LETS ALL LAUGH AT PEOPLE WITH DEPRESSION!!

looking_around

Cora Melodic Seed wrote: »

What is the difference between a psychologist/psychotherapist and a counsellor?

Just curious.

Cheers.

Psychologist. A psychologist has a doctoral degree (PhD, PsyD, or EdD) in psychology, which is the study of the mind and behaviors. Graduate school provides a psychologist an education in evaluating and treating mental and emotional disorders.
Licensed psychologists are qualified to do counseling and psychotherapy, perform psychological testing, and provide treatment(not meds) for mental disorders.

A psychological counselor is a mental health professional who has a master's degree (MA) in psychology, counseling, or a related field.
counselor is qualified to evaluate and treat mental problems by providing counseling or psychotherapy.

http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/guide-to-psychiatry-and-counseling

Therapists, tend to be counsellors who focus on offering a type of therapy. (ie CBT or DBT.)

In my experience, there's little difference between them on the medical card. And you're most likely to see a psychologist or nurse trained in therapies.

--LOS--

I find the terminology confusing as well and it seems to differ abroad. Whenever I say 'counsellor' or 'counselling' here (NL) they correct me and say no you mean psychiatrist. They seem to be familiar with 'psychologist' and 'psychiatrist' but when you mention mental health/depression, theyre certain its a psychiatrist you should be seeing Makes me wonder do they still think its just a medical condition. A american staff member would only say therapy/therapist. I would say counsellor/therapist/psychologist all crossover so it just depends on the individual and what their qualifications are/what methods they follow.

looking_around

--LOS-- wrote: »

I find the terminology confusing as well and it seems to differ abroad. Whenever I say 'counsellor' or 'counselling' here (NL) they correct me and say no you mean psychiatrist. They seem to be familiar with 'psychologist' and 'psychiatrist' but when you mention mental health/depression, theyre certain its a psychiatrist you should be seeing Makes me wonder do they still think its just a medical condition. A american staff member would only say therapy/therapist. I would say counsellor/therapist/psychologist all crossover so it just depends on the individual and what their qualifications are/what methods they follow.

bolded part is very true.

There's also a confusion in the states(with different states being vastly different). As many psychologists can also prescribe meds.
But a therapist/counsellor cannot.

On top of this, psychiatrists also offer therapy where as they don't here.
In the states there's quite a crossover between psychiatrist and psychologist. (particularly in relation to certain mental illnesses, like OCD or Depression.)

wannabegard

I have a question. I have struggled with my mental health, fitting in and being part of a group every day of my life. The people who i have gone to help have completly ignored me and no longer have anything to do with me anymore. To be honest i dont want to ever see their faces again. I am highly qualified, intelligent person yet i am not able to get proper work. I cant speak to women and everyone seems to think i am a weirdo. I no longer go out socialising because every night ends the same, me drunk and depressed getting a taxi home on my own. I am not joking
There have been days that i have just lost it completly and gone haywire on my mother. I tried going to speak to someone but i may aswell have been banging my head against a brick wall. He basically told me to go away and get the ride for myself. Everyday i wake up go working with my father or my uncle or someone related to be, morning to night and then into the gym. When i try to explain this to someone all im told is 'at least you have a job'. It is not a job it goddamn slavery.
There are so many things i want to do. First of which is to leave home. I have no chance of doing that. Second is to make a real goddamn freind and not someone who just wants someone from me. Everything i apply for i am told im not cut out for this or that.
Point is i hate my life and i want things to change so badly. But I cant see a way out. The anger that has built up inside me is on the verge of erupting. I wanted to do so much.

How can i go to talk to someone when I am just fobbed off immediatly. Is this going to be what my life is like from now on until i am dead? I am not sucidal i am just fed up of this complete and utter crap of a life i have.

Ruu

wannabegard, just moved your post from the thread started about Robin Williams. The folks in this thread might be able to help, didn't want your post to end up being buried. Ta.

looking_around

wannabegard wrote: »

I have a question. I have struggled with my mental health, fitting in and being part of a group every day of my life. The people who i have gone to help have completly ignored me and no longer have anything to do with me anymore. To be honest i dont want to ever see their faces again. I am highly qualified, intelligent person yet i am not able to get proper work. I cant speak to women and everyone seems to think i am a weirdo. I no longer go out socialising because every night ends the same, me drunk and depressed getting a taxi home on my own. I am not joking
There have been days that i have just lost it completly and gone haywire on my mother. I tried going to speak to someone but i may aswell have been banging my head against a brick wall. He basically told me to go away and get the ride for myself. Everyday i wake up go working with my father or my uncle or someone related to be, morning to night and then into the gym. When i try to explain this to someone all im told is 'at least you have a job'. It is not a job it goddamn slavery.
There are so many things i want to do. First of which is to leave home. I have no chance of doing that. Second is to make a real goddamn freind and not someone who just wants someone from me. Everything i apply for i am told im not cut out for this or that.
Point is i hate my life and i want things to change so badly. But I cant see a way out. The anger that has built up inside me is on the verge of erupting. I wanted to do so much.

