Discussion Psychotherapy

[Azizw126]

Hi everyone,
Are psychiatrist and therapist really helpful?
I've been struggling since 1998 and first diagnose was in 2001.
Since then i haven't seen any significant improvements. In the last two years i lost trust in them and every time i disclose my mental health to someone i get the typical advice : go seek help like psychiatrists have the magic stick to cure or even mitigate mental illness.

 

[angele]

It really depends. You have to want to get better in the first place, so that's a big obstacle to start with. And you need someone that will understand you and be patient with you, which in my experience is nearly impossible.
But they're also motivated to keep you alive no matter the cost, and the fact that you're on SS makes me think this might be a major issue for you. It's impossible to say for sure because I don't know you.
It's worth a shot but know what you're getting yourself into.

 

[pole]

it varies. its extremely helpful to many. at the start, it isnt until you find the right ones who truly actually care, on a genuine level; caring because they want to, not because they feel forced to do so. maybe trying out different therapists can give you the opportunity to find the one right for you. it definitely takes time to find the right one.

however, therapy isnt for everyone. therapy will never be the solution for me, and wont ever help me. i hate talking to people about myself and how i feel and never will, so to be talking to some therapist about my shit is a hell no for me, id just walk out.

hope you find a solution to you're needs.

 

[FTL.Wanderer]

Hi everyone,
Are psychiatrist and therapist really helpful?
I've been struggling since 1998 and first diagnose was in 2001.
Since then i haven't seen any significant improvements. In the last two years i lost trust in them and every time i disclose my mental health to someone i get the typical advice : go seek help like psychiatrists have the magic stick to cure or even mitigate mental illness.

The professionals will, of course, protect their financial and social standing interests by arguing to the contrary, but the effectiveness of a standing treatment model should be measured against population changes in the disease the treatment is supposed to be effective for. Googling "disease" rates in mental health shows the population disease rates have been consistently increasing beyond what increased screenings, public service announcements, and social acceptance (of mental health) should account for. And despite all the pharmaceuticals and behavioral therapies developed over the past 30 years, suicide rates haven't even plateaued. Instead, they're growing. And a slew of studies from as early as the early 2000's showcases the unforgivable negative publication biases major pharmaceutical companies tried very hard to hide in their bid to mass-market patentable psychoactives.

But most damning is the persistent failure of mental health disciplines to provide a coherent body of reproducible, validated, hard biomedical evidence confirming their guess that "mental illness" is a legitimate physiological disease. The European professional bodies overseeing the practice of psychology have removed "mental illness" from their lexicon, instead referring officially to "mental conditions" or "states" as a nod to more and more scientists' justifiable disgust over the way a so-called scientific discipline "discovers" new diseases--by professional consensus. That's not science. That's elitism and a damnable conflict of interests.

Sorry for the long reply. Mental health is helpful to many people--at least that's what they claim. But a "science" it is not. Whatever it is, it has failed to stem the tide of cognitive problems in general and suicide in particular. Whatever you choose, I hope it brings you some relief...

 

[Suilven]

I have been on and off doing psychotherapy in the uk since I was a teenager, and I'm now in my late 30s.

I have always found it helpful, even though the quality of therapy has been so variable it feels like no-one really knew what they were supposed to be doing. Despite that they have all helped in one way or another.

I'm currently seeing an excellent psychotherapist who is very knowledgeable and is really helping me break down all of the issues and behaviours causing my problems and I'm seeing proper results now. If I'd been seeing her years ago I wouldn't be where I am now.

It's the variability of service plus the long wait (18 months here) which is the shocking thing. Some of them are utterly passive acting like counsellors, encouraging you to have a good moan. That isn't helpful long term.

I have never had a good experience with a psychiatrist. I have found them all to be patronising, punitive, condescending and uninterested. One kept going out of the room to answer private calls on his mobile and wouldnt stop chewing gum and talking over me when I spoke. I left suicidal.

If you are in a position to take psychotherapy grab it with both hands, but make sure they work for their money.

 

[a_strange_day]

I think they can help if you really wanna get better and are ready to work on yourself. But if you are like me then No, it won't help because I didn't want to get better, I just wanted meds. So for 20 years I just used them to stuff myself with drugs and nobody cared as long as you could keep working. I swear at some point I could almost write the precription myself.
So yes they can help but you must want to get better, or it's useless.

 

[LittleJem]

I had years of therapy. It didn't help me, and was money I could have spent on shoes. If you haven't tried medication, it is worth trying though, as it helps some people. Only drugs/medication/natural remedies have helped me. Moclobemide for 2 weeks. L Tryptophan for 2 weeks. SSRIs didn't help me. I recommend joining FB groups, eg one called "Depression and Anhedonia Regimes" and Nootropics groups - people share their tips and what works for them. If you see a psychiatrist, I recommend also getting clued up first. You are a guinea pig while they look for something that works, but if something works, it is life- changing. I spent 260 on my first appointment, 180 on my second, then found a website where I could buy my own meds. It depends on your diagnosis, if you have a different diagnosis you might need a specialist. I have also seen ,though not tried, good reviews of Methylene Blue for depression and bi polar depression. You can buy that online. For me, Lion's Mane mushrooms are helping a lot , you can buy them in health food store. Good luuck

 

[Sweet emotion]

Hi everyone,
Are psychiatrist and therapist really helpful?
I've been struggling since 1998 and first diagnose was in 2001.
Since then i haven't seen any significant improvements. In the last two years i lost trust in them and every time i disclose my mental health to someone i get the typical advice : go seek help like psychiatrists have the magic stick to cure or even mitigate mental illness.

To certain people yes psychiatrists and therapists are very helpful. You can't expect anything to change if you don't take a chance. I had really awful OCD when I was 15 and wanted to die. My therapist, most of all, helped me deal with the OCD by giving me so many tools. That mixed with the right dosage of meds helped me a lot. That particular problem is gone now. Unfortunately 5 years later I became physically sick. They can't help me with that but with mental issues yes they can help. Sometimes you're it going to find the right therapist or shrink on the first try. I give each of them three office visits and then I think to myself is this the right therapist for me? Does she seem to understand what I'm going through and can she help me? Don't just settle for the first one you find. Go see a therapist and a shrink. It can't hurt right? Nothing is going to be accomplished if you're just sitting there doing nothing.

I think they can help if you really wanna get better and are ready to work on yourself. But if you are like me then No, it won't help because I didn't want to get better, I just wanted meds. So for 20 years I just used them to stuff myself with drugs and nobody cared as long as you could keep working. I swear at some point I could almost write the precription myself.
So yes they can help but you must want to get better, or it's useless.

Would you mind if I asked what you're suffering from and why you don't want to get help? I'm trying to understand why some people don't want help.