[Call Me Chris]

I've talked about looking into getting help for a long time now. I have said I would numerous times. I've been to the point of giving up off and on for months..and I still put it off.

Tonight, that changed. I finally typed out an email to a local therapist AND hit send. I didn't think I would ever be able to do it. I guess I've just taken the first step. Just hoping I hear back from them now.. Only time will tell.

That's a big step for me though, considering the incredibly anti-social person I've become. I'm.....proud of myself.. It's hard to believe I just said that.

[mazing]

Well done. You really should be proud of yourself. Starting something like this is an amazing step.

I really hope that the therapist can provide you with the assistance you are looking for

[tigerlily84]

I agree, you really should feel proud of yourself. Asking for help is incredibly hard. My (figurative) hat is off to you!

[LadyShadow]

I'm glad you took such a bold step. It's hard asking for help. I'm very proud of you and you should be of yourself too!

Let us know how it goes, and if you hear back from them. I'm sure you will though.

Good job!

[Wren_]

That's great news and that you are acknowledging what a big step it was for you is wonderful to read as well

[missbelle]

I'm glad you did that........we all need help once in a while....

[ECHOES]

I am happy for you! Good for you for staying with the idea until you could feel comfortable enough to search, contact, and hit send! That is courage! I am proud of you too!
You are on your way!

[Call Me Chris]

Thank you for the support.

I haven't heard back from them yet..
Starting to wonder if they even check their e-mail. Ha.

[ECHOES]

Maybe you could call?
Could be the T is on an extended holiday all or part of this week.

[Miswimmy1]

congrats! thats the 1st step in getting help! you should be so proud of yourself

yes, as echoes said, can you call them? if you found them through a website, do they post their hours? cuz some ts only return calls/emails/etc between x and x. or it could be that they are working and just haven't gotten the chance to reply yet? my t usually answers before work the morning or in the evening when she gets home (and occasionally if she has time between clients).

make sure to keep us posted!

[Call Me Chris]

Thank you ECHOES and Miswimmy. I didn't consider the holidays..I jumped to the conclusion that the e-mail I sent sounded stupid.. I forgot what site I sent it off of, but I will see if I can find it again. The problem with calling is that I really hate making phone calls.. but if I can work up the courage, I will call.

The last appointment with my RN is coming up. I was planning on looking into seeing a psychiatrist at the same center since I get my medication and appointments paid for by P.O.S. Which I think is some kind of charity that they have.. It would work out better, because I don't have any kind of insurance. My appointment is around the 14th.. I will let everyone know how it goes..

[Call Me Chris]

I had the appointment today.. I had a hard time deciding whether or not to let her know about my suicidal thoughts..but I told her. It was hard to do since my mom was having her appointment at the same time. Overall..I feel that letting her know what the right decision.

I am now prescribed 100 mg trazodone to help me get to sleep, 300 mg lithium once a day, continuing my adderall, she is going to set me up with a therapist, and even though she is retiring next month..she made another appointment with me 2 weeks from now. I hope this helps. Thank you for the support, everyone here definitely helped me reach this point..

[Call Me Chris]

The appointment is 4 days away.. I know that I am expecting too much from this appointment. I know it won't fix anything, but it could be the starting point.

Is it better to get set up with a Therapist or a Psychiatrist first? I need my medication..so I'm leaning towards the Psychiatrist. And T's can't diagnose, right? This is all new to me.

[ECHOES]

Psychiatrists diagnose those things they can help with medication. There is medication for depression and for anxiety, for example.

Therapists diagnose too, although many don't like to dwell on the diagnosis, and don't refer to it or necessarily offer a diagnosis to the patient. It is a different process and working on one area in therapy can make another area improve - for example, helping us understand what causes our depression can also reduce anxiety, as we learn new ways of thinking and doing. I might not be able to talk to authority figures, and I have a need but can't express it. I feel very anxious when that happens. Unable to express it and get what I need, I also go falling off the cliff into a depression that becomes about 'everything'. In therapy, my therapist can help me find a way to say what I need to say to get a need met with an authority figure (like work), so the depression lifts. As I continue to work on expressing what I need the anxiety that I usually feel in the beginning also is lessened. So.. would she diagnose me with depression or anxiety? Or something else that encompasses those 2 symptoms?

