[just2b]

I have been thinking about this lately. My IOP psychiatrist had not seen me for a few months, and asked me how things have been? The answer wasnt surprising in any way, "soso, up and down, okay, fine". Now Monday the 14th, I am going to see my psychiatrist and havent seen her for 6 weeks. I have been wondering how I am going to answer the million dollar question, "So tell me how you have been?" I am at a loss for words usually, but come up with numb, depressed, okay, soso, or whatever. Then when I leave her office, I usually regret saying anything I said because I feel it to be a lie. Then after thinking about this even further, I have come to the realization that I often feel like I am lying about how I feel and how I am doing. Even in this moment, I have really truly no idea what my mood would be cateogorized as. Blah, unreal, fake, totally not sure. I feel as though I am not sitting here typing this but it is obvious that I am. It will play back in my mind like a dream. Fuzzy and sketchy. ....what I just said...will come back to bite me in the ***. I am now wondering how much of my memories are just that fuzzy and sketchy! Anyone following me!?!?! I just wanted to express this...I got the idea to write this after I read the post ...Is this depersonalization, and related in a way. I think. LOL.

[pegasus]

I used to hate that question --------- because how the h do I know what everyone feels like! No idea, so I do know what you mean. Eventually you do get to the stage where you find out that X feels like this and Y feels like that but the host holds it all together for as long asd possible and that's why the feelings are hard to identify. Maybe if you can write down your feelings and show the psychiatrist so that he/she can get a better picture.

[browneyed tx girl]

The "should have, could have and would have" game we all suffer from. I get soooo tired of being asked those things as well. Face it, they ask, but do they REALLY care? They ask, but do they REALLY want to hear it ALL? They ask, but probably don't have the time it will take for you to tell them ALL about it! And if the person has been on any part of your journey with you, you think they are sick of hearing it. I call it "Auto Reply". For me it is the result of being expected to give answers to questions I don't really understand and doubt the person cares. It is the result from being trained to put my feelings and thoughts on the back burner. It is the result of not finding the right way to put things for someone to understand or no one taking the time to understand and my building frustrations. I started keeping a journal and walked into T session one day and when she asked how I have been since our last talk, I handed it to her and said, this will explain it. I still use a journal. When I have a big issue that involves a single subject or person, I either start a new journal or use dividers to keep it from getting jumbled with other things. Writing really helps me get it out and if I want to share it with someone, they can very clearly see it all. Hope you find some help in this and can start getting out of the grey area. By posting here, you have made your first step.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by just2b

I have been thinking about this lately. My IOP psychiatrist had not seen me for a few months, and asked me how things have been? The answer wasnt surprising in any way, "soso, up and down, okay, fine". Now Monday the 14th, I am going to see my psychiatrist and havent seen her for 6 weeks. I have been wondering how I am going to answer the million dollar question, "So tell me how you have been?" I am at a loss for words usually, but come up with numb, depressed, okay, soso, or whatever. Then when I leave her office, I usually regret saying anything I said because I feel it to be a lie. Then after thinking about this even further, I have come to the realization that I often feel like I am lying about how I feel and how I am doing. Even in this moment, I have really truly no idea what my mood would be cateogorized as. Blah, unreal, fake, totally not sure. I feel as though I am not sitting here typing this but it is obvious that I am. It will play back in my mind like a dream. Fuzzy and sketchy. ....what I just said...will come back to bite me in the ***. I am now wondering how much of my memories are just that fuzzy and sketchy! Anyone following me!?!?! I just wanted to express this...I got the idea to write this after I read the post ...Is this depersonalization, and related in a way. I think. LOL.

lol my treatment providers have all learned to not ask me such a loaded question like how have you been. my alters and I got so tired of hearing those kinds of questions. the result of our irritation and fatigue with these questions was our keeping daily detailed and I mean detailed right down to what time we answered natures call, what we saw what we heard. we even put in their our thoughts about people we were encountering during our days.

we would then walk in carrying a load of journals. when they asked how have we been the answer was handing over these journals and stating here you go, this will answer your question, now if you want to know how I am today that I can just tell you. It took my therapist three months to work her way through 15 300 page journals. and never again asked me such a broad ended question.

now she says hi hows your day going.

[just2b]

Well it happened, she asked the damn question like Update me on things, wtf did you just say? Its been 6 weeks and you want to know why I cut and drank, yet your gonna corrolate them together and say what was going thru your mind? First of all it was seprate occassions, read the damn notes and if it aint in there correctly then damn social worker needs to keep notes!
Needless to say I am pissed off. I walked out on my appointment and said I guess i dont need treatment. Little does she know it is with her I dont need the damn treatment with! Thats my damn update for you, ***** of a psychaitrist!

[possum220]

I know that when I see my T he is are going to want to know how I have been. If I havent written things down I am lost for something to say. So I find it most helpful to write things down as I am experiencing them. Then we can talk about it.

now if i'm asked, i just don't anser.

i used to... and the anser would be, well- it's not really my problem is it.

so now when someone asks me, i just don't respond

they arn't really interested, so..

and it's no point saying you're fine and good- if that's not the case

[avlady]

I don't know why you people on here don't get a therapist along with the doctors, is this true? you only see your doctor every 3 months, i know i do to, but I have a therapist that comes to my home because of transportation problems on my part once a month. Maybe i'm just lucky or sick so they do it.avlady

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by avlady

I don't know why you people on here don't get a therapist along with the doctors, is this true? you only see your doctor every 3 months, i know i do to, but I have a therapist that comes to my home because of transportation problems on my part once a month. Maybe i'm just lucky or sick so they do it.avlady

reasons why some people on here dont get a therapist...

some locations do not have a mental health system

some people dont have the finances to see treatment providers (theraipsts, doctors, psychiatrists...),

most mental health agencies do not send their treatment providers door to door style, when the person cant make in in to see their treatment providers.

some insurance plans dont include mental /physical health coverage so the person isnt financially able to have a doctor or mental health providers.

some people dont see therapists or doctors because it goes against their religion, cultural rules.their religion/culture believes in their higher power for healing health issues..

some locations do not have a transportation system.

some locations have a health system where it isnt a person's choice to see a doctor or therapist. the person goes in, gets evaluated and then a treatment provider tells the person whether they qualify for getting a therapist or doctor.

some health systems and insurance plans put a limit on how many sessions a person can have a therapist or doctor treating them. reach that limit you dont get to see a therapist or doctor.

there are many different reasons why a person is unable to see a therapist or doctor.

[possum220]

I don't know why you people on here don't get a therapist along with the doctors, is this true? you only see your doctor every 3 months, i know i do to, but I have a therapist that comes to my home because of transportation problems on my part once a month. Maybe i'm just lucky or sick so they do it.avlady Today 01:59 AM

Dear avlady, It would seem that you are extremely fortunate to have some-one do home visits. For many the costs can be extremely prohibitive.
Please dont generalise and say that we see a doctor every three months. Each person does things differently. Personally I see my psychiatrist every week (He is also a counsellor and a good one at that). I live in Australia so out medicare system is different to yours. Though its not cheap. My GP is run off his feet dealing with medical issues, so no time for the mental stuff.

Shattered Sanity - Some people just ask how another person is, not really expecting and answer. So for me I will give them a short answer so the conversation can move onto other topics.