How can i go to talk to someone when I am just fobbed off immediatly. Is this going to be what my life is like from now on until i am dead? I am not sucidal i am just fed up of this complete and utter crap of a life i have.

Who have you gone to talk to?
Have you tried your GP and requested to be put on a counselling waiting list?
Have you tried maybe awares deppression support groups?
What about awares lifeskills program? both online and in groups

I've recently started going to a "social group" thing, best thing ever, tbh. a few people with problems like me, in a group together, just to socialise, it's been fantastic for me.

As to moving out, why can't you? This country has nothing but supports for people moving. Admittedly the first few months are the hardest (waiting for council/rent allowance.) but it's quite do-able.

cindrella

Lost my antidepressants/anxiety medication out of my handbag ahhh

DeVore

Also, it might be useful to know your age too Wanna...

Holysock

I feel fed up. Thats the only way I can describe it to the few people I've talked to and it seems like an understatement. I don't even think I feel sad although I well up with tears for no reason way too often these days. Its not a feeling of sadness its just nothingness, not looking forward to anything, things that used to make me happy not having any effect. I've been on meds the last month and it only seems to have gotten worse. I can function with daily things like going to work but feeling the slightest bit sociable is long gone. I dont know who to talk to because theres nothing in my life that is reason for me to feel like I do.

0byme75341jo28

Appointment with doc tomorrow, had a fairly bad experience drinking on my own on Saturday night which ended with lots of... Blood (self inflicted)... Really nervous about telling him about it Can anyone just tell me what your doctor's reaction was like when you told them you'd been self harming? I know I should tell him but I'd feel better if I maybe had some idea how he'd react...

Suryavarman

Cora Melodic Seed wrote: »

Appointment with doc tomorrow, had a fairly bad experience drinking on my own on Saturday night which ended with lots of... Blood (self inflicted)... Really nervous about telling him about it Can anyone just tell me what your doctor's reaction was like when you told them you'd been self harming? I know I should tell him but I'd feel better if I maybe had some idea how he'd react...

I self harmed before which prompted me to visit a GP for the first time. I didn't do much damage, only a couple of scratches. The GP was completely fine about, asked me to just ring him or one of the nurses in his practice the next time I thought about self harming.

Since then I've been to both a counsellor and a psychiatrist. Both of those were more interested in why I self harmed than in scolding me for doing it or anything else.

Your GP is going to be well aware that self harming is something that a lot of depressed people do. Don't expect your GP to give you a negative reaction or to make you feel worse. Do expect your GP to ask you to stay sober for a while. Your GP might also prescribe you anti-depressants or recommend a counsellor to talk if that isn't happening at the moment.

Cora Melodic Seed

Cora Melodic Seed wrote: »

Appointment with doc tomorrow, had a fairly bad experience drinking on my own on Saturday night which ended with lots of... Blood (self inflicted)... Really nervous about telling him about it Can anyone just tell me what your doctor's reaction was like when you told them you'd been self harming? I know I should tell him but I'd feel better if I maybe had some idea how he'd react...

If you're comfortable with thinking about it then think about it beforehand so you can tell him the reasons for it, whether it was control, a half-attempt, etc.
There's unlikely to be much reaction. They will have come across a lot more and worse over the years.

ShivaDark

I've been living with depression for a long time now... The people I used to spend time with never really understood, they kept telling me to cheer up and forced me into social situations which made me uncomfortable often (to get me out of my 'shell').

My family situation has never been good. I often felt that my father was the only one who cared for me but he was only around for two weeks every 2.5 months (he was away working in Africa and the Middle East).
My mother treated me like I was some sort of loathsome clone of her's, ignoring me until she hit the bottle and would keep me awake all night with stories of how she won beauty pageants and then eventually she'd turn violent to which my brother would have to defend me. I think he resented that because he loves her and she worships the ground he walks upon.

