Does a counselor or psychiatrist really help?

[DarkShadow]

I'm strongly leaning toward finally getting a psychiatrist or therapist to talk to. For some reason though I feel anxious at the thought. I'm not even sure if seeing someone would actually be all that helpful to me. I've been trained as a counselor, and have a degree in counseling. I feel like I should be able to handle my issues on my own, and if I can't then what can someone else do for me?

Then there are other times when I feel like if I ever did make my way to a therapist's couch, I would unload a lifetime's worth of junk that has been sitting untouched inside me for years. Maybe that's what I need. To get everything out. Every insecurity, every object of bitterness, every self loathing memory, every secret desire, every struggle and weakness, every failure, every regret, every guilt, every shame, every thing that I have kept inside and haven't revealed to anyone out of fear of rejection. A therapist can't reject you, you're paying them. If they walk away, you can always find another one to unload on and add the first one to your list of things to seek therapy about.

Anyway, I don't know. Maybe some of you can help me. Does seeing a therapist help you? If so how? What have they done that has helped you progress?

[ADHDTigger]

I see a grief therapist. She is also an ADHD specialist. I find that it helps enormously.

As a trained counselor, you are taught to separate yourself from what you are hearing in order to be objective. As the patient, you would be relying on your therapist to do this for you. As you already know, it isn't always easy.

Being able to talk to someone about the things that are hidden away and possibly festering can be a gift. The therapeutic relationship protects you from societal judgement- you can reflect your thoughts freely without fear of rejection or condemnation. The experience can be very powerful.

[little_worlds]

It's also important to think about all the different kinds of therapy that exist. There's medication and traditional talk therapy, but there are also things like cognitive behavioral therapy, and even experimental stuff like hypnosis. Personally, I think I combination of more than one type can be the most beneficial. I think especially for seeing a psychiatrist, medication is helpful, but sometimes can prove to work more to conceal and manage a condition than to treat it!

This is just my opinion, and honestly, I think if you feel like you need to spill your guts, make an appointment! Nobody will force you to go back! Just think about what you want to gain from therapy and maybe pick what kind of therapy or therapies would be best given the goals you have in mind! Best of luck!

[Phayah]

I'm not sure, I hope so! I saw a therapist for a while long before I was diagnosed with ADHD. She made me feel terrible but then again she thought I had an anxiety/depression (moral dilemma) issue.

I want to find someone who specializes in ADHD. I think they probably understand us a bit better.

[nevermore]

Originally Posted by jac79

To get everything out. Every insecurity, every object of bitterness, every self loathing memory, every secret desire, every struggle and weakness, every failure, every regret, every guilt, every shame, every thing that I have kept inside and haven't revealed to anyone out of fear of rejection.

Word of advice: don't expect your therapist to agree with everything you tell him. Expect to be challenged. Expect to be treated with suspicion. And if you are not treated that way, consider yourself lucky.

A therapist can't reject you, you're paying them. If they walk away, you can always find another one to unload on and add the first one to your list of things to seek therapy about.

But the second therapist likely will defend the first therapist, and you will find yourself fighting with the second therapist.

Anyway, I don't know. Maybe some of you can help me. Does seeing a therapist help you? If so how? What have they done that has helped you progress?

A therapist is going to teach you coping strategies. They might or might not work. If you want to get to the source of the problem, try a psychiatrist and see how things go.