It is a beginning, a starting point. An exciting place in your life!

I was listening to public radio yesterday and an author who is nominated for an award was being interviewed about his book (about his dysfunctional family) and the interviewer asked if he had received therapy. He answered with an enthusiastic yes and added that he can't wait to get back into it. The interviewer said she understood that perfectly (insinuating a personal involvement with therapy herself).

So, you are in good company, wanting to feel better, wanting to know more about yourself!

[Call Me Chris]

Hi ECHOES,

Thanks for the information on the difference. It helped a lot. I think I will start off with a T.. Maybe I'll look into seeing one of each eventually. Probably not anytime soon. Which do you suggest starting with? Glad to hear therapy is helping you. How long have you been seeing your T? Sorry about all of the questions.

That's pretty cool. What is the book called?
Thanks for the support

Hope everything is going good for you ,
Chris.

[kitty004567]

I always liked seeing the T better than the psychiatrist.. because I have a whole 50 min with my T once a week and 10-15 min with my psychiatrist every 6 weeks. Then again, I'm a talker.

I saw my first T for 7 years: once a week, every week. She saw me from age 17-22. I liked her because she reminded me of a grandma figure and I stopped seeing her when she started acting like my parents. For me it was an indication that we had grown too close and she couldn't be my objective T anymore.

I saw a couple other T's after that that I didn't really like. I saw one for 3 years or so with the guy I was dating at the time (I had just been diagnosed and really needed to be in therapy but couldn't face it myself.. besides which that bf needed therapy too). Sometime in the middle of seeing that T I added my own (saw her for 3-4 years).. she's never been my favorite and I've fired her since.... although I haven't told her that. Perhaps I should.

Good luck! and remember that every T is slightly different, keep trying until you find one you like :-) Congratulations on taking the first steps and I'm glad the woman who is going to retire is going to try to help you with the transition.

[ECHOES]

Originally Posted by Call Me Chris

Hi ECHOES,

Thanks for the information on the difference. It helped a lot. I think I will start off with a T.. Maybe I'll look into seeing one of each eventually. Probably not anytime soon. Which do you suggest starting with? Glad to hear therapy is helping you. How long have you been seeing your T? Sorry about all of the questions.

That's pretty cool. What is the book called?
Thanks for the support

Hope everything is going good for you ,
Chris.

http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/20...ir-rebroadcast

Here's a link to the show I was listening to. I caught it after it began, so I wasn't sure what the book title was. Apparently the focus is not the dysfunction, but that is what was being discussed when I tuned in. The book is "The Boy Kings of Texas: a memoir" by Domingo Martinez, and is about growing up in 2 cultures. Having heard this very articulate man speak about his family, I am looking forward to reading his book.

Typically when a person has a therapist and a psychiatrist, the therapist is seen more frequently than the psychiatrist.

When starting out, the psychiatrist is seen more frequently to make sure medication is working. So you might start seeing the psychiatrist every week or two, then once a month, then every 3 months, etc.

The therapist is seen regularly. Not all therapists schedule regularly, but most do and will if asked. I like having a regular appointment time. I have been in this therapy for 5+ years, and have been in other therapies for shorter times. I currently see my therapist twice a week. I began seeing her once a week and I find twice a week is most helpful. I also chose a therapist with psychoanalytic training; she is a psychodynamic/psychoanalytic therapist. This kind of therapy has been the most helpful to me also.

Some therapists and psychiatrists work together for the same group or agency and others are part of separate groups and still others are independent.

I like your idea of starting out with a therapist

[Call Me Chris]

I'm not much of a reader, but that sounds interesting and something I could get into. So you're getting his book? If you would like to, let me know what you think of it and if it would be worth reading or not.

That makes sense. The center that I go to has therapists, psychiatrists, rn's, medical doctors..I don't know all of the types. You name it, and I'm sure there is one there. Lol. I'll figure something out at my last appointment with my RN. Twice a week would be nice. Do you have to drive very far for the appointments? The place I go to is on the other side of town, which is quite a drive.

