[peaceboy23]

So I went to my therapist today, finally, after about two months, and he seems to think that this is all chemical. When I tried to tell him that I thought maybe there could be some underlying emotional things, issues I have "festering", he basically told me that everyone has these issues, but for those of us with chemical imbalances, the dp and dr gets worse. I'm starting to doubt this though, becuase I have been on medications for eight years and the dp keeps creeping back in, even when i'm otherwise "normal". Any ideas on how to approach the idea of other types of therapy with him? (ie, cognitive behavioral, or looking mroe into the unconcious/whatever?)

 

[Monkeydust]

Stick to your guns. If he's a good therapist and your arguments make sense, he should at least be able to see your point of view.

The only advice I could give is the general one of going in there with plenty of information at the ready. If your therapist sees that you know what you're talking about they're much more likely to listen.

If not, then you can always get another therapist.

 

[bright23]

Maybe looking for another therapist is not such a bad idea. Why did you not see him for 2 months in the first place?

 

[Universal]

as far as i know a shrink's supposed to accomodate YOU, not the other way around. try to show him in a not so direct way that you're not satisfied with the way things are going and try pulling things in another direction which you think is better for you. it's all about your agenda in there and you're shelling out the bucks so try to squeeze the maximum of what you can outta him/her as far as help is concerned.

 

[Guest]

Yeah, if you want to try a different TYPE of therapy, you have to try a different therapist. Cognitive therapists do cognitive, analytic therapists do analytic, etc.

They will never "try" a different type of treatment - it's veryyy ingrained in them what they believe regarding theories of the mind, etc. and they went into a particular area because that is how they view the process of mental functioning/symptoms, etc.

But if you have a clear idea of what you want, you can ask diff. doctors if that is what they do and chose accordingly.

Sadly, in the days now of managed care, we patients have very few options unless we're willing to pay for treatment ourselves. The "depth therapies" (where they examine underlying motives, the unconscious, recurring patterns, etc.) take a LONG time and insurance companies will not pay for long-term treatment. They want you to get medicated and/or learn some very quick techniques and go away.

Often other therapists will work "sliding scale" and not charge TOO much, but chances are you will need to pay something (and more than if you were using insurance)

Peace,
Janine

 

[Brainsilence02]

They will never "try" a different type of treatment - it's veryyy ingrained in them what they believe regarding theories of the mind, etc. and they went into a particular area because that is how they view the process of mental functioning/symptoms, etc.

Then, it would only require to have doctors with a more wide "area" (is that what you ment with "ingrain"?)

 

[Guest]

No, they won't have wide areas. It's very specific - example: I am of the psychoanalytic school, so in that is going to be my approach in ANY treatment I would conduct. I may not may not ask a patient to do psychoanlaysis by lying on the couch, but the theory/the approach to treatment with ME is going to be from a psychoanalytic angle. To me, it is the lens from which I view the workings of the mind.

No way would I be able or willing to shift and suddenly DO Cognitive Behavioral therapy with a patient. There is nothing wrong with it, but it's not my thing, not the way I'm trained and not the way I approach the mind. It's almost like asking an eye/ear/nose and throat doctor to look at your sore foot!

A cognitive therapist will be looking at the origin of symptoms from an ENTIRELY different perspective than an analyst would. The Style they use can certainly modify from patient to patient, but that style will never ever "morph" into psychoanlaytic thought.

I guess the best analogy might be to compare the American political parties - Democrat and Republican. Both want what is best for the country and both have good ideas about freedom and the foundation of human rights but the APPROACHES with which they will each decide to govern the people will be totally colored by their core set of beliefs.

You cannot call your Democratic Congressman and say "you know, I just wish you'd be more Republican when you're in Washington" LOL

Hope that helps,
Janine

 

[Milan]

I was going to ask my shrink tomorrow about his thoughts on exploring my unconscious to determine if there are any deep rooted issues that may by hindering my recovery, but that may be a waste of time. He is into CBT and according to your above post he would be very reluctant to delve into any kind of depth therapy. Anyhow I'll try and see what he says. I'll keep you guys posted

 

[Sojourner]

Go to http://www.bddcentral.com forum and ask Dr. Claiborn what he thinks of the unconscious.

