[CF17]

Hi there,

I've been planning to discuss this for a while, but I think that only now I'm finally able to express some deep feelings without fear and reservations. I would like to know what are your thoughts about professionals who struggle(d) with depression and work in the mental health field. Would you feel more connected knowing that someone could relate to your experience or would you doubt their skills, since you know what their weaknesses are, like: "you are just like me, why should I trust you?"

The reason I ask this is because of my own story. I've dealt with a horrible, dark period of depression that basically 'deleted' one full decade of my life; that was a time when I had to find a motive to wake up the next morning, every day. Like many of us, I tried everything in order to survive, until I found what works best for me (everyone is different). Some new behavioral habits as physical exercises and CB therapy gave me a new breath of life, but something was still missing. Depression abruptly took many loved ones away from me, so I realized that perhaps I could fight it back in an effective way: understanding it, learning about it, and making it my career. It is with a great sacrifice that I am pursuing this academic journey, but I'm utterly passionate. I believe that the combination of education, wisdom, and empathy is a set of skills that every professional in the mental health area should have. But there are always some uncertainties about how will it be seeing people in the same gloomy place that I'd been before and how will they react towards me. I guess the only sure thing is that I will never give up on this dream.
I'd love to hear some honest opinions about it.

Be Well

[marvin_pa]

Just my personal opinion, but I'd trust someone who'd personally experienced depression more readily than someone who hasn't. From what I understand, depression isn't that uncommon within the medical profession, but there are some things that I'd be way of. First off, that empathy could be very hard on you - you might be a better doc, but it might also burn you out. The second thing is that having it known that you've been affected by a mental disorder can hold you back professionally (despite what HR might tell you) - you may want to be discreet about that.

[magicalprince]

In my mind it's a difference between "has been there" vs. "is currently there." If a professional were currently suffering from depression, then I wouldn't be interested in seeing them to treat my own depression. However if they had been there and genuinely managed to recover, then I would think that would actually make them a more appealing choice because they had personal experience with actually solving that problem.

[CF17]

Originally Posted by marvin_pa

Just my personal opinion, but I'd trust someone who'd personally experienced depression more readily than someone who hasn't. From what I understand, depression isn't that uncommon within the medical profession, but there are some things that I'd be way of. First off, that empathy could be very hard on you - you might be a better doc, but it might also burn you out. The second thing is that having it known that you've been affected by a mental disorder can hold you back professionally (despite what HR might tell you) - you may want to be discreet about that.

I appreciate your honesty, and you are absolutely right. Empathy could backfire if not properly managed. You definitely refreshed the ideas that I had in my mind regarding how much one should disclose about personal matters. My peers and educators always encourage me to be quite open about it, but I'll have to reassess this point for my own sake. I still have a long way to go, so learning, correcting mistakes, and hearing are extremely helpful to the process. Thank you for the insightful comment.

[CF17]

Originally Posted by magicalprince

In my mind it's a difference between "has been there" vs. "is currently there." If a professional were currently suffering from depression, then I wouldn't be interested in seeing them to treat my own depression. However if they had been there and genuinely managed to recover, then I would think that would actually make them a more appealing choice because they had personal experience with actually solving that problem.

I understand what you mean, thank you for your opinion. However, when it comes to the "has been" and "is there" part, how could you possibly know and verify this specific information? (that your psychologist is suffering from a mood disorder at that specific moment). On the other hand, perhaps I didn't phrase it correctly, but I actually meant healthy professionals who are able to perform work, not those who are struggling and providing therapy simultaneously. It's not ethical, thus if anyone has his/ her life impaired by symptoms and meet criteria for any illness, this person has to seek for proper treatment before even thinking of treating others.

I personally would be thrilled to receive therapy with someone who 'felt' what I feel, but I also agree that if this person is not well, not much could be offered.
Thank you

[magicalprince]

Originally Posted by CF17

I understand what you mean, thank you for your opinion. However, when it comes to the "has been" and "is there" part, how could you possibly know and verify this specific information? (that your psychologist is suffering from a mood disorder at that specific moment). On the other hand, perhaps I didn't phrase it correctly, but I actually meant healthy professionals who are able to perform work, not those who are struggling and providing therapy simultaneously. It's not ethical, thus if anyone has his/ her life impaired by symptoms and meet criteria for any illness, this person has to seek for proper treatment before even thinking of treating others.

