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Let me relay my experiences in the last 8 months or so: Graduated from college, took a job as an union organizer in the city I grew up. Long story short, between that job being probably one of the worst jobs ever and family problems I had a giant panic attack the day after 4th of July. I have had panic attacks now and then throughout the years but they always cleared up afterwards. That one really stuck with me, however, and switched my brain into an "always anxious" mode or something when I drive. I've had a few panic attacks since then in the car but nothing big since last November. Taking Xanax always knocks down the always anxious mode but it invariably returns so I stopped doing that. I really haven't had a peace of mind state outside of taking Xanax basically. Additionally, I feel something else is amiss: I am unable to get that happy feeling from thinking positive and looking to the future. I have a great job that I enjoy and I'm moving to a hip part of the city later this month. If you've ever been on a SSRI, you might have noticed how it takes the edge off bad thoughts. Whatever is going on in my head now is like a SSRI in reverse: I feel unable to look forward to these events at all or take pleasure in things i used to enjoy doing, stuff that the old me would like or look forward to. And it's not for the lack of trying either. I saw another therapist (first one cut me off after 5 sessions because my salty union personality didn't mesh with her suburban attitude) recently and he said I basically have PTSD. There's some parts to that I can agree with, but I really don't have flashbacks, and other than my constant pressure headache while driving and agitation in the torso (feels like something is telling me to MOVE and my stomach is antsy) I don't have any palpitations or fast heartbeats or anything anymore. I started doing the whole CBT routine with him, and while I understand the process I am having a hard time actually carrying it out. Nothing about my anxiety feels like its caused by thoughts that turn into feelings. The whole constant headache/brain fog thing feels entirely automatic and not prompted by conscious thinking at all. Is there something I'm missing here? edit: It also feels like I'm more irritable than I used to be, and minor annoyances seem like they're magnified in my brain, if that helps.
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| # ? Mar 9, 2013 06:49 |
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| # ? May 22, 2013 03:32 |
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I don't think you should let your doctor perform cock and ball torture on you to cure your PTSD. I think you should go see a psychiatrist that specializes in PTSD and anxiety disorders they're usually good at routing out the problem along with your "triggers". I have PTSD from being a paramedic, certain things trigger it occasionally but it was basically time and mecication that got it to a point that it went away. You probably have some sort of Bi Polar Mood Disorder as well. Basically, see a psychiatrist and not a therapist and make sure that it's someone that specifically deals with that disorder. Most therapists are full of complete poo poo. One things for sure you can't keep taking Xanax your whole life , you'll just become horribly addicted. Xanax and other benzos just mask problems that you should be working the gently caress out, they dont "cure" you. Have you tried a exercise program? Thats part of my therapy is just working out, it calms me and puts me in a good mood.
Hollis fucked around with this message at Mar 9, 2013 around 08:21 |
| # ? Mar 9, 2013 08:16 |
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Hollis posted:I don't think you should let your doctor perform cock and ball torture on you to cure your PTSD. If something sounds too bizarre to be true, check if the acronym has a second meaning... Like Cognitive Behavior Therapy. Which is basically realigning your thinking, learning coping strategies and trying to force new mental habits on yourself.
