Therapy

Prak · Post by **Prak** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 6:40 am

Yeah. Several of my friends have told me, some with personal experience in the matter, that I'm likely depressed, and should see a therapist. So I looked into it, and my insurance doesn't cover therapy. And I sure as hell can't afford it on my own.

My friend also suggested going to the catholic church, which apparently has trained therapists, who've taken a vow of charity. I know she's not passive aggressively preaching, or anything, because she's agnostic. And honestly it's a good suggestion.

The problem is that I literally do not trust catholics to be good at psychotherapy, and not boil my every issue and problem down to "You're an accursed sinner, bound for hell, plagued by demons, and have problems because you don't believe in my imaginary friend."

I'm not sure what to do here, really....

Maj · Post by **Maj** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 6:46 am

Prak wrote:The problem is that I literally do not trust catholics to be good at psychotherapy, and not boil my every issue and problem down to "You're an accursed sinner, bound for hell, plagued by demons, and have problems because you don't believe in my imaginary friend."

Is there some compulsion that forces you to keep going to see someone who says stuff like this?

Rather than not go because of your own personal assumptions, go, see if they actually are like that, and if so, leave. You're not out anything but time.

Zinegata · Post by **Zinegata** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 6:46 am

Talk to the therapist first and gauge if he/she's a looney "The world must be converted to love Jesus!" kind of person, or if he/she is a normal person.

The person who can best judge whether or not a therapist can help you is yourself.

Prak · Post by **Prak** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 6:48 am

alright, yeah, I'm being unreasonable and self-sabotaging. how the hell do I find someone to talk to then?

Maj · Post by **Maj** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 6:49 am

Prak wrote:how the hell do I find someone to talk to then?

Are you asking how to get a hold of one of these therapists?

Zinegata · Post by **Zinegata** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 6:51 am

If it's a church therapist...

Ask your friend if she knows anyone from the Church who does free therapy? She probably has some direct or indirect connections with a local church, or else she wouldn't know about the free therapists.

Prak · Post by **Prak** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 6:54 am

Maj wrote:
Prak wrote:how the hell do I find someone to talk to then?
Are you asking how to get a hold of one of these therapists?

yes, I thought that was somewhat evident...

Maj · Post by **Maj** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 6:56 am

Another thing to do would be to look for a free clinic in your area. Free clinics often work hand-in-hand with doctors (of all religions/beliefs) in normal clinics who do charity work on the side.

Prak wrote:yes, I thought that was somewhat evident...

Since you were talking about depression in your first post, I wasn't sure.

Also, today, I apparently can't spell "Prak" properly. I keep typing park.

Prak · Post by **Prak** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 7:01 am

Maj wrote:Another thing to do would be to look for a free clinic in your area. Free clinics often work hand-in-hand with doctors (of all religions/beliefs) in normal clinics who do charity work on the side.

Ok, I'll look into that.

Prak wrote:yes, I thought that was somewhat evident...
Since you were talking about depression in your first post, I wasn't sure.

Also, today, I apparently can't spell "Prak" properly. I keep typing park.

Yeah, I'm looking for a therapist to start seeing. I'm just tired of nothing changing, and seeming like I don't listen to my friends' advice.

Maj · Post by **Maj** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 7:04 am

I found this for you - link to free clinics in the US. I don't know if it will help - it's not comprehensive by any means. But it might.

Prak · Post by **Prak** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 7:10 am

definitely not comprehensive. nothing even near me, thanks though.

Zinegata · Post by **Zinegata** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 7:19 am

I take it the friend doesn't have contacts?

Sorry dude, can't help you much either.

Maj · Post by **Maj** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 7:24 am

Where are you, Prak?

Cynic · Post by **Cynic** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 7:46 am

Church therapists are decent even from a non-religious perspective.

There are many different ways you can get references. Look for a pro bono lawyer and then ask them for a therapist. Go to your local library and ask the reference desk for help. The mayor's office can sometimes refer you.

Catholic Charities for your area could possibly help.

Vnonymous · Post by **Vnonymous** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 11:01 am

Stir a spoon full of concrete in with your cereal every morning. It should help you harden the fuck up, one of the best ways to deal with depression.

Another good, and actually serious bit of advice for dealing with inner pain is a big healthy dose of outer pain. Put yourself in a situation where you are fighting to survive and on the verge of death, and hopefully in a lot of pain.

Of course I'm not a psychologist and this is probably really terrible advice, but that's really what you get on internet forums most of the time.

