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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by med_empowered on May 1, 2007, at 3:31:10
So a little over 2 years ago I went to a T who misdiagnosed me with "schizophrenia". I know it was a misdiagnosis b/c after 2 months I stopped taking neuroleptics, went to a psychiatrist, and she quietly admitted that it was probably some bipolar variant. Fun.
Anyway, I've been stressed and depressed and it affected my school work, so I made an appointment with a new T--for the first time in over 2 years--who just happens to work at the same practice as the old one. I didn't go.
My reasons: 1) I kind of doubt in a small town, small office setting that my history would be all that private, so I'd have to bring up the old T's records, some of which contained outright lies (example: patient had a head injury that may explain some symptoms. Problem with that? I've never had a serious head injury--not even a concussion).
2) Over the past 2 years, I've stopped being a patient. I just can't believe anymore that anyone, no matter what their credentials, could know more about my life than I do, or have some special insight into my existence that my friends lack. If I didn't have friends, or if my friends sucked or were inaccessible, maybe I'd go but..I have only a few friends, but they're good friends, solid friends. i don't feel like I need to pay someone to listen to my problems.
3) I don't believe I have a mental illness. 2 years of med-free living have been kind of rough, but well worth it. I now firmly believe that a lot of our problems aren't even *ours* alone, but largely the result of external factors that have internal consequences. That said, I'm all for meds--if they're actually helping.
4) I just couldn't do it. I just couldn't walk into the place where I had been mis-labelled and treated like nothing (for a fee, mind you) and say "hey, I need some help." NO. NO. NO. It just wasn't going to happen.So...instead of going to therapy, I hung out with my friend. I agonized about going/not going, and asked her about it, and when she responded I thought: do I really need an expert, after all?
Then I went out for drinks.Did I do the right thing? Mostly, I feel liberated; I feel like I've taken a stand (by not doing anything, oddly enough) and maintained my independence. But then..therapy can help, right? But so do friendships.
Sigh.
What do you all think?
((Thanks for reading this))
Posted by Declan on May 1, 2007, at 6:00:08
In reply to I said no to therapy..., posted by med_empowered on May 1, 2007, at 3:31:10
I thought that therapy could be really amazing but was never sure how therapeutic it was.
I would perhaps have got more out of it if I had known how to look after myself, so I would have been healthier, so I could have profited more from it.But if you were to actually benefit from therapy it would perhaps be because you found your T actually did see things about you that were new to you.
Did you do the wrong thing? No, I don't think so.
Posted by gazo on May 1, 2007, at 6:34:11
In reply to I said no to therapy..., posted by med_empowered on May 1, 2007, at 3:31:10
it sounds awful what that other therapist did.. and many of us can share equal horror stories.
therapy is something that you should only do if you really feel you should do it. So if that isn't what you feel you should do then you made the right decision. Don't feel it's for everyone either. We are all so different.
i was the same at one point.. didn't see any benefit to me. Then life changed and i couldn't think my way out of the mess i was in.. and friends could only watch it get worse. i was in a round room with no door and needed someone on the outside to help me find one.
i don't see a T to learn how to do daily stuff, or even to live with my BP.
i also do not think meds every day for life is the right thing for many people. For now it's for me.
and maybe you are one of the lucky people who have been trapped inside fixable probs.. the kind that don't need expert help.. who knows?
i figure if sticking your foot in lime jello works for you then do that. It's all about what works for you.. or me.. or whomever.
i am sorry for the bad experience you had... it must feel bad. If you want to be sure about the mental illness part, read read read. It can't hurt to educate yourself. As much as i agree with people being able to live med free, there is a risk for some.. it could hit hard someday. That is what happened when i went on a three year med vacation.
i hope you find whichever path is right for you.
Posted by Phillipa on May 1, 2007, at 22:45:58
In reply to Re: I said no to therapy... » med_empowered, posted by gazo on May 1, 2007, at 6:34:11
Med there is a website for our area with the name of therapists maybe one in another town. But do you feel the need to talk or have some problem that you can't fix? That's what I'd ask myself. Love Phillipa
Posted by DisTraught on May 3, 2007, at 3:26:05
In reply to I said no to therapy..., posted by med_empowered on May 1, 2007, at 3:31:10
If you're OK with a "no", then it's OK. If not, why not read Young's Reinventing your life and take a closer look. Good luck!
Penny
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