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| # ? Mar 9, 2013 08:40 |
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IANAD but the symptoms you've outlined here sound quite a lot like depression (irritable, unable to look forward to good things, unable to take pleasure in things you used to enjoy). It's not clear from your post whether you're on an anti-depressant now, though it sounds like you have been in the past. Maybe you could bring these symptoms up with your doctor and either try an anti-depressant or switch up your dose / which one. Aside from that, I know what you mean about feeling like a mood (sadness, in my case, not anxiety) is brought on automatically rather than by a thought. I felt that way for months. Despite that, my therapist asked me to keep a notebook of negative thoughts - even if I didn't feel like my mood was affected by them - and I've found that I have a lot of them! Have you gone through the cognitive distortions? If you haven't, reading what they are may help you to identify them. At the very least, it sounds like you're doing some 'fortune telling'. When you try to look forward to whatever fun events you have coming up, do you find yourself thinking 'oh, but I won't enjoy them because I can't anymore' or anything similar? Edit: I had more thoughts! 1. CBT doesn't work right away, it takes some time. I've been doing it about four weeks now and I'm only just starting to see a difference and that difference is no where near as drastic as I'd like it to be, but I'm going to keep going and hopefully I will get there. So, if you've only been trying it for a while, give it more time. 2. It also may be that you don't think in words so much. I'm fortunate (in CBT terms...) that I do, but I noticed when I was going for my run the other day that I was picturing how bad it was going to hurt, picturing not being able to finish it, all without word-thinking at all. That's just as much fortune-telling as it would be if I was thinking 'I'm not going to be able to finish this'. So watch out for picture-thoughts. Maud Moonshine fucked around with this message at Mar 9, 2013 around 09:33 |
| # ? Mar 9, 2013 09:08 |
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Hollis posted:I don't think you should let your doctor perform cock and ball torture on you to cure your PTSD. I think you should go see a psychiatrist that specializes in PTSD and anxiety disorders they're usually good at routing out the problem along with your "triggers". I have PTSD from being a paramedic, certain things trigger it occasionally but it was basically time and mecication that got it to a point that it went away. You probably have some sort of Bi Polar Mood Disorder as well. Basically, see a psychiatrist and not a therapist and make sure that it's someone that specifically deals with that disorder. Most therapists are full of complete poo poo. One things for sure you can't keep taking Xanax your whole life , you'll just become horribly addicted. Xanax and other benzos just mask problems that you should be working the gently caress out, they dont "cure" you. Have you tried a exercise program? Thats part of my therapy is just working out, it calms me and puts me in a good mood. Therapists suck and OP is probably bipolar? Where are you getting any of that from? Also, it's kind of weird to tell someone that therapy is bullshit while simultaneously telling them they need to work their problems out... since that's what therapy is for. PTSD isn't something that's usually treated with medication alone, anyway. The OP should probably see a therapist and a psychiatrist (and since he's on medication, he may very well be doing just that.) Pevan Stan, CBT is a common treatment for PTSD and general anxiety too. My personal opinion is that you should give the CBT a try before you decide it's not what you need. Also, does your therapist know that you've had panic attacks for years? I'm no doctor but you might have an anxiety disorder that got worse while you were under extreme stress. If you have doubts about your diagnosis and the suggested treatment, you really should bring it up frankly with your therapist and doctor- they're treating you and would know way better than anyone here.
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| # ? Mar 9, 2013 09:12 |
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The "point" of CBT is to practice a good cognitive pattern until it wears in. It's just like working out or meditating or trying anything else that requires skill or focus: it's hard to carry through at first but over time if you do, the behavior becomes nearly automatic. Trying to think happy thoughts when you are stressed might not immediately make you happy, but the goal is that eventually you don't have to practice anymore and when you feel down you'll automatically jump into a more positive mindset rather than continue to get depressed or freaked out or whatever. CBT may or may not help alleviate your physical symptoms. You'll probably want to look at getting medicated for the pain, headaches, and fuzziness in the meantime, at least. Having pain and stuff on top of depression is a nasty combo. You won't get many results from CBT if you're trying to do it on top of a throbbing headache or zombie person time.
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| # ? Mar 9, 2013 10:02 |
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Nathilus posted:The "point" of CBT is to practice a good cognitive pattern until it wears in. It's just like working out or meditating or trying anything else that requires skill or focus: it's hard to carry through at first but over time if you do, the behavior becomes nearly automatic. Trying to think happy thoughts when you are stressed might not immediately make you happy, but the goal is that eventually you don't have to practice anymore and when you feel down you'll automatically jump into a more positive mindset rather than continue to get depressed or freaked out or whatever. I have similar physical symptoms along with my depression. It isn't fun for sure. And I share some of the feelings the OP has. I've never had any sort of Therapy "work" for me besides maybe making me feel good for the day at best, and making me more critical of myself and depressed at any other time.
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| # ? Mar 9, 2013 11:11 |
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You're lacking faith in the process, and the process doesn't work unless you work with it. A body's reaction to perceived danger is very dramatic, even if the danger is not real. I'd get a second opinion, but if it remains at PTSD, I'd stick out the CBT.