I'm not too sure what that kind of therapy is. What all does it involve?

I'll let you know what ends up happening with the therapist/psychiatrist and all of that. I don't know if I said that already, or not. Lol.

Have a wonderful day ,
Chris.

[Call Me Chris]

Well..my appointment was supposed to be today at noon. I got there at 12:02, thanks to a FedEx truck that hit a traffic cone and blocked the road. Long story short, I had to reschedule for January 11th.

[Call Me Chris]

I'm not sure why I post anymore, but I had my appointment. Setting me up with a T, having some place get ahold of me to see about getting money for disability or some **** since I'm too ****ed in the head to go get a damn job. **** it. I dont give a **** anymore. I can't get a job. I want to, believe me. I ****ing need it. Phone bill is coming up, on top of the last one. $140. Hospital is after me for money. $900+. Don't have my license. Couldn't get it anyways because of a warrant. How the ****.. My credit has probably gone to ****. Yet I sit on my *** waiting for a solution that will never come. I will never accomplish anything, because I do not try. I don't try because I know I would fail. I am a failure. A waste. I wouldnt want a funeral. Cremate me and toss my ashes in the garbage. I used to love life. No..thats a lie. I like to think that I used to. Maybe at one point. I've locked my childhood in the "do not remember" part of my brain. **** this. **** that. **** life. If only they was a way out. Oh wait, there is. It's on my night stand. But, I can't. Family and friends are the chains that hold me to this piece of **** life.

Well, this thread was about my appointment.. She is having a T get ahold of me soon, a psychiatrist/Rn/whateverthe****. Hoorah. Go life. I'm loving how the moon has been red the last few nights. Some crazy ****. Legend says the moon will turn a blood red when the time is coming. Starting to believe it. Bring it on. 12/21/12 was not meant to be an end, but maybe the beginning of the end? Idk what the hell I'm talking about, so I'll end it here. Not like anyone gives two ****s anyways.

Have a wonderful life.
Chris.

[ECHOES]

Hey, I care. Sorry that I missed your post about getting there late, then having to reschedule. Grrr!!

You sound very discouraged. It's hard to when there is so much going on and you want so badly for things to be calm and okay again. Very frustrating!

I think it's also not uncommon to feel in a hurry for help, once we have taken the initiative to go for it. Please hang in there! You are doing all that you can right now.

I wonder if you would like posting in the psychotherapy forum? Maybe you could read some there and think about it? It is very active and supportive!

[Call Me Chris]

Hey ECHOES,

Don't apologize. I wasn't meaning that in a "Why isn't anyone replying" way. If it sounded like it, I'm sorry. I was pissed off, depressed, had taken a xanax that I forgot I had.

Very discouraged would be putting it lightly. I've been doing fine the last week. Then, out of nowhere, the depression came back. With hating everything added to it.

I'll hang in there for as long as I can. I'm not a very patient person at all. Lol.

Hmm..I will check it out. Thank youu.

All the best,
Chris

[Reagan Ruth]

If you are living with someone who satisfies 3 or more of these characteristics it is important to know that they are unlikely to change. This is often hard for people to believe, because after all, we all know that people can change. But, changing our core personality, the fundamental stuff that makes us who we are, doesn't tend to change in any significant way over a life time.
It's a bit like changing your sense of humour. If you don't find something funny, it's very difficult to find a way to make it funny. So, how best to cope?

[ECHOES]

@ Reagan_Ruth,

What characteristics are you referring to? Of course we can change, we change all the time. I don't even have the same sense of humor I used to have - it has changed over the years along with me.

We can make significant and lasting changes through our work in psychodynamic psychotherapy.

[Call Me Chris]

I don't have what it takes to reply to anyone right now, I'm sorry. My grandma just passed away an hour ago. I never went and said goodbye. She told my dad that she wanted to see me before she was gone. He texted me last night asking if I wanted to go with him to see her. I say it's because I didn't check my phone until it was late, but that would be lying. I did check my phone. Why didn't I text him back and go..? I don't know. I kept saying "tomorrow, tomorrow." Now there won't be a tomorrow. She's gone. I'm such a piece of ****..