[LadyShadow]

Have you ever noticed others that are waiting to go see their therapists/psychiatrists? What do you think of them? Do you think they are disturbed, weird or scary? At first I was afraid of the others there.

Also, I have often noticed that when some go to the window to talk to the secretary, they are very loud or are always moving their legs. I think the legs thing is a side effect from medication because I used to do it too, A LOT. I could never sit still.

So what do you think of the others? Do they make you uncomfortable? Or you don't notice them at all?

[content30]

I usually think well of them. I've seen one teen that was definitely quite disturbed and ran back in to talk to my T loudly in the hall. I've seen a husband come out of couples therapy, slam a door, and peel out of the parking lot in his sports car. Other than that, I've had good experiences in the waiting room. I've even chatted with a few people. My T said a couple weeks ago when I last saw her that all of the young, single women clients she has would love each other, and she wishes there was a way for all of us to get together...of course, confidentiality issues...ha! Anyway, the other people do not make me uncomfortable.

I think they are struggling through life just as I am. My pdoc has a very large practice with multiple doctors and therapists, and I can't say I've ever seen behaviors that I found particularly out of the ordinary. Now the hospital is a whole different situation, but by definition, patients who are hospitalized are basically unable to function outpatient, so behaviors are often outside of "normal" there.

[bluemountains]

I don't think of them any differently than I would in any other doctor's office. I see those who need lots of help-I had to request a room change once at the pdoc's office because the people next to me were yelling and cursing so loudly, and by hearing this I felt I was invading their privacy. I also see teenagers at my t's office whose appearances sometimes suggest a need to find a place to fit in, and I am so glad that these children and/or parents are seeking help.
In thinking about it, the pdoc's and t's offices might even be more comfortable because at least you can't catch any sicknesses there.
Bluemountains

[Mapleton]

Originally Posted by 1914sierra

I think they are struggling through life just as I am. My pdoc has a very large practice with multiple doctors and therapists, and I can't say I've ever seen behaviors that I found particularly out of the ordinary. Now the hospital is a whole different situation, but by definition, patients who are hospitalized are basically unable to function outpatient, so behaviors are often outside of "normal" there.

Exactly. Mostly just "normal people", except every now and then you'll see a family talking about their problems in public. It's tough not to get involved and be judgemental then.

The other thing that I find it very difficult to deal with, are loud, uncontrolled younger children in the waiting area. The sound sensation borders on distressing, and I can't shut the noise out. Luckily it doesn't happen too often.

[HealingTimes]

I see my T in her home, so i dont get to sit in a waiting room, but it sounds interesting!

[phaset]

While waiting for my last visit, a couple sat down next to me and all you could smell was weed...

[marcel83]

I don't like them...I would like to have T. all to myself ( I have a lot of syblings so I had to share my parents with them). Besides I think she likes them more than me. I promise myself to do something with that (like jealousy) but that's not so easy to cope with emotions...

[pbutton]

My T sees a lot of children. Generally I see them and it makes me want to punch the person who hurt them. Sometimes when they react to T in childish ways I love it & live vicariously through them. Like when they refuse to say goodbye to him. Cracks me up. His adult clients seem rather boring. Well, other than ME, of course.

My T works more hours than the other Ts in his office, so there is usually no one else there when I go. Once there was a young man who started chatting with me, and ended up telling me about his girlfriend's suicide and he was there for an emergency appointment and then he started weeping. I felt horrible for him and just got him some kleenex and sat and listened. When my T came out, he looked a little shocked and disturbed that I was sitting there with some guy weeping. Other than that, I have never really thought that much about the people in the waiting room on the rare occasions someone is there.

[Miswimmy1]

I don't usually see anyone, because the practice where my t works has only a couple therapists in the office, who see people at different times of the hour. So yeah. But the ones that i do see look perfectly normal. i have gotten used to the ones who are before and after me, and so we just smile and act normal. nothing wierd.

[harvest moon]

I don't get to see them. My T sees clients with no break between, but I wait in a waiting room which is isolated from the entrance, so that I won't see the previous or the next one. He says this way their privacy is protected, since he has clients that are well-known, such as politicians and lawyers etc. Nevertheless, I have seen two of his clients in the elevator (I was going and they where leaving). I always feel jealous of his female clients but not of his male, and dread the moment I'll see a beautiful young woman... Oh yes..

[critterlady]

I don't sit in the waiting room with anyone else because my T is generally the only T in the office. I do see clients on their way out or on my way out. There's one guy that creeps me out, so I never make eye contact with him. Luckily, he's gone for the summer. There's another guy that I'd actually like to get to know. He's always very friendly looking and smiles at me.

Of course, with my track record, the creepy guy is probably a gem and the friendly guy is probably a sociopath.

