[Little Jay]

I dont know why I did it. I sat there in front of my psychiatrist and said I felt fine. He was thrilled to hear I said the meds might be finally working. I think maybe I just didn't have the energy to talk about how I felt and I guess I just thought if I can act like im fine that I'll eventually start to believe it myself or... I dont know. I came out and my partner looked at me and said "you just sat there and lied to him. You're not fine at all" but I just told him to shut up. I snapped quite nastily at him which I never like to do. I just felt like saying well if you're that bothered you should have said something. Has anyone else ever done this? I feel like I should sit down and admit I lied and that I just wanted to believe I was okay just for a little bit... I feel like an idiot and have no idea why I said I was fine!

You know this already, but I know I am much better off when I am honest about how I feel. I understand your need to want to be okay but lying to your doctor is not the way to do it. I should probably take my own advice

[Terabithia]

I think sometimes we just don't feel like talking about problems. We want to take a break from them and not face them. Sounds like that was one of those times. I hope your next appointment you will feel comfortable and ready to face them.

[Touch of gray]

I might do the same thing tomorrow - again. I hate to hurt her feelings that she's helping me, I feel like its my fault I feel bed, and I'm afraid of changing meds. Arggghhh

[waterknob1234]

Maybe it's better to rephrase and say "if I think I am going to be fine then at some point I will feel better, but right now I am not exactly there yet." I think sometimes you get to the doctor and in my case I just don't know what to say when I get there because I feel a little intimidated. For this reason I usually bring a list so I don't miss anything. We all do those things that we question ourselves about afterwards. You can't go back and change it so I would not spend too much time fretting over it. Just be more honest about how you really feel the next time you have a visit.

[Silent Void]

I lie by omission. If I told my shrink the complete truth about what goes on in my mind I'd be locked up for thought-crime. I'm not interested in being punished for having a psychotic brain.

I wouldn't feel too guilty. You'll talk when you're good and ready.

[Mustkeepjob32]

I have lied to a psychologist like that before. It's not like I meant to, it just is easier sometimes. But then other times I tell the whole truth and then some, especially if I make a list before hand of things to address.

[Mundane Gryphon]

Sometimes I do the same thing because I'm sick of disappointing my doctor with my failure to respond to medications, and sometimes I do it because I'm tired of feeling like I can't even do something as simple as swallow pills and get better like a normal person. There are also times when I am so depressed and so sick of thinking about it every stinkin' second that I just can't open my mouth far enough to say actual words. When my psychiatrist interprets my grunts as indications that I'm doing all right, I can't muster up enough strength to correct her, and so she labors under a misconception for the next 12 weeks.

In my case, it makes no real difference, because there is nothing left to change in my treatment plan, regardless of how I feel. However, it sounds like you're still trying to find a therapy that is effective for you, so it's important that your provider has an accurate understanding of your well-being. If you find yourself doing the same thing during your next visit, maybe just stop right there and say, "No, that's not really true. I don't feel fine," and then tell him how you're really feeling. You could even call him up after the appointment and tell him that. If he's going to help you feel better, he needs to know the truth about your response to treatment.

[woundedsoul]

OMG, isn't that the truth, though? I sometimes think, how can I have this many things be wrong with me all at once? That's just not right, is it? I mean, there must be something serious wrong with me. So, I have sat there and lied to my therapist also, and told her that I felt great too. I was just so sick of always being so sad all the time. Every time I go to her office, all I do is cry. Really, how much should one person really cry? My husband says that I am completely miserable. Maybe he's right. I don't think so, but who knows. Maybe he does. I'm starting to believe him, he tells me that enough.

[Little Jay]

Thank you so much guys, it's so comforting to know i'm not the only one who does this. I feel like he'll not trust me in future if I admit I lied - like when he asked if i'm actively suicidal and I say no, what if he doesn't trust me so thinks i'm lying and puts me back on the ward? I guess for that reason I don't want to tell him I lied. Next time, I guess I should just be more honest.

[lilypup]

I blurt out all sorts of weird things to my psychiatrist. My husband goes in with me to keep me at least partially honest. Pdocs are used to people lying.

[Blues47]

I could see lying to a doctor if I thought he'd make the wrong decision about treatment otherwise...which does happen. If I really trusted and respected the doctor, or if I'd done no research and had no opinions about treatment I probably wouldn't lie.

[vet83]

Originally Posted by Little Jay

I dont know why I did it. I sat there in front of my psychiatrist and said I felt fine. He was thrilled to hear I said the meds might be finally working. I think maybe I just didn't have the energy to talk about how I felt and I guess I just thought if I can act like im fine that I'll eventually start to believe it myself or... I dont know. I came out and my partner looked at me and said "you just sat there and lied to him. You're not fine at all" but I just told him to shut up. I snapped quite nastily at him which I never like to do. I just felt like saying well if you're that bothered you should have said something. Has anyone else ever done this? I feel like I should sit down and admit I lied and that I just wanted to believe I was okay just for a little bit... I feel like an idiot and have no idea why I said I was fine!

Always tell the truth, you will get nowhere if you don't.

[oliamble]

the less you say, the better. i have learned that the hard way. i got medically discharged from the Army for having told them i had in the pass suffered from depression and that i was feeling bad. this statement opened up a can of warms, lead me to a board overview, no access to weapons, and so on...the less you talk, the better. just tell them you are ok that you are going through a stage in your life that is hard just like everybody else. they always ask these stupid questions "are you hearing voices? do you feel like you want to commit suicide? and so on...been there.

[Silent Void]

The truth does not set you free in this particular world. It can get you locked up for thought-crime.

Be very careful what you tell these people.

[Little Jay]

Thank you all for your replies. I understand what some of you mean about having to be careful what I say. I hate it because it's supposed to be a place where I can open up and get my problems out but instead I have to think through and worry about what I'm going to say and what they are going to think / do if I tell them it all! I feel like I can never tell them everything that goes on inside my head, I feel like there isn't anybody in real life I can truly open up to. Everyone just gets my edited version that is never really as bad as the truth.

[venusss]

Originally Posted by Touch of gray

Sometimes I do the same thing because I'm sick of disappointing my doctor with my failure to respond to medications

It's not your fault Big Pharma didn't come up with **** that actually works for most people and for a long time. You are not disapointing anybody. You didn't fail. The drugs did.

It would be somethign else if you deliberatelly self-sabotaged... but not responding to the treatment is not your fault.

If you had went to restaurant and had allergic reaction to indegrient would you feel you "disappointed" them, or would it be just something that can happen?