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| # ? Mar 9, 2013 13:18 |
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Thanks for the responses!Maud Moonshine posted:IANAD but the symptoms you've outlined here sound quite a lot like depression (irritable, unable to look forward to good things, unable to take pleasure in things you used to enjoy). It's not clear from your post whether you're on an anti-depressant now, though it sounds like you have been in the past. Maybe you could bring these symptoms up with your doctor and either try an anti-depressant or switch up your dose / which one. I did take Celexa in the past. Hilariously, it was for something else entirely and I quit after 4 days because I had a big panic attack that resolved itself but spooked me enough that I stopped taking it. I just glanced over the distortions article. It's amazing how I do almost all of them at some point during my day 
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| # ? Mar 9, 2013 13:58 |
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It's common for SSRIs to exacerbate anxiety *at first*. That's why most docs, if they realize it's an anxiety disorder, will give you a fast-acting 'holdover' to calm you down while the SSRI takes effect over at least two weeks.
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| # ? Mar 9, 2013 14:32 |
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Peven Stan posted:I just glanced over the distortions article. It's amazing how I do almost all of them at some point during my day Well, in that case, CBT can hopefully help! Even if it can't get rid of the anxiety fog, it's still definitely a good idea to get a start on combating those thoughts. They can't possibly be doing anything good for you and you might find that getting rid of them will help get rid of the anxiety fog too.
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| # ? Mar 9, 2013 15:05 |
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Peven Stan posted:I just glanced over the distortions article. It's amazing how I do almost all of them at some point during my day I did CBT for about 8 months a couple years ago and it completely changed my life, but it did take a couple months before I began to see the benefits. If you do have those cognitive distortions, it's not as simple as "I hear myself thinking a thought in my head, then I feel a feeling." It's instant and automatic. I genuinely thought I was just a sad and unlovable and unlucky person- it didn't occur to me that I could be mistaken about that.
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| # ? Mar 9, 2013 15:21 |
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Peven Stan posted:I saw another therapist (first one cut me off after 5 sessions because my salty union personality didn't mesh with her suburban attitude) recently and he said I basically have PTSD. There's some parts to that I can agree with, but I really don't have flashbacks, and other than my constant pressure headache while driving and agitation in the torso (feels like something is telling me to MOVE and my stomach is antsy) I don't have any palpitations or fast heartbeats or anything anymore. I started doing the whole CBT routine with him, and while I understand the process I am having a hard time actually carrying it out. Nothing about my anxiety feels like its caused by thoughts that turn into feelings. The whole constant headache/brain fog thing feels entirely automatic and not prompted by conscious thinking at all. Is there something I'm missing here? 1. Flashbacks are not required for a diagnosis of PTSD, neither are palpitations or a racing heart 2. CBT has been shown to be effective for PTSD and for general anxiety (depending on the quality of your anxiety you could have one or both of these) 3. CBT doesn't just propose that thoughts --> feelings --> actions. According to CBT these all interact with each other, and a change in behavior can change thoughts, or vice versa. 4. One of the goals of CBT is to remove the automaticity of the automatic thoughts. That's really the challenge in the whole thing. If you were having those thoughts consciously, or purposefully, you could just stop having them. 5. If you don't think you fit a diagnosis that has been assigned to you, definitely talk about it with your therapist. If your GP made the diagnosis, ask for a referral to a psychologist or a psychiatrist as those are the only two mental health professionals who are actually trained in the diagnosis of mental illness. 6. It sounds like you and your past therapist didn't mesh very well. Is there someone else in the area that you can see? Maud Moonshine posted:IANAD but the symptoms you've outlined here sound quite a lot like depression (irritable, unable to look forward to good things, unable to take pleasure in things you used to enjoy). It's not clear from your post whether you're on an anti-depressant now, though it sounds like you have been in the past. Maybe you could bring these symptoms up with your doctor and either try an anti-depressant or switch up your dose / which one. There are all also symptoms of PTSD. Maud Moonshine posted:] Meaningful change doesn't happen overnight. The automatic thoughts and processes that CBT targets are 1) difficult to access, 2) took a long period of time to become so ingrained.
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| # ? Mar 9, 2013 15:44 |
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Goosed it. posted:1. Flashbacks are not required for a diagnosis of PTSD, neither are palpitations or a racing heart I'm doubtful of PTSD due to other things as well. Flashbacks aren't necessarily the only thing I'm not having that's indicative of PTSD. For example, I also don't have nightmares and I get a solid 7-8 hours of sleep every night. There was a guy in one of my classes with legit PTSD from his time in Iraq who would flip out if he heard loud noises and bug out of the classroom. I don't have the same kind of aversion to my triggers, for example. This was also a diagnosis by a LPC, not a LCSW/MD/PhD. Do you people with experience with CBT do a lot of writing/journaling about your thoughts? I'm starting to think this is something that might require writing stuff down and not just trying to affirm things in my head.
