Mental Health Care - Have you ever or would you ever see a therapist?

LynnD said:
I think that's probably one of the biggest problems with mental patients, they don't take their meds for one reason or another.
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These people are unable to take their meds without supervision.. They are just too impaired.. and incapable of that discipline.. The facility I did my psyche rotation in has closed due to budget cuts.. Where is the antena man, or the Star Fish lady? Who knows... probably dead or out on the streets.
 

Usually heavy medication is prescribed for the most severe cases, unfortunately producing the flat lining and often catatonic effects so difficult to endure. Where the illness is less incapacitating, a more moderate drug regimen is predominant, at least here in BC.
 
Shalimar said:
Cookie, there are many levels of pathology in Schizophrenia, as in other mental disorders. Many individuals live independently, pursuing various levels of a semi normal life, providing they take their meds. Only a small number are violent, most tend more towards the shy introverted areas of the spectrum. Of course, it is the extreme cases that one remembers the most vividly.
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Schizophrenia is a disease of thirds.... One third of schizophrenics have a break (ususally in their late teens) and are controlled with medication, and never have another break. The next third is able to function with medication, but continue to have their halucinations. They are capable of dealing with them and knowing that they are not real.. This would be the main charactor in "A Beautiful Mind" that was patterned after Mathematician John Nash.. BUT the bottom third... the very last one third of the bottom one third are the people I have described.. You either medicate them into catatonia, or you let them live in a safe place with their disease. We need to better fund mental health.
 

Thanks everyone for posting on this sensitive topic - it has been very informative.
 
I was a Psychotherapist for 10 years, until I burnt out with a heavy workload, I received a lot of therapy during the 5 years training, and valued the insights it gave me into my own failings.
I came to the conclusion that it could become an indulgence in a lot of cases, but I still feel its very valuable in a crisis situation.

My eldest daughter is a Psychiatric nurse, it must run in the family, but also finds her work stressful and I feel is in danger of burn out at some stage.

I do feel the therapist derives as much value as the client, and I found as I evolved, what I learnt from the last client enabled me to help the next. I seemed to people with issues that I could deal with.

I did have one suicide on my watch, a man who couldn't access his emotions, we talked on the phone but never actually met, I heard from a member of his family that I was the last number he had rang before killing himself. They had no idea he had a problem as he always seemed so balanced. I did feel I had failed him in some way, but the family never blamed me, and though several appointments had been made he always cancelled at the last minute.

One skill I did develop was in dealing with a lot of female abuse cases, I could eventually spot a psychopathic/sociopathic personality.
 
I've heard of many burnouts in that profession, Merlin!

its tough to even leave your thoughts at work, some probably haunt you at night.
 
I believe that is one profession where it is difficult to depersonalize. People in medical specialties have an easier time with that.. it's a balance. How do you maintain enough empathy and personalization to convey compassion to your patients, while at the same time keeping detached enough to protect yourself? I have found it necessary to maintain a level of detachment... or I wouldn't have been effective in my specialty. You simply cannot take it home with you. I think that is why so many in the medical field are addicted to some sort of numbing agent.. alcoholism and drugs.. and most hospitals have programs for impaired professionals.

When I was still doing patient care, I had people come up to me in stores and say hello.. Remember me? You took care of me when I had my heart surgery last month... and I had to pretend.. because I really didn't.. To me, they were a compilation of numbers and another chest incision. If those numbers went haywire, I knew what to do, and how to do it calmly.. It's self preservation. Not possible in the mental health professions... I would imagine you have to interact on a more personal level... that is very stressful.. and burnout more common.
 
For many women who are suffering from mild depression, be aware that our serotonin decreases as we age. My female internist put me on Citalopram HBR 20 MG. It has
helped with my sleep as well. I am still a night owl, though.
 
When I worked at the airline, we would at times have random psychological exams done. Initially, when a pilot goes for his license, he is given a complete mental screening. After that, it is up to the company to decide how and when to check on their pilots. I was checked twice while at the airline and found to have seasonal depression over the holidays. No medication needed, just some good conversation with a therapist and I felt better. I was cleared to fly as I was not considered a risk to myself or others. Why would I be? I just feel sad during the holidays because my family really came together during those times. It was a big deal for all of us. For whatever reason, talking about it to others always made me feel better.

I remember having to fly on one Christmas Eve. We were flying from Salt Lake City to Chicago and I was to stay over-night and fly home Christmas morning. We were somewhere in the Central plains just cruising along at about 40,000 feet and 400+ m.p.h. It was a very clear beautiful night with so many stars and a beautiful moon that lit up the cockpit. I felt so at peace and reflected on one special Christmas day when my Dad and I had been out hunting all morning and we got home late for dinner and my Mom was really pissed at us because we kept everyone else waiting before they could eat. Yeah, that was not funny then, but now it brings a big smile to my face. Stupid stuff, I know.

At the airline, just joking about intentionally crashing a plane would cost a pilot his job. That subject was considered taboo.
 
Schizophrenia came up a few posts back. I've wondered about that with regard to my wife, who will not see a therapist. The reason I
wonder is that she does on occasion report being "touched" by somebody/something. On her shoulder, back, head. She'll talk about
it as if it's simple reality and I'm being mean if I even suggest that she's imagining it and that it's stress or something else she needs
to investigate.

She also hears voices, noises etc that are not apparent to me in reality.

I don't know how far to go with this here. Just thought I'd bring it up as many people out there believe in ghosts, spirits etc and are
not considered mentally ill or in need of therapy.
 
Jerry, it sounds to me like your wife needs to speak with her doctor about this, as it may be something medical. The doctor can proceed from there. Also may I suggest that you might wish to do some reading yourself to learn about schizophrenia and its symptoms.
 
I had to get therapy when my mother had a severe stroke and I was having to deal with an ex husband. It was very helpful for me and I would never hesitate to advise anyone to go if they felt the need. In saying that, there
are differences in therapist. If the one you go to doesn't seem to be the right fit, find another.
 
I agree with Shalimar and Cookie, you need to somehow convince your wife to seek help. Are there any relatives that might be able to help you in this? It could change your lives.
 
Cookie said:
Jerry, it sounds to me like your wife needs to speak with her doctor about this, as it may be something medical. The doctor can proceed from there. Also may I suggest that you might wish to do some reading yourself to learn about schizophrenia and its symptoms.
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Hi Cooke. I can't get any point to my wife about "help." She feels fine about it and has a belief system wrapped around it.

Oh yes, I've been exposed to a lot of info about schizophrenia and other conditions. The reason I brought it up in here
was to run it by others who may be in a similar situation to see how they handled it or are handling it.

I've been in therapy for years as "marriage counseling." I cannot get my wife to go, so early on I decided to just do it
myself. It was a good decision. And I have some other decisions to make at this stage of the game.
 
Kudos, Jerry, for having the courage to embrace your own emotional well being. Good luck in whatever changes/decisions you are contemplating. Don't hesitate to turn to us for support if needed.
 
I have tried seeing a therapist. It never seemed to help all that much. Having been raised by a mother with severe emotional problems and all screaming she did to me as a child, plus the bulling I put up with, it's amazing I've functioned as well as I have.

The last therapist did say something to me that has stuck though: "you have no control over what another person does" I've found that statement very helpful. I've had a tendency in my life to believe I cause what bad happens to me.
 

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