Thinking about seeing a psychologist

[rr5025]

I'm just curious about this one. Why should he seek a Christian? There's other belief systems out there ya know...

[oniman7]

Originally Posted by rr5025

I'm just curious about this one. Why should he seek a Christian? There's other belief systems out there ya know...

Logically, as the majority of religious people (at least in my country) are Christian, more people statistically have been worked out of similar circumstances through the most popular religion, so we're more likely to hear anecdotal evidence from them than, say, a Taoist.

Also, if we're looking at statistical evidence of things like effects of religion on mental health, no sane study is going to leave out Christianity.

[scorpionldr]

Originally Posted by oniman7

I've been told many times on the forums that I should go see a therapist. Typically I've disregarded it because if I talk about bad things on the internet, that's all the people see and don't see the good side. I'm 17 and I'm holding out that it may be a hormone thing. However, there are a lot of symptoms that have plagued me for a while.

Since I was 9, if the sun goes down before 7 or 8, it makes me depressed. I told my parents I wasn't feeling right lately and I've been having anxiety about starting to make anything with my music. They informed me that, without fail, this is the time of year every year since I started middle school that I would get anxiety, my school work would start slipping, and my organization goes away.

I also have general anxiety about weird things. I'm afraid of what's known as dissociative/depersonalization disorder. Part of me thinks it's easy to diagnose yourself with wikipedia. But I often times will feel like I've snapped back into consciousness. I have a hard time recognizing my body as me. Sometimes I'll look in a mirror and get a shock of panic as I can't convince myself the body in the mirror is me. A lot of times I feel like Im watching things going on. When my anxiety becomes more frequent, so does this. I'd say at least a couple times a day I have some form of dissociative event.

My thinking has been fuzzy lately, where I just feel in a fog, as well as my motivation dropping. I don't want to leave the house much and I have very little interest in sex, and I feel myself getting annoyed with my girlfriend with anything more than a minimum amount of affection. It's nothing she (or other people that do it) do wrong, I'm just unable to match that emotion and it's frustrating. I feel myself unexcited by things I should be. I just don't react, either to good things or to things that require a quick reaction sometimes. Other times it's normal, but sometimes I just feel very little about things that should get a reaction from me. My best friend since 9th grade called me on Skype to tell me she was pregnant and I had no better reaction than to look at the webcam and say "huh" as in "how about that".

I see happy things as sad. I see my mom's little dog playing with her toys and rolling around with people and it makes me sad for reasons I can never quite define. My own dog is greying around the mouth and that makes me sad as well. Sometimes it goes even farther. When I was about 15, I used to get atrocious thoughts that I couldn't get out of my head. Babies in car accidents, toddlers falling into ovens, things I never wanted to think about but had no choice. Luckily it's mostly stopped now.

I think the worst of it though, is death anxiety. I'm a deep thinker and I leave absolutely nothing to faith. I like to think I don't do myself the disservice of believing anything that doesn't hold up completely to all questioning, and I'm constantly questioning. I don't believe in any deities. I used to believe that we had a form of energy that would carry our consciousness. Some think our consciousness is a quantum process, but tests show that entangled particles would decohere too quickly for that to be true. Even if it is, what is a consciousness with no brain to process new thoughts, no sensory inputs? Nirvana? Looped memories?

I've come to accept that the best I can hope for is that consciousness is a separate element from the mind (it has to be created somehow, and until we can replicate it, I don't honestly believe chemicals have the power to create it) and that when we die, we'll be stripped of our ego, our thought, maybe even our memories, and simply be on a level we don't understand. But this I doubt. I created a thread about my death anxiety a while ago (Sickening Death Anxiety) but lately have been obsessing over it. I have not stopped thinking about it since I posted that thread.

I don't really know why I'm posting this. I should have been in bed an hour ago but I suddenly got a wave of energy and stress/anxiety over the same old stuff so it feels good to get it out I guess. Maybe some of you in similar boats can share some things?

MAYBE you should just talk to a general counselor and leave any of the psych stuff to people that will actually notice it and identify it better than you can. First way to manifest a problem; thinking there's a problem with you.

Maybe you're just overworked and you can't give a **** about getting your rocks off because it's the first time in a while you've gotten some time to think and then some girl wants to do a bunch of bull**** to you and it's like "uh, go away, this isn't your time". Sorry, it happens.

[oniman7]

That's an odd way of thinking about it. I'm definitely not overworked and it's not just "some girl" but you may have a point somewhere

[acubass]

If you can, go see an acupuncturist, western medicine IMO has a difficult time with this. I'm not talking about the psychologist, you should do that too but a M.D. Might not have much for you but a prescription.