Janine is totally correct. People who use CBT aren't trained in analytical therapy. If you find someone who says he or she does both, you should run very fast, in my opinion.

 

[Guest]

I am having problems with my therapist as well. My psychiatrist is useless. When i told him that my arm feels numb and like it's someone else's arm he said, "maybe your sleeping on it funny". My tharapist diagnosed me with dp and then started talking about really scary things like, "do we exist?" and he was trying to persuade me that it wasn't a scary subject. while he was talking i got this horrible sensation that i no longer had a face. The room was too big to be seen with just my eyes and my whole face was an open hole from which the universe poors. I told him this and he said, "well, that doesn't have to be a scary thing" and kept talking about the same scary stuff. I don't know what to do because these are the only two local psychiatrists and therapists that my insurance covers. I really need more help than they are providing. Any suggestions?

 

[Martinelv]

I'm finally, after 10 years, seeing a Psychiatrist tomorrow. Initially the appointment was with a local mental health nurse, then it got 'upgraded' to a CBT Therapist, and after a bit of shouting down the phone, I'm getting a home (cos I'm so terribly ill still :wink: ) visit from a bona-fide shrink. First time ever. I'd be interested in what he/she is going to talk about.

 

[Brainsilence02]

ohhh... dont put me down with these stuff... i will never go to that doc i'm planning to

When i told him that my arm feels numb and like it's someone else's arm he said, "maybe your sleeping on it funny".

"no, i am not"

My tharapist diagnosed me with dp and then started talking about really scary things like, "do we exist?" and he was trying to persuade me that it wasn't a scary subject. while he was talking i got this horrible sensation that i no longer had a face. The room was too big to be seen with just my eyes and my whole face was an open hole from which the universe poors. I told him this and he said, "well, that doesn't have to be a scary thing" and kept talking about the same scary stuff.

WTF? you will tell me what is scary and what is not? get a gun, put it in his head, arm it, and when you see him get scared, tell him "nahhh.. that doesn't have to be a scary thing"

 

[terri*]

I think Brainsilence has an excellent theory as how to deal with your idiot shrink, nothing. Give him so damn "scarey". :twisted: ( Really like your new signature, Brain.)

Nothing, I don't know how old you are, but I do want to tell you that since these two seem to be your only hope, you need to go in there and strongly suggest that his way of scaring you out of dp is not working and you would like for him to approach it in a different manner as you feel his way is very counterproductive for you. Just because he is a shrink, does not make him God Almighty. Stand your ground, be calm, but very straightforward. Scare tatics will not work for you. They wouldn't work for any of us.

At worse, he can just talk more scarey crap to you and you can roll your eyes. :roll: By then you will have got yourself so worked up by standing up to him, you won't care what he is saying.

 

[Brainsilence02]

I am sorry, I was upset when I wrote that. It is not a good idea going there with a gun I am afraid of even touching weapons. Weapons are ment to kill.

It reminded me my 1st doctor (in March). I guess they are trying to make us understand that "the best way out is through" and that "facing it will lead you to understand that it's actually nothing". But... a hook under my skin will not come out by hust pulling it off, will it? I don't know, maybe I am making a wrong approach, maybe it is a good way to heal a pattient. But I would be very interested to know, what makes them believe that this is a good way.

Terri, the signature is from a poem. It's a really good one, it gives you another aspect of life and takes away pessimism by accepting it. I will post it in 'That's Life' in a while.

 

[bright23]

Hey nothing, I think it is good to keep in mind that your therapist was trying to help, and unfortunately it apparently didn't. He was trying to connect with you, and it failed. I agree with Terri that you should communicate to him that his approach failed ? it increased your anxiety as opposed to doing what he hoped it would, inundate you with intense, what you call "scary" ideas and discuss them with a calm composure, showing you that you can separate the FEAR from the idea.