I personally would be thrilled to receive therapy with someone who 'felt' what I feel, but I also agree that if this person is not well, not much could be offered.
Thank you

Well, I'm seeing it as more of a theoretical question because true, I wouldn't have any way of formally knowing. But yes, in the case that they had had the struggle in the past and recovered then I think that's all the more credibility for treating people!

Makes me think of a quote that I remember seeing somewhere just the other day:

"I've never met a strong person with an easy past."

[SparkySmart]

I think you'll have a lot to offer your future clients. You seem very insightful.

That being said, I saw a therapist last year (no longer see one). She was (still is) a very nice person, but in response to everything I said, she responded, "me, too."

"I was just discharged from the hospital."
"Me, too."
"Here's a list of meds I'm taking."
"Yeah, I'm on these, too."
"I'm experiencing some bulllying at work and don't know how to deal with it."
"Me, too."
"Oh. Okay. Hey, are you bipolar, too?"
"I think I might be, because I bought a lot of ribbons on eBay."

It didn't take long for me to suspect that she was as fragile as I was, and, in addition, that she didn't really understand the terrible and costly consequences of bipolar behavior. She didn't spend a lot of time disclosing, but what she did disclose was concerning. I left therapy.

By the way, I applaud your passion to help others and even to ask the questions you pose. I'm glad that your decade of depression is over and that you're looking to make good use of your knowledge and experience.

[CF17]

Originally Posted by SparkySmart

I think you'll have a lot to offer your future clients. You seem very insightful.

That being said, I saw a therapist last year (no longer see one). She was (still is) a very nice person, but in response to everything I said, she responded, "me, too."

"I was just discharged from the hospital."
"Me, too."
"Here's a list of meds I'm taking."
"Yeah, I'm on these, too."
"I'm experiencing some bulllying at work and don't know how to deal with it."
"Me, too."
"Oh. Okay. Hey, are you bipolar, too?"
"I think I might be, because I bought a lot of ribbons on eBay."

It didn't take long for me to suspect that she was as fragile as I was, and, in addition, that she didn't really understand the terrible and costly consequences of bipolar behavior. She didn't spend a lot of time disclosing, but what she did disclose was concerning. I left therapy.

By the way, I applaud your passion to help others and even to ask the questions you pose. I'm glad that your decade of depression is over and that you're looking to make good use of your knowledge and experience.

Oh my, your comment has definitely put a smile on my face and got me really happy. I don't mind constructive criticisms but getting a supportive and encouraging feedback is priceless. Please, never stop doing that, because sometimes just one word may change the course of someone's life, even if you don't know the person.

Nevertheless, I'm quite shocked with your former therapist, mocking bipolar disorder, what?! Even unintentionally, this is really outrageous; I can't even imagine your frustration back then. I also had some therapists in the past that were nice but didn't know how to express themselves appropriately sometimes, and that definitely affected me in a negative way. I believe that words have power, and we should be careful about what we say to each other.

I wish you all the very best, don't give up on finding a professional that you can fully trust. Even though nobody is perfect, a therapist should be in complete synchrony with the patient, which means a good experience with mutual respect and work ethic. And if there are jokes, it should be appropriate and funny indeed .
Once in a while, I go back to my home country and set a random appointment with my good old psychiatrist that helped me years ago. No medications anymore, just conversations and advice. Every minute of this short session is worthy of traveling 4.000 miles to see him. That is the type of professional that I'd love to see more often out there, the ones we sense their passion, sincerity, and integrity right away.

Thank you so much!!!

[Fuzzybear]

Great thread Thanks for this post

(I don't know how I missed it before ... I must have been hibernating

[DubiousEndeavor]

I would prefer to have an effective counselor, irrespective of the labels that society has created. Unfortunately, we are in still in the Dark Ages of mental health. The profession preaches acceptance while silently harboring the stigma. Please don’t let stigma stop you if you can help people.

[Fuzzybear]

Originally Posted by DubiousEndeavor

I would prefer to have an effective counselor, irrespective of the labels that society has created. Unfortunately, we are in still in the Dark Ages of mental health. The profession preaches acceptance while silently harboring the stigma. Please don’t let stigma stop you if you can help people.

I have found a lot of stigma in my forest irl.. I completely agree, please don’t let stigma stop you if you can help people