Since you are under 17, your parents will have to go with you.

[EagleMoon]

I've had depression a big portion of my life and found out a lot of it was due to low blood sugar and low thyroid. You might to get yourself checked out and see if there's a physical cause to your problems. You wouldn't think something like that would cause depression and anxiety, but it definitely does.

[arbitrary]

Originally Posted by acubass

If you can, go see an acupuncturist, western medicine IMO has a difficult time with this. I'm not talking about the psychologist, you should do that too but a M.D. Might not have much for you but a prescription.

Since you are under 17, your parents will have to go with you.

a psychologist is not an MD and cannot prescribe medication; a psychiatrist is an MD. Going to talk to a therapist sounds like a wise decision for you (the op).

[Texan]

See a doctor, NOT a person who is going to try to preach religion to you. Once you figure out what is going on medically or psychologically, then talk to a religious person if you are so inclined. Religion will not cure a medical or psychological condition.

[oniman7]

Just to put this out there: As of right now I'm really not interested in medicine. My girlfriend and grandparents are on Zoloft, and from what I've seen it hardly does its job when you take it all right, let alone if something goes wrong. My mom was on it for bipolar tendencies, but has now switched to effexor. While it's balanced her out, the withdrawal is somehow supposed to be worse than heroin. You're supposed to react to medicine the same way as your family does, so I'd really like to stay off of it for now if I can.

I made the distinction between psychologist and therapist because you don't necessarily have to be a psychologist to be a therapist and I want somebody who understands that well.

As I've said before, I'm not going to find my salvation in religion. Thank you to those of you who believe I will (and I do believe that you honestly think it will help me) but I can't just choose to believe and after being to several different churches and even studying a few of my own religions I've found nothing I can actually put faith in.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Getting checked out medically doesn't mean you'll be stuck on anti depressants. As mentioned by EagleMoon, there can be other causes. Stop trying to be a doctor.

You want to talk to someone who knows that you don't need to be a psychologist to be a therapist? Are you just wanting someone to tell you what you want to hear?

Doesn't sound like you really want to find out what is wrong and if there is anything that can be done. Sounds more like you want someone to complain to and go along with you for a while IMHO.

[oniman7]

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

Getting checked out medically doesn't mean you'll be stuck on anti depressants. As mentioned by EagleMoon, there can be other causes. Stop trying to be a doctor.

You want to talk to someone who knows that you don't need to be a psychologist to be a therapist? Are you just wanting someone to tell you what you want to hear?

Doesn't sound like you really want to find out what is wrong and if there is anything that can be done. Sounds more like you want someone to complain to and go along with you for a while IMHO.

No, I think I'm saying what you're saying. I want a psychologist, and a therapist is not intrinsically one, so I wanted to make the distinction.

And I'm simply addressing the other people telling me to get on meds. We'll see what the doctor has to say but I'm not going in with the goal of getting medicated as a way to fix all my problems. That's all I'm saying

[acubass]

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

Getting checked out medically doesn't mean you'll be stuck on anti depressants. As mentioned by EagleMoon, there can be other causes. Stop trying to be a doctor.

You want to talk to someone who knows that you don't need to be a psychologist to be a therapist? Are you just wanting someone to tell you what you want to hear?

Doesn't sound like you really want to find out what is wrong and if there is anything that can be done. Sounds more like you want someone to complain to and go along with you for a while IMHO.

This is harsh and makes many assumptions.

[HolmeBass]

A good friend of mine in college had a serious depersonalization experience, and it was very rough. You may be wrong or right on the self-diagnosis, from my completely inexperienced and distant view, just from what you've said, you may be right.

Seek help. A therapist can help hone in on these issues, but of it is clinical depersonalization then I would accept the reality that you're going to need medicine. You're not going to be able to beat that just with your will anymore than the power of your will would replace chemo if you had cancer. Hopefully it is not that serious and is just depression and seasonal-affected disorder- not to trivialize that as it is pretty serious and certainly painful. But depersonalization can be crippling in the most severe sense of the word.

I wish you good luck and am sending positive vibes. You can own this, manage it, and live with less pain and more joy.

[Sav'nBass]

Originally Posted by Jazz Ad

Christian people would tell you that you're missing Jesus in your life and they'd probably right. The kind of answer you seem to seek is typically provided by religion.
If, as me, you're not into faith, I suggest reading a lot and getting help from a pro soon.