Again, unfortunately it didn't work at the time. But I don't believe he ever intended to scare you in a way that would be malicious. That makes no sense. So just keep communicating with him. Honestly, I think I'd get along well with your therapist.

Keep in mind these doctors have not experienced your symptoms, and there's no established "cure," he's doing what he thinks might have a positive effect and its your responsibility to let him know if it is working or not.

Whoah Brain, that's a pretty intense reaction...

"Best way out is right through" is as ancient an idea as there is. It goes way deep ? and when you think you're at the bottom, it just keeps going deeper.

 

[Brainsilence02]

Whoah Brain, that's a pretty intense reaction...

Yes it is. I regret for saying that, it sounded too much... I should have said something like "drop him in arena full of lions".

The things that Nothing described really scared me and reminded me some of my worst moments. The doctor was definetly trying to help, but he should be more careful. We never never touch the sensitive nerve, we "lurk" the problem from behind (just my opinion on how brain's conflicts should be faced).

"Best way out is right through" is as ancient an idea as there is. It goes way deep ? and when you think you're at the bottom, it just keeps going deeper.

Precisely. It's a whole and you keep falling. Alice (in Wonderland) made it to the bottom, but I can't.

 

[peaceboy23]

Yeah, but Alice was a real bitch.

ANYWAY...You definately need to let your therapist know that his approach isn't working...communication with your therapist is important, and I have a hard time doing this. Even though I get along really well with my therapist, if I don't like what he is saying or his approach i dont' speak up and it just harms our relationship. It is part of my people pleasing thing, and I cant' even get rid of it with him...i think it's time for a new therapist, but I'm afraid that he'll be upset with me (see how lame I am), because I think he thinks we're doing well together and I think we've kind of reached what I can do with him, and I dont' go in there wanting to talk about my issues anymore...I find myself hiding them from him and that is not a good thing.

 

[Brainsilence02]

She was? Well... I haven't met her

Maybe for some reason, telling your problems to your doctor got you convinced that he something more than a person to solve those problems? I have heard of doctors getting good relations with patients (especially when the patient is feeling lonely, etc) in order not to lose the customer! Which is so... [add something bad here].

I have no idea if this is your case. It just reminded me of this. But, why do you care if he will be upset?

 

[bright23]

Brain ? How's it going with your doctor these days?

 

[Milan]

I met with my shrink yesterday and asked about his thoughts on depth therapy. He said that I could see a psychoanalyst if I wish and he could recommend one. However he started talking about the length, frequency and cost of the therapy and basically the cost would preclude me from doing it. He said it was not in great demand and there are only a dozen or so in Sydney who offer it. Medicare (public health system) will pay part of the cost initially and then the only way you can continue is prove that you have a borderline personality disorder. They charge about $280 per hr and you will only get $120 back from the Medicare and that?s for the first 20 meetings or so, but you'll need to go for about two years. Much to rich for my blood. To go once a week for two years I'll need in excess of $26 000!!. I just can't afford that with all our other expenses. On a positive note he did point out that we are still doing what he referred to as insight therapy which examines over underlying problems I may have that may be causing the anxiety. And come to think of it we tend to talk much more about other problems in my life rather than the DP/DR symptoms. The good thing about him is that he understands this condition well.

I also talked about DP/DR being a distraction from the other real problems we have in life. He agreed but not in all cases. He mentioned that if a patient had a bad LSD trip and got DP/DR from it he would treat it more of brain chemistry problem, especially if there were no life problems before the trip. These patients tend to fear the fear of the panic attacks. But in my case there was a lot of anxiety before the experience so there is a focus on these issues. He said if you want to feel reality start dealing with the real issues in your life and then he chuckles. Fortunately he has a sense of humour.