When my brother left for college, my mother was suddenly interested in my life to the point where I couldn't go out and spend time with friends without her turning up and getting incredibly drunk so I'd have to leave my friends, walk her home and look after her.
No surprise that I was soon (almost) friendless. I spent most of my time alone in my room until some girls decided to spend a lot of time at my house. Mainly to get off with my brother's friends with me being their excuse to be there.

That's how it started this lingering abyss.

A few years passed of that charade, alone with ignorant users as company. During this time period, my mother confronted me about my depression by giving me a knife and told me to do them a favor and kill myself so they wouldn't have to put with my misery anymore.

When I dropped out college (my mother choose where and what I studied), I met the most amazing, kind and caring person I ever laid eyes on... My mother wasn't happy with this and tried her best to destroy our relationship but all her attempts failed. She even tried to seduce him when he stayed over for Christmas one year.

I moved in with him as soon as I could but depression lingered no matter how happy I felt in my partner's company. I only noticed two years ago why, every single day my mother would call me, fill my head with lies, say hateful things about my weight and pit my brother against me.

One new years eve, I decided to spend the night with her. I had one drink that night and she spiked it with rhypnol (which she seems to have an ample supply of), so she could have fun without me being such a dure person. I embarrassed myself so much and I have zero recollection of that night which still terrifies me.

Four years ago, I became pregnant. I went to the doctor to confirm it. I had an appointment with him to get my blood test results (a week's time from then) before he'd schedule stuff with the local hospital. I went home to tell my parents the good news. That day was a nightmare. She gave me something strange to drink after I told her the news, saying it was flat lemonade... She went on a massive drink binge then and I didn't she much of her until well after midnight... Not that I'd noticed with the terrible stomach pains I had all evening (thinking it was a common bowel issue). She did her usual thing of screaming horrible accusations all night and would not let me sleep. Once the pubs opened she went out... Then I felt that tiny fetus exit me. I packed my bags and waited for the next bus out of that town. She seen me waiting and tried to bribe me (with €50) to never speak of that day again.

Every time I became angry with her after that day she claim that I was never pregnant despite my doctors confirmation or that I blame her for the miscarriage as if that's the only bad thing she's ever done to me.

There are many occasions where she did horrible things to me or said about me. Like telling an ex to dump me because he was too good for me.

It's been 22 months since I last spoke to her and I feel better, happier. I've been at my most productive drawing abstract fractal grids of nebulas (and fanart), writing terrible poetry and I've taken up crocheting amigurumi (soft wooly toys) recently. I still have my bad days but I know the worst is behind me. I no longer feel like life is an endless cycle of misery, guilt and the mundane. I have my partner, our cats and sometimes people send me a message once every few months...

This is first time I've publicly admitted to being depressed and I've tried to explain why. This was difficult to type. When I tried to express my pain before I would often be called a whiner then be ignored by the individual or group I tried to open up to when all I was trying to do was to ask for understanding.

Drumpot

Cora Melodic Seed wrote: »

Appointment with doc tomorrow, had a fairly bad experience drinking on my own on Saturday night which ended with lots of... Blood (self inflicted)... Really nervous about telling him about it Can anyone just tell me what your doctor's reaction was like when you told them you'd been self harming? I know I should tell him but I'd feel better if I maybe had some idea how he'd react...

How do you think your doctor might react ? I ask you that because there were times in the past where I used to dread going to my doctor, avoided it or wouldn't tell them everything for fear of how they would react or what they would say.

With CBT, I learned to challenge this way of thinking. Ask yourself "What exactly is the worst that could happen if I tell the doctor absolutely everything?"


I had to learn that a doctor can only give advice on what they know. The more factual (not subjective information that I choose to divulge) information they have about my condition/habits, the better equipped they are to advise.

Self harming with alcohol is obviously something that you should consider discussing with your GP. While you are at it, you could do worse then discuss your drinking habits (this is very unpopular advice that most people prefer to not discuss out of fear) that may or may not be a factor in your mental state. I am not insinuating anything, but there are a significant amount of people who write stuff in this thread (and whom I would chat to at support meetings), who never consider their drinking habits as a factor.

I have noticed on this forum that people are very reluctant to honestly challenge their own drinking habits/behaviour. Sometimes the most obvious solution is the one that is right on front of you. Unfortunatley, many people only know how to focus on other factors (people/places or things in their lives) at the expense of getting to the root cause of why they feel the way they feel.

DeVore

I have found that two nights of even moderate drinking in a row and my mental health takes a nose dive.

