So I've seen several doctors and counsellor over the passed few years and they haven't helped. They have made me more aware of what I'm doing but it's having such a negative effect on my mind and life. My newest counsellor wants me to get checked out of bipolar even though he doubt I have it. I just want to leave the sessions and forget everything and deal with it on my own, or atleast try to.
I'm not sure what to do. Has anyone else had this problem? And what did you do?
Hi Pandora,
Dash is right- a basic pros and cons list: currently what do you gain from therapy and what is the benefit of leaving.
As for diagnosis, it is really hard- I have been diagnosed with bipolar for over 10 years, but I have had a psychiatrist say they disagreed with that diagnosis- but their team was responsible for maintaining the regimen that had kept me well for several years already.
Having a diagnosis can both work for and against you in terms of treatment- but your actual needs are unique.
What do you want from therapy? Or what are your goals for life?
For example, I went on meds because talking therapy was not working fast enough to get over my depression and help me with my studies. I never wanted a diagnosis of bipolar or expected to be on meds so long.
Then my goals changed and I wanted to deal with my family, and then my job. Later with a death in my family and a new job. I have stopped my talking therapies, because I can see and feel the improvements my doctors pointed out to me finally. I see my psychiatrist to monitor my meds etc. But I may start back when I have new goal that I need help with.
By the way, my psychiatrist has been with me for that same 10+ years. I have had times where I do not see them as regularly..........but I never quit. I am not going to quit me- and they don't quit me. You stated that you are more aware of what you are doing- that is improvement! Small but soooo important! After this period of time, I still get depressed when layers are peeled back that make me feel more vulnerable- at the same time, I have to be confident that I am getting better. Trusting your therapist/ doctor is fundamental.
You have to push through the feelings of frustration. Give it a timeline like 1-3 months and then re evaluate regularly- set goals with your therapist/ doctor and work on them together. Then if you do not see the improvements you want, plan a new option- changing therapist. But "going it alone" does not mean being unsupported. It is okay to have help.
~Happy tomatoes together we will be~
You say toe- may- toe, I say toe- mah- toe:
Let's call the whole thing- red
“It’s time to lead the third revolution, which is not to say we want to be at the top of the world, but to say we want to change the world. Because the way the world has been designed by men is not working. It’s not working for women, it’s not working for men,
it’s not working for polar bears.” Arianna Huffington 2014
I actually had the same problem I believe. I have seen a hand full of different therapists over the years and they didn't help. The one that I see now I was wanting to drop her because she wasn't helping, just making me feel worse! But the thing is that that's when the therapy is really beginning sometimes. Vulnerability is present and it's extremely uncomfortable yet when you pass that little patch of awkward, unhappy, discomfort, then the therapy might really start kicking in. If you therapist is being judgmental, mean, rude, etc. that's different. Butif they are just approaching things in a way that isn't for you, talk to them! They really want to help.
I had this problem with both psychs and therapists. For me I ultimately learned therapy wasn't going to help me. My problems were chemical and what I really needed was just a correct diagnosis, not therapy or the incorrect medication I was being given at the time. And for me, choosing to walk away from the treatment I was being offered actually was the best decision I ever made. But like said, it all depends on your situation and your reasons for questioning your treatment.
Pros and cons lists are very good. Also perhaps looking at if its the therapy/treatment itself that seems to be making things worse/not helping, or if there are other mitigating factors (i.e. personality conflicts with professionals, life stresses, etc). If its that you don't like your particular therapist, then maybe you need to find a different one. But if it's that multiple therapies have had no effect or are already things you know and do despite you having no issue with the therapist themself, then therapy might not be appropriate for you. Perhaps also think of yourself before you started therapy. Is that a point that is better than now? If not, what would make it different this time? What symptoms are you hoping to get better as of this moment? Are those symptoms affected by your treatment one way or the other? If you leave treatment, are you going to address those symptoms in another way or are you ok with them staying as they currently are? Make sure to ask yourself a lot of hard but important questions. Like someone said, think about what you hope to achieve by leaving opposed to staying, and assess whether that is realistic/rational and then do what makes the most sense long term rather than what feels the best in the moment.
So yeah, that's completely something you have to decide; you could also talk to perhaps a close friend/family member if you can to see what their take is. Therapy/medication really doesn't help everybody, but it can also be more helpful than you realize. So overall trying to look at it as realistically as possible I think is the best route, because no one on here will be able to know whether or not it's better for you to stay or leave.
Stereotypes are the epitome of human laziness.
- me
Thanks for the replies.
I really want to try some meds but nobody would agree because of my history of overdosing.
I do want to get better but a lot of the time I just don't have the strength to not damage myself. I often torn between doing well at college and aiming to be a vet and trying not to ruin and destroy my life.
My counsellor is nice enough, I just get angry at him for little reason, it like it with most of the people in my life so I try to keep them at a distance more for their sake than mine.
I think from the questions that have been suggested to think about I should prob stay in therapy, just got to hope it starts to help some time soon :/
