I am not coping tremendously well at the moment. I am cutting again, and going through a very down patch - One which was not helped by a Social Anxiety related panic attack yesterday.
Anyway - I have phoned to make an appointment with my Dr, and will see them Monday, but am still undecided about whether to request a referral to a psychiatrist. Myself, and people who know me and see my moods agree that I am most likely Bi-polar of some sort... but I do not yet have a formal diagnosis of this. Going to see the psychiatrist would answer those questions.
However, the last I went to see a counsellor she warned against going, although also agreeing I most likely am... as she said that they will just put me on meds and send me away or worse.
So, I am scared. Frightened and finding the thought of drinking plenty of Tia Maria, cutting, taking pills and generally trying to ignore the urge to buy x (random, I know) feels better somehow.
Any thoughts or suggestions would be well received. I am too torn to think straight right now.
Roiben
Last edited by Puppet Strings : 24-09-2008 at 06:13 PM.
Reason: Removed the name of something harmful - potentiallly tipsharing, x
If the Human brain were so simple that we could understand it, we would be so simple that we wouldn't.
Your counselor doesnt sound very professional to me . Yes a psychiatrist can give you meds but they will only do so if they think it will help, and they very rarely send you away without support. They can give you a concrete diagnosis as well, which will allow you to get more support of the right type *hugs* its a hard decision to make but i;m sure you'll manage
Psychiatrists are simply medical doctors that specialise in medical illness. Really its just like being referred to an oncologist if you have cancer, or a neurologist if you have recurrent migraine. The advntage of it is they will have much more specialist knowledge about treatments and medications than your GP and be able to access different kinds of help. Some people with anxiety find the medications can really make a difference to them. The worst that can really happen is that they dont do any thing which is exceedingly unlikely and if that is the case, then you've not really gained or lost any thing. I would definately say you should go see them. You'll only know if you try and it could really help!
The psychiatrist may well want to discuss medication with you- thats what they are specially trained in. But they will also listen to you and even if thats what they recommend, they cant force you to follow their advice.
Your counsellor shouldn't be frightening you by saying the psychiatrist will only stick you on meds or send you away.
I think you should see a psychiatrist to fully understand what's going on with you right now. Only a psychiatrist can diagnose you, and whilst you are fairly sure you have bipolar, the psychiatrist might say you have something else which is similar. Then you can get the proper help you need.
A psychiatrist may put you on medication, but you can always say no if you don't want it. As for "sending you away", going into hospital is only a last resort for the safety of a patient. To be honest, I would imagine you would be more at risk from going into hospital if you didn't have the support from a psychiatrist right now.
Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes but when you look back, everything is different…
you once called your brain a hard drive, well say hello to the virus.
Depends all on the psychiatrist you'll be seeing, I guess. And since you aren't forced to go see one you can always decide to walk out if you don't like how things are going.
Depends all on the psychiatrist you'll be seeing, I guess. And since you aren't forced to go see one you can always decide to walk out if you don't like how things are going.
Marte
Marte, I did just that recently. I was "assigned" a psychiatrist by my HMO. He asked me how my "sex life" was after being on zoloft for 2 months. I told him it was poor, but that it was poor even before the zoloft, as my husband and I have a really messed up relationship. He suggested I just "plan sex". Just have sex at regularly scheduled times, and get back into the "routine" of a "normal" sex life. I was so upset, I just walked out. You can always walk out. Unless you are threatening to kill someone, they won't follow you out the door.
AS others have said really all they do is diagnose and give you drugs...but then again meds could help you. Bear in mind if you're under 18 they don't like to diagnose mental illness except in extreme cases, especially not bi -polar, but what do I know, it might be very clear that's what you have, I would go for it if I were you
Let the Force be with you
I'm not short, I'm space efficient
I don't think your counselor was very professional about handling this either. As has been said above, psychiatrists are trained in how to best treat people using both medication and therapy. Having a consult with a psych wouldn't hurt things, and he may be able to recommend a treatment plan for you. Someone has already mentioned that doctors generally don't diagnose people under the age of 18, but that doesn't mean they won't help treat you.
JuliaNJ - I don't want to hijack this thread, but what your doctor said to you is actually pretty common recommendation for reigniting a sexual relationship with a partner.
Well it breaks my heart to see you this way,
The beauty in life, where's it gone?
And somebody told me you were doing okay,
Somehow I guess they were wrong.
I think you should see about getting a refferal. The medication that the psych may offer doesn't have to be prescribed if you don't want it to be and I also think it's highly unlikely that you would be "sent away". It would be good to get a psychiatrists opinion i would have thought rather than for you to carry on just wondering or assuming that you are bipolar.