One night leaves me with poor sleep usually but I can generally get over that the next day but it has slowly dawned on me (cos I'm thick, loike), that alcohol is not doing me any favours.

Its something I don't want to face because I don't want to have to accept that drinking is negative and I should cut it out. I'm not prepared to take that step (for reasons I'm not at all clear about) and I suspect many people would be afraid of someone telling them that too.

That's ok... whats not ok is self delusion about it. I eat burgerking occasionally, its not good for me I know and I cant do it often but I do it. Whats not ok is deluding myself that burgerking is health food.

Right now, I've managed to put booze into that category "not good, limit intake".
If you are abusing it though and using it to eradicate memory or for extreme intoxication then yeah, you should talk to your doctor about it. Their reaction will almost certain be a rational, calm, helpful one. Doctors are good and will help you where they can. Trust them.

efb

Psych today- things looking well, next appt, June

wannabegard

I nearly lost the plot on my parents today. It took every inch of willpower i have to not scream at them. There is a lot going on in the background that is driving me crazy. The fact that two girls who i once thought were my best friends who abandoned me and went off to the states for the 'best year of their lives' are coming home for christmas and I know tat they will not contact me because they no longer need me for college assignments so i am no use to them any more. The fact that the girl who i was totally in love with for two years is coming back from austrailasia for christmas and who thinks im a pure effing weirdo will be back. The fact that all i have is fake friends who dont give a damn about me unless they want something from me. I better not run into any of them because I will get so effing mad and angry that i might physically harm them for being total bitches to me.
The worst thing is i am stuck here at home typing this message and 6 am on a saturday morning. Its pure sad. I made a decision a few months ago that i would get my siht togeter. And i tried. I tried so effing hard. I tried for a job in the UK failed. I tried for a job in Dublin failed. I have a goddamn masters and i cant even get a job in a shop. THere only thing i am kinda good at, not very but good at is the first aid duties and i am trying to go down that route but i am just being ignored.
The only thing i am doing at the moment is doing useless degradig work for my father and yesterday i was just fed up so i didnt even bother getting up. I did two hours in there and went home to sleep because that is the only escape i have from this horrible waste of a life i have. And what did i get. I got a bollocking from my mother for being lazy. Im not lazy i work a effing ass off every day for what? absolutly nothing. No Job No friends no girl no life. Thats the ways its going to stay. NO ONE GIVE A **** ABOUT ME!

looking_around

wanna...I can't write much on phone...but did you try professional help? lots of people with masters aren't getting jobs, it's not specific to you as a person, maybe contact about getting more work experience, yeah working for free sucks, but it can help. .. sorry about the "friends".. that blows but not much you can do cept cut them out of your life.

wannabegard

O trust me lad i tried. I went to a guy and told him everything. Twice. The firt guy chared me 100 quid for a sessiona and the second guy told me to go away and get the ride for youself. and dont ****ing pay for it.

wannabegard

And i didnt cut them they cut me.

0byme75341jo28

wannabegard wrote: »

O trust me lad i tried. I went to a guy and told him everything. Twice. The firt guy chared me 100 quid for a sessiona and the second guy told me to go away and get the ride for youself. and dont ****ing pay for it.

You can access free support throgh the HSE afaik. Sounds like you just got two gobshítes.

looking_around

wanna, the HSE, is free, just go to your GP and explain what's going on and that you'd like to go onto counselling waiting list. it's a long list, but can see psychiatric nurses until then.

wannabegard

nothing can be done man. been there done that. people just think im making this up.

ShivaDark

We don't think you are making it up. At least I don't anyway. Just because you've encountered two gob****es doesn't mean that they'll all be like that. Talking about it to a professional can help.

For years I had to go see horrible doctors myself. They'd dismiss me as prescription junkie like my mother and ignored all the things I told them but then I got a new doctor and he cared. I was so surprised by that but there are amazingly kind and caring professionals out there. Don't give up because of those two horrible 'professionals'.

looking_around

wannabegard wrote: »

nothing can be done man. been there done that. people just think im making this up.

well, you gotta keep trying to do something, or how will anything change? you do want change right?

Drumpot

ShivaDark wrote: »

We don't think you are making it up. At least I don't anyway. Just because you've encountered two gob****es doesn't mean that they'll all be like that. Talking about it to a professional can help.

For years I had to go see horrible doctors myself. They'd dismiss me as prescription junkie like my mother and ignored all the things I told them but then I got a new doctor and he cared. I was so surprised by that but there are amazingly kind and caring professionals out there. Don't give up because of those two horrible 'professionals'.

