I wasn't sure where to put this.
I had an appt. with my psych nurse today, and she lets me email her things when I need. Lately, the past few weeks I'd been going through a rough time due to a break up. I wrote to her way more often during this time. I even went to the hospital (my therapist said I should go) at one point. I do now realize that going to the hospital is for if you're suicidal, and not if you're just, very very depressed or sad and hurt.

Anyway, my nurse asked me today if I thought i was seeking attention. I was disturbed by this question. It made me think she was minimizing the pain I'd been going through. And I felt accused of being an attention seeker. Although, I will admit that I don't want to be so dependent on emailing her and my therapist. I want to find other and better ways to cope with and get through my emotions. I don't want to be so needy, because I know it can have consequences on my relationships. I don't want to complain all the time. So that part helps. But what exactly is attention seeking? I was looking it up, and it seems like people do things on purpose to get attention? Like with the intent of getting attention. I found this: https://nobullying.com/attention-seeking-behavior/ and I don't feel that the examples describe me at all. Though i know it's an article about children.

I think it's good to realize that...I have fallen into a pattern with certain people, where if I'm experiencing something difficult or triggering, i feel I need them to talk about it with. And I don't have a lot of outside friends to do that with right now. But that they are not always around, and I want to be able to self soothe, and tolerate my distress. Regulate my emotions (I know, they're all DBT words). I guess I just really took offense when she asked me if I'm attention seeking. If that is what I'm doing, I'm not trying to. And I'm wanting to change my behavior because it will help me, and my relationships with other people. Whatever the technical term for that behavior is, I don't know.

[leejosepho]

Most human beings seek attention whether feeling good, bad or whatever. I think the extra e-mails and going to the hospital before realizing that was meant only for a certain extreme simply got your nurse to wondering...and in my own opinion, she should have just talked with you a bit and arrived at an informed conclusion of her own rather than asking a confrontational question. So, just keep on doing what you know to do...

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by starrysky

I wasn't sure where to put this.
I had an appt. with my psych nurse today, and she lets me email her things when I need. Lately, the past few weeks I'd been going through a rough time due to a break up. I wrote to her way more often during this time. I even went to the hospital (my therapist said I should go) at one point. I do now realize that going to the hospital is for if you're suicidal, and not if you're just, very very depressed or sad and hurt.

Anyway, my nurse asked me today if I thought i was seeking attention. I was disturbed by this question. It made me think she was minimizing the pain I'd been going through. And I felt accused of being an attention seeker. Although, I will admit that I don't want to be so dependent on emailing her and my therapist. I want to find other and better ways to cope with and get through my emotions. I don't want to be so needy, because I know it can have consequences on my relationships. I don't want to complain all the time. So that part helps. But what exactly is attention seeking? I was looking it up, and it seems like people do things on purpose to get attention? Like with the intent of getting attention. I found this: https://nobullying.com/attention-seeking-behavior/ and I don't feel that the examples describe me at all. Though i know it's an article about children.

I think it's good to realize that...I have fallen into a pattern with certain people, where if I'm experiencing something difficult or triggering, i feel I need them to talk about it with. And I don't have a lot of outside friends to do that with right now. But that they are not always around, and I want to be able to self soothe, and tolerate my distress. Regulate my emotions (I know, they're all DBT words). I guess I just really took offense when she asked me if I'm attention seeking. If that is what I'm doing, I'm not trying to. And I'm wanting to change my behavior because it will help me, and my relationships with other people. Whatever the technical term for that behavior is, I don't know.

I wonder if it was time for her to do your oral assessment. periodically treatment providers have to update their files for mental disorders, treatments and treatment plans. part of this in the USA is the treatment provider asking questions from the assessment panels/ exams when the client does not realize they are being assessed\evaluated. here in my location one of the standard questions on almost every oral evaluation is asking the client\patient if they feel they are attention seeking or have attention seeking behaviors. short version every human being at one point or other does or says something that will get attention from others, sometimes those behaviors, statements of of a negative nature and other times they are of a positive nature. it becomes part of a persons mental issues if attention seeking behaviors\ statements are a way to cope with a persons problems.

example one of my attention seeking behaviors is baking pies for my friends during the holidays. like anyone else I love their reactions, hugs and statements of how good the pies are and they really need my recipe, I dont need their attention or praise but I love it when it happens...

now lets put it in the concept of a mental disorder issue say if I used baking pies as a way to cover the fact that I may be suicidal or extremely depressed and I needed attention from my friends and family but instead of asking someone for a hug and their time I made them a pie this kind of attention seeking is not a good thing because it manipulates my friends into thinking Im ok everything is fine and on track and I want your attention for my pies to help me feel better about myself... see what I mean.

most people do have their times when they do have attention seeking behaviors some self injure for attention, some use suicidal behaviors, some endear their self to their treatment providers, some use their creativity and talents for attention, some ask for attention verbally......

so in my own location when someone on a psych eval or oral questioning by a treatment provider totally denies or totally agrees (with out explaining/ clarifying when they do and when they dont) its sometimes points to mental problems.

my suggestion since it bothered you to be asked this maybe you can talk with your treatment provider about why they asked that and why it offended you. maybe you and your treatment provider can come up with another way to word that question so that it isnt so triggering to you.

[Unrigged64072835]

Well you're going through a rough time and you need some help getting through that. That's not attention seeking. You're not trying to make yourself so important that you demand these people's time, all the time.

[mugwort2]

Yes perhaps she was assessing your behavior. If so she should of been upfront. She sounds pretty sneaky imo. If she wasn't assessing you . to me, she sounds rather insensitive and rude. Couldn't tell how long you've been seeing her. Was this an isolated incident. In the long haul how helpful, understanding is she with you. If you don't feel like telling me that's fine. I respect your decision.

Thank you everyone for your support. I really appreciate it because I was confused. I think the way she communicates sometimes is not the best, but I do like her and I talked to her about how I felt about what she said, and I feel better now. She was pretty much trying to help. And meant what she said in the most constructive way possible she said, lol. She's interesting. But I thank you for you support and validation, people. thank you.