRT). The entire reason I'm even still alive today, I owe to the happiness and fulfillment this has brought me.

But i regret to say that seeing the world now, I'm not sure anymore that it's enough. I've had family betray me, allies abandon me, people fetishize me... And now seeing the looming threat of my healthcare being taken away. I don't get what the point is anymore. Every day is a new heartbreak, seeing how many people think my happiness is a problem to be corrected.

 

[NothingEverWorksOut]

I have never received any help from public health care despite multiple tries through 10 years or so. They just don't take me seriously. Probably would get help if I went to private sector but don't have money to it. Would like to try psychotherapy because drugs didn't help me at all and made everything worse.

 

[WantingOut2]

Changed my vote; no more therapy for me; my psychologist quit, she doesn't give a damn about her patients and should never have gotten in the field. And my psychiatrist barely listens when I go in every 4 months to get my medication - he did, the first time. Then it's like it has no effect at all.
Seems almost pointless, why bother talking, making the effort, if nobody's going to listen or care?!??

 

[m04th]

I am just about to be medicated again (pretending to take meds ahha) but I am doing therapy. Somewhat useless though considering I never talk about anything of actual use...

 

[zappynomore]

tried it in. the past but really did not help

 

[DarknessWave]

I have therapy and medication, neither of them is working.