Some Christian folks.. say some.. IMO a lot if the outcome depends on the doctor. Seeing a psychologist can be a good thing though.. it can help you find just what is going on in your head. I saw one for almost a year .. and it helped me immensely.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Originally Posted by acubass

This is harsh and makes many assumptions.

Sometimes a hard dose of reality helps.

He needs to go get professional help and take it from there. End of. There's been enough waffling and on a Bass Forum. Even if fickle "Western Medicine", otherwise known as Modern Medicine, has issues understanding it

[oniman7]

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

Sometimes a hard dose of reality helps.

He needs to go get professional help and take it from there. End of. There's been enough waffling and on a Bass Forum. Even if fickle "Western Medicine", otherwise known as Modern Medicine, has issues understanding it

There's been enough according to who?

Even assuming that you are right and the end-all of that conversation, is there not something to be learned from the discussion itself? Experiences of people in similar situations? Maybe even the mental exercise of thinking about it and having a decent conversation?

I mean, if we can talk about beers and video games and whether or not reality is a simulation by some higher being, isn't there some merit in this too?

I'm sorry if I seem rude, but I just don't understand people who come in with their opinion (whether it be right or wrong) and then try to shut everybody else down. I thank you for your advice. Is it not as valuable coming from someone else that it's worth discussing?

To everybody else, thank you for the advice and well wishes. Perhaps somebody will find this thread in a couple years and be able to read through these responses.

[acubass]

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

Sometimes a hard dose of reality helps.

He needs to go get professional help and take it from there. End of. There's been enough waffling and on a Bass Forum. Even if fickle "Western Medicine", otherwise known as Modern Medicine, has issues understanding it

Doesn't change the fact you are being inconsiderate to someone's kid from behind your CPU.

[AaronMB]

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

Sometimes a hard dose of reality helps.

He needs to go get professional help and take it from there. End of. There's been enough waffling and on a Bass Forum. Even if fickle "Western Medicine", otherwise known as Modern Medicine, has issues understanding it

Yes. Seemingly harsh. But I think I agree, now (after doing some other reading).

Originally Posted by oniman7

There's been enough according to who?

Even assuming that you are right and the end-all of that conversation, is there not something to be learned from the discussion itself? Experiences of people in similar situations? Maybe even the mental exercise of thinking about it and having a decent conversation?

I mean, if we can talk about beers and video games and whether or not reality is a simulation by some higher being, isn't there some merit in this too?

I'm sorry if I seem rude, but I just don't understand people who come in with their opinion (whether it be right or wrong) and then try to shut everybody else down. I thank you for your advice. Is it not as valuable coming from someone else that it's worth discussing?

To everybody else, thank you for the advice and well wishes. Perhaps somebody will find this thread in a couple years and be able to read through these responses.

It's good to talk things out, ask questions, seek help. But there is only so much an internet bass forum--and its phantasmagoria of peoples' unqualified experiences and opinions that can't really (no not really)--do...

No offense, but I think some of this "bluntness" from other posters comes from simple truth, coupled with your previous posts/threads (and their irritation thereof): you either need professional help, you're an attention seeker, or both. Continuing to press on here as you are is...interesting (for lack of a better word and lack of desire to further offend). Anything more is speculation and/or mental (ahem..cough) exercise.

Best Wishes, brother. Do what you need to do for you and your family.

[oniman7]

I have too much time on my hands, not enough to do with it. I type this every so often as I hit a wall with the song I'm writing on guitar, and it gives me a break from that mental exercise. I like to talk about things and this is an interesting topic. Probably partially because I'm biased and just because there's a lot to talk about. I don't read too much into it. It's not about the attention because I don't know anybody here and most of the people I do know that could give me attention know very little about these problems, or know only of their existence and I don't bring it up much. I wouldn't limit the assumptions to that: I simply like to discuss and I'm glad Talkbass allows me a place to do that. That's why I have over 2,000 posts in the last couple years

After a certain point, although I like to keep conversations going, I know that what's said by strangers on a forum doesn't have a lot of effect. But I do like hearing other peoples' experiences.

Plus there's the fact that when I'm not sure what to say, I say all of it, resulting in posts like this :P Thank you for the well wishes and for taking the time to share your opinion with me.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Originally Posted by acubass

Doesn't change the fact you are being inconsiderate to someone's kid from behind your CPU.

Being inconsiderate? Being blunt, maybe, but there has clearly been enough beating around the bush.

I'm saying he should get help and stop fannying around with it, he needs to get on with it.

Though maybe he should do more talking to his parents too, less looking for answers from strangers.