[scorpiosis37]

My T has her own private practice, so the only clients I've ever seen are the ones right before or after me. She also does not treat more serious cases, so the people I've seen go in and out of her office look like they could just as easily be my work colleagues. In fact, a number of her clients are other professors and grad students at my University, so some of them ARE my colleagues!

[MASIMO]

I rarely see anyone waiting or leaving. When I have I must admit they have all looked or acted strange. Makes me Feel very normal. However I wish he had a separate entrance. I Feel awkward as I want to maintain my anonymity.

[healingme4me]

It depends. The talk therapists I've seen, over the past several years, have small practices. I haven't seen too many people, through the years, in the waiting room. And if I have, they've been coming out, as I've been going in and vice versa.

Pdoc, same office as neurologist. So, seeing people in that waiting room, you don't really know who is there for him and who is there for neurology. One time, waiting for neurology, one gentleman walked by and said, "g-d-it, why does it have to get the young ones?!" ((yeah cancer can be diagnosed there, along with all kinds of illnesses))
Some I feel sad for, they are in pain. Some come with mothers, husbands, etc. Even with MS, to look around, and see others, it places life into another perspective. Even when I am there dealing with my depression/anxiety stuff.

[wotchermuggle]

I usually think......Please don't look at me. Please ignore me and I'll just ignore you. Please don't talk to me.

[1stepatatime]

Usually there may be one other person when I get there, waiting for a different T. I don't really pay too much attention to them. The one that I do pay attention to is this lady who has her appt after me. I know she is waiting for my T. I notice that she looks sort of uncomfortable in her own skin....seems uneasy, I almost always say hey to her but she seems painfully shy,barely mutters hello back. I feel sorry for her.

[adam_k]

I notice people sometimes. I try to figure them out sometimes, out of curiosity. I was sitting in the waiting room and there was this middle aged woman. I was mostly playing on my phone, but I would occasionally glance over and wonder why she was there.

She was sitting down when I walked in. She seemed okay and like she was just waiting without much on her mind. I sat down for a little while and played on my phone. I glanced over and she was starting to relax, she had this look of sadness..hopeless. her posture changed and it was kinda like she was taking off a mask for a second. Then when the therapist called her name, she changed back. She sat upright, smiled.

I guess it reminded me of myself, or maybe I am just projecting my experience onto her. She seemed like she wanted everyone to know she is fine and in control, but underneath it, she was sad about something.

[BonnieJean]

I only ever see the patient before and/or after me. Last week this woman came out and then went back to her door. She was bubbly and cheery and talking with t. I went in for my appointment and immediately felt awful for not being happy like that in t. I couldn't get out what I'd wanted to start with because in contrast to this woman it was dark and unhappy. T asked what was going on and I finally told her how bad I felt compared to how happy this woman was. I want my t to like the time we have together. If other patients are so cheery it makes my time feel too serious and glum. Threw me for a loop.

[WikidPissah]

They never really bothered me much, unless they are loud and laughing or joking. I don't like to converse before appointments, so as long as they don't talk to me it's fine.

I don't think poorly of them in any event.

[tinyrabbit]

My T works from a small therapy centre with several rooms - they seem to time appointments so no two clients every go in or out at the same time and I have the little waiting area to myself before sessions. The only other people I've seen are another therapist, and once I was there for a bit after my session as it ran over and then I went to the bathroom, and I saw the next client.

I was horribly jealous of her, and I think it was less about her seeing my T and more that she just invaded 'my' space. Though I was in hers, by then.

[mandazzle]

When I see my T on Tuesday nights I usually don't see anyone unless it is for an outpatient group and I am friends with most of the girls in it. On Friday mornings I see the day treatment patients come in and I know some of them. The ones that I don't know I am wondering what their story is.

Ex-T worked at a clinic with about a dozen Ts, and they had a largish waiting room where I'd often see other people. The only time I was bothered was when there was a group of psych students there; they were (as was obvious from their loud conversation) going to interview one of the Ts. I found it rather anxiety provoking to have a bunch of 'normal' people there.

Current T has his own office with no waiting room. I sometimes meet his previous client on the stairs, and once or twice have met the next one arriving as I leave, but it's rare. I used to have a woman in her 60s immediately before me, and was rather jealous of her because I realised that T must prefer her to me; now, that slot is a youngish guy who always greets me very cheerfully and sometimes we exchange a few words about the weather. He seems nice, I like meeting him, and have no feelings of jealousy - nor am I curious about his issues, to be honest.

[refika]

Once in a while when I see another client in T's office, I'll think "oh, what are they here for". Then I'll realize how normal they look, like nothing is wrong with them. Then I realize that I probably look the same to them.

I don't like seeing other people in T's waiting room, it makes me uncomfortable like I have to "share" T. Even though I know I do, I feel like seeing others takes me out of the fantasy that T is all mine exclusively.