Discussion How many of us have sought mental health counseling in the past?

[cyanlove]

Did it ever help you, honestly? I was diagnosed with one or two things but none of them were depression. And I'm not sure my diagnoses were correct, anyway.

 

[BigG91]

Did it ever help you, honestly? I was diagnosed with one or two things but none of them were depression. And I'm not sure my diagnoses were correct, anyway.

It usually depends on your condition or diagnosis because most mental illnesses are not curable but manageable/treatable.... I've just been to psychiatrists and Psych Wards many times ...

 

[cyanlove]

@BigG91 Were those voluntary psych visits?

 

[BigG91]

@BigG91 Were those voluntary psych visits?

Obviously not voluntary i was taken there and admitted for minimum a month ...

 

[CommitSudoku]

I can't say I've properly sought out or tried counseling, I talked to a therapist and have been part of some studies on depression though. I haven't found them to help since I don't go through with any 'advice' given. I'm in a research study right now that I downloaded an app for, and it just tells me to reach out to my emergency contact since I always answer their surveys saying I feel suicidal. I didn't even give an emergency contact though. The time with the therapist she was nice but I don't feel I properly opened up, nor did she or the other guy I talked to really look in to pushing me to do anything. I literally listed cutting as a way to cope when dealing with suicidal thoughts and I don't think they caught that. So I guess having the right mindset to want to help yourself maybe comes in to play, I haven't so I haven't properly tried therapy. It's nice to have people to listen and be open about thoughts/plans with, but I feel this site lets me do that more than I could ever be around a therapist, I'd just have anxiety from having to speak/be seen anyways.

 

[veryhappyhuman]

Tried it and was utterly useless. This guy was supposed to be the best psych in my city and I went to him with high hopes. He charged an absolute bomb (my entire monthly salary would've run out after about 12 sessions), diagnosed major clinical depression and gave me some meds which did nothing except give me weird hallucinations and increased weight. So I stopped them. He didn't have anything else except generic advice (gymming, meditation, shit I've already tried) after that so I stopped going to him. The only helpful aspect of therapy was the whole "talking to someone about my problems" which did help but only very briefly. I'd feel free for a day after a session but then back to hell.

 

[houseofleaves]

I'm in counseling and i visit psychiatrist. I was diagnosed with mixed anxiety and depressive disorder; stopped taking my meds recently, but i can say that they definitely helped me, i feel so much happier and calmer now (have been taking antidepressants and antipsychotics for a while)

 

[deathbydragon]

Got referred to some phone counseling service in the past. Was mostly empty platitudes. Fixed vs Growth mindset, hey stop thinking the world is so bad, it's only bad because you think it is, etc.

 

[symphony]

I've been in counseling continuously for several years including intensive treatments like residential therapy. I'm currently in an intensive outpatient program where I receive one hour of individual and several hours of group therapy each week. I'll share my own experience, but be aware that the plural of anecdote is not data, so take what I say here with a grain of salt. My experience is not everyone's experience or even necessarily a normative experience and may significantly differ from yours if you did pursue counseling.

Anyways, I would say that yes, it does help, but no, it does not help enough. I've gradually gained more insight into my struggles and more skills to better cope with them. Having a safe environment to process things and receive support is a great comfort. But it hasn't been life-changing. Despite all that treatment, I'm more depressed now than ever. It may help me get by day to day, sure, but it has yet to make my life any more bearable or worth living in general and won't help prevent my coming suicide.

Even now as I intend to CTB as soon as I am able, I continue in counseling not because I hope to achieve recovery but because it helps me meet my goal of staying alive until I can act on my plan.

 

[twilightfairy]

I've been in and out of therapy for about 25+ years and have tried every treatment and medication. Nothing has helped. I've given up hope that it can get any better.

 

[CountOfTuscany]

Did it ever help you, honestly? I was diagnosed with one or two things but none of them were depression. And I'm not sure my diagnoses were correct, anyway.

I had a therapist for a couple months, but I'd say he wasn't very helpful. Frankly, there wasn't much he could have done. I was never going to "think my way out of" years of "depression".

I saw a psychiatrist a few weeks ago, and she was quite helpful. She was able to figure out that I actually had bipolar 2 instead of depression (my doctor was wrong) and put me on the right medicine (Lithium). I still feel more or less the same, but at least I have some hope that the Lithium might start doing something soon.

 

[yonina]

I've been in and out of the mental health system since i was a teenager. Some of this treatment was voluntary, some of it wasn't. None of it has done anything for me besides put a strain on my financials. Not to mention I have permanent neurological damage from irresponsibly prescribed medication cocktails. Idk. It's just tiring at this point to think about trying again.

 

[Starryeyes]

Did 7 hours of CBT before quitting. Just felt like a piece of shit listening to some of the stuff the therapist said

 

[sealbabies]

Just another place I have to lie. Tried the truth... ends in horrible ways in my experience.

 

[watermelonsugaré]

I've had three psyches, 2 private and 1 free from the state as well as a few visits to the ER psyche. Medication definitely helped me.
I've had a few hours with a psychologist here and there and that seemed to help as well with my social anxiety

 

[I need peace]

I've been through many psychiatrists and psychologists, some were helpful, some not
my current psychologist has been really helpful and good to me, but I think she showed up too late in my life, now the problem is that I'm not coping with the treatment

 

[ornitier199]

Yep and nope.

 

[GentleJerk]

I have a double diploma of counseling, with education and training in psychotherapy- so I find it difficult being in the other chair. I know how the sausage is made, so to speak.

 

[ornitier199]

Mainly because counseling doesn't bring about tangible results. It doesn't fix the root problem with actions, instead masks it with medications and money sent to their pocket. Profiting off the struggling, the hurt.
You can talk up a storm hours - 24/7 in these sessions about XYZ all you want, it's not going to do anything without the tangible action. And every scale weighs differently.
Then there's the placebo of it, fake like it is something, doing something to be like the rest of the general crowd as society. Or realize the truth and dare to be different.

 

[Sarros]

It was my understanding that mental health counseling would help if you were receptive to the idea of wanting and putting in the work to improve your life so to speak. I don't have any of that and it sounds exhausting so I haven't and I don't plan on seeking counseling. But do correct me if I have the wrong idea of it.

 

[ornitier199]

It was my understanding that mental health counseling would help if you were receptive to the idea of wanting and putting in the work to improve your life so to speak.

By talking.

"Then go talk to a wall."
-Squall

The differences aren't too far off.
Rather than waste that money; only get paid 5 Gil SeeD salary.
I've gotten more real talking feel better, to improve from both the wall and Ryan for free, than I had in 3 years of counselling.
But it takes time to get to see the reality, I get it.

 

[Starryeyes]

It was my understanding that mental health counseling would help if you were receptive to the idea of wanting and putting in the work to improve your life so to speak. I don't have any of that and it sounds exhausting so I haven't and I don't plan on seeking counseling. But do correct me if I have the wrong idea of it.

I was open to the idea of receiving the therapy and putting the work in , but only lasted 7 hours out of 12 before leaving. It was just too tiring. I was putting all my effort into pushing past my comfort zone and socialising, food shopping, swimming etc that I burnt myself out too soon. It's not for the feint hearted