Spot on 100% . .

I went from doctor to doctor, all of which only understood the medication route. They mentioned therapy and other things, but never had time to really discuss alternatives. That's what I have found with many G.P.s its a real swinging door service where they try to get me out of their surgery as quickly as possible. .

On reflection I see how when I was feeling my lowest, I would blame myself if a doctor couldn't "fix" me. In some cases I was holding myself back, but in many regards I was excusing lazy diagnosis/recommendations from the medical profession.

My newest GP (just over 2 years), has been the most successful, empathetic and professional doctor I have ever experienced. The first thing he did was take me off all medication I had been on at the time, mainly cause he wanted to see for himself where I really was emotionally/physically (without medication). .

He sits down and discusses different aspects of my life and has taken the time to learn about my habits (good and bad) and he works with me on what treatment is best. He doesn't just prescribe me things, he explains and discusses the merits of alternative options. And this guy is busy, his waiting room is usually full, he just gives me the time and respect that most GPs (in my experience) fail to do.

I only found my way to this GP by changing doctors until eventually I found him. Nothing changes if you don't change anything . .

0byme75341jo28

Drumpot wrote: »

Spot on 100% . .

I went from doctor to doctor, all of which only understood the medication route. They mentioned therapy and other things, but never had time to really discuss alternatives. That's what I have found with many G.P.s its a real swinging door service where they try to get me out of their surgery as quickly as possible. .

On reflection I see how when I was feeling my lowest, I would blame myself if a doctor couldn't "fix" me. In some cases I was holding myself back, but in many regards I was excusing lazy diagnosis/recommendations from the medical profession.

My newest GP (just over 2 years), has been the most successful, empathetic and professional doctor I have ever experienced. The first thing he did was take me off all medication I had been on at the time, mainly cause he wanted to see for himself where I really was emotionally/physically (without medication). .

He sits down and discusses different aspects of my life and has taken the time to learn about my habits (good and bad) and he works with me on what treatment is best. He doesn't just prescribe me things, he explains and discusses the merits of alternative options. And this guy is busy, his waiting room is usually full, he just gives me the time and respect that most GPs (in my experience) fail to do.

I only found my way to this GP by changing doctors until eventually I found him. Nothing changes if you don't change anything . .

This is how I feel about my GP at the moment, I rarely see him for more than five minutes and even then it's usually just him asking the same questions about mood/sleep/exercise/medication etc. How long would some of ye spend with your GP? I'm just wondering if it's worth changing.

Roquentin

Drumpot wrote: »

Spot on 100% . .

I went from doctor to doctor, all of which only understood the medication route. They mentioned therapy and other things, but never had time to really discuss alternatives. That's what I have found with many G.P.s its a real swinging door service where they try to get me out of their surgery as quickly as possible. .

On reflection I see how when I was feeling my lowest, I would blame myself if a doctor couldn't "fix" me. In some cases I was holding myself back, but in many regards I was excusing lazy diagnosis/recommendations from the medical profession.

My newest GP (just over 2 years), has been the most successful, empathetic and professional doctor I have ever experienced. The first thing he did was take me off all medication I had been on at the time, mainly cause he wanted to see for himself where I really was emotionally/physically (without medication). .

He sits down and discusses different aspects of my life and has taken the time to learn about my habits (good and bad) and he works with me on what treatment is best. He doesn't just prescribe me things, he explains and discusses the merits of alternative options. And this guy is busy, his waiting room is usually full, he just gives me the time and respect that most GPs (in my experience) fail to do.

I only found my way to this GP by changing doctors until eventually I found him. Nothing changes if you don't change anything . .

Gps are notorious for kicking the can down the road. they tend to send you on to someone else.

In fairness though people, they have other patients to see and are trying to run a business. the councilor really is the one that listens. The psychiatrist is the med man. I just use the doctor for getting scripts

Aeternum

Cora Melodic Seed wrote: »

This is how I feel about my GP at the moment, I rarely see him for more than five minutes and even then it's usually just him asking the same questions about mood/sleep/exercise/medication etc. How long would some of ye spend with your GP? I'm just wondering if it's worth changing.

Lately I've been spending minimum 15 mins up to 30 at times. My GP is great, genuinely cares about my wellbeing whih makes me so much more comfortable going to see her.

looking_around

idk how long, would vary, but I never feel rushed , but really I don't expect a gp to.talk about alternative routes, they know meds not counselling. if you want that, just ask for it, don't expect them to guess. and don't expect them to do a job that isn't theirs/they aren't trained for