DragonChild · Post by **DragonChild** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 12:20 pm

Vnonymous wrote:Stir a spoon full of concrete in with your cereal every morning. It should help you harden the fuck up, one of the best ways to deal with depression.

Another good, and actually serious bit of advice for dealing with inner pain is a big healthy dose of outer pain. Put yourself in a situation where you are fighting to survive and on the verge of death, and hopefully in a lot of pain.

Of course I'm not a psychologist and this is probably really terrible advice, but that's really what you get on internet forums most of the time.

This isn't just terrible advice, it's outright insulting. If there really is severe depression, telling someone to "Harden the fuck up" isn't helpful, it's being a gigantic jackass. Like telling a cancer patient to "just feel better already". The entire point is that they CAN'T, no matter what you say.

Zinegata · Post by **Zinegata** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 1:07 pm

DragonChild wrote:This isn't just terrible advice, it's outright insulting. If there really is severe depression, telling someone to "Harden the fuck up" isn't helpful, it's being a gigantic jackass. Like telling a cancer patient to "just feel better already". The entire point is that they CAN'T, no matter what you say.

Pretty much.

cthulhu · Post by **cthulhu** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 1:15 pm

If you're reaching for an Australian comedy sketch show for life advice, something is fucking wrong with you.

Cynic · Post by **Cynic** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 1:53 pm

Vnonymous wrote:
- Jackass bullshit with an asinine and bullshit cop out.

I'm going to chop of your legs and infect you with Smallpox and Ebola.

My cure for this is to just dance to the raingod and walk it the fuck off.

You don't tell a patient with a heart murmur or Cancer or some other physical illness that if they want to have it be lessened, they need to get a good ole healthy dosage of deppression, bipolar disorder, or MPD.

Of course, I'm not a doctor and this is probably really terrible advice, but that's really what you get on internet forums most of the time.

hur-de-hur-hur

Count Arioch the 28th · Wed Nov 24, 2010 3:09 pm

Is there a college with a psychiatric department near where you live?

I get therapy for $1 a session from the local university. Granted, it's a grad student and not a doctor of psychiatric medicine, but since there is literally no requirements for being a "therapist", I consider her qualifications better than most.

It gives me an outlet to bitch where I don't get told to shut up and stop being a pussy, so I consider it worthwhile.

I have talked to church therapists before, and I've never been preached to. YMMV, of course.

If your depression needs medication, that might be difficult. I know that there's an organization that gives medication to broke-ass people like us but I don't know what it is. I'll ask my mother next time I see her and get back here (if I remember. But I'll try to remember).

ubernoob · Post by **ubernoob** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 9:00 pm

Blasted · Post by **Blasted** » Thu Nov 25, 2010 12:07 am

Count Arioch the 28th wrote: I have talked to church therapists before, and I've never been preached to. YMMV, of course.

I've worked with a church based organisation here and the therapists have been most professional. People used them because they were free/donation, and the therapists viewed their work as a service, rather than as a opportunity to convert.

ubernoob wrote:I would suggest you stay away from professional therapy, honestly. I've been down that road and they really don't help much.

I've known too many damaged people who thought that they could help themselves to endorse this. While the quality of practitioners varies (as it does with any profession) DIY in my experience doesn't work often.

Sashi · Post by **Sashi** » Thu Nov 25, 2010 12:15 am

Therapy is about promoting self-examination, not being a bitchfest. Talking to friends is good when your problems are concrete like a coworker you can't stand or financial trouble, therapy is for problems that manifest as feelings or states of being, and don't have well-defined causes.

Prak · Post by **Prak** » Thu Nov 25, 2010 2:27 am

Maj wrote:Where are you, Prak?

around Sacramento.

thanks for the help guys, I even told my mother, who reacted as expected, but I eventually got her to grudgingly say she'd get me a name. I need to call my GP too, see what he can recommend.

Except you, V, report to the cock-barrels and start sucking.

Honestly I wonder if instead of just clinically depressed, I'm bipolar...

Sashi · Post by **Sashi** » Thu Nov 25, 2010 3:34 am

Being bipolar and going through episodes of mania are significantly different from just being depressed sometimes and "feeling really good" other times.

Thinking that you're bipolar can be a double edged sword. Treating bipolar disorder with antidepressants can trigger a severe manic episode (bipolar disorder is significantly harder to treat after a severe manic episode). But treating depression with mood stabilizers seriously turns you into a robot.

If you really think you could have bipolar disorder, and it's not just internet-selfdiagnosis induced paranoia, then you should try very hard to get insurance coverage for psychiatric treatment covered by insurance and be vigilant before you take any prescribed medication one way or the other.