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| # ? Mar 9, 2013 16:08 |
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Peven Stan posted:Do you people with experience with CBT do a lot of writing/journaling about your thoughts? I'm starting to think this is something that might require writing stuff down and not just trying to affirm things in my head. I wouldn't say I do a lot, but yeah I do note my thoughts down when I notice them. The first week, my therapist just had me write them down and attribute a distortion to them (for me, it's mostly fortune telling and downplaying the positive). The next week, she told me to write down some evidence against whatever thought I was having and to monitor whether or not my fortune telling actually comes true or not. They're only a few sentences at a time, and I only consciously notice around five a day. If you think it'd help, I could type up a few examples from my notebook.
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| # ? Mar 9, 2013 16:22 |
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Peven Stan posted:Do you people with experience with CBT do a lot of writing/journaling about your thoughts? I'm starting to think this is something that might require writing stuff down and not just trying to affirm things in my head. If learning were just thinking things, then you shouldn't have had to write anything down while you were in school. It's not like you have to keep forever everything you've written, just like you probably don't have everything you've written while you were at school. Point is, you're trying to learn something new, so why wouldn't you give yourself the tools to make it easier for yourself? Some paper and a pen is the very least you could give yourself and you've got the added help of an instructor (therapist) and a class (therapy).
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| # ? Mar 9, 2013 17:18 |
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Maud Moonshine posted:2. It also may be that you don't think in words so much. I'm fortunate (in CBT terms...) that I do, but I noticed when I was going for my run the other day that I was picturing how bad it was going to hurt, picturing not being able to finish it, all without word-thinking at all. That's just as much fortune-telling as it would be if I was thinking 'I'm not going to be able to finish this'. So watch out for picture-thoughts. This actually makes me curious. Is there a big difference between people re: whether they think in words or "silently"? I always had the impression that thinking in "words" is better for thinking things through but is prone to overthinking/anxiety moreso than the other way of thinking, while thinking "silently" is more likely to result in action, impulsive or not. Does this make any sense?
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| # ? Mar 9, 2013 18:05 |
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Have you tried leaving your environment, a week long vacation in the woods, out in nature away from everything? From what you've stated, it seems like your job might be the trigger, and not taking pleasure in advancement doesn't necessarily mean you're broken, not all of the human animal responds solely to the biscuit or the stick so to speak. You refer to the noun job as being both great and the worst. Is there is something going on there or is it just a combination effect with the family drama? It certainly sounds like you have a mental disease- and yes they ravage the brain like a fever-but have you been taken steps to fortify yourself? Or have you been relying on outside influences to do the work for you. Tonsured fucked around with this message at Mar 9, 2013 around 18:29 |
| # ? Mar 9, 2013 18:20 |
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Pollyanna posted:This actually makes me curious. Is there a big difference between people re: whether they think in words or "silently"? I always had the impression that thinking in "words" is better for thinking things through but is prone to overthinking/anxiety moreso than the other way of thinking, while thinking "silently" is more likely to result in action, impulsive or not. Does this make any sense? Yes there is. The mental verbalization of worries can actually be physiologically cathartic, but it also has the tendency to snowball into then causing more worry, even if the physical sensation of the anxiety has been reduced. This is essentially what happens in generalized anxiety disorder--the mental verbalization of constant worries. In contrast, the obsessions in OCD, typically occur as images rather than verbal thoughts. However, most people engage in both kinds of thinking without it being problematic.
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| # ? Mar 9, 2013 19:25 |
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My doctor burned my dick with an iron while stapling my balls together and it cured my dysthymia.
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| # ? Mar 9, 2013 20:36 |
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Peven Stan posted:Do you people with experience with CBT do a lot of writing/journaling about your thoughts? I'm starting to think this is something that might require writing stuff down and not just trying to affirm things in my head. I found this one through Google, but it's pretty much identical to the one I was given back when I did CBT: http://www.psychologytools.org/asse...ught_Record.pdf This website has a bunch of them, if you want to choose one that works for you: http://www.psychologytools.org/down...orksheets.html/ And hey, CBT doesn't work for everyone. I was lucky enough to see a guy who worked directly under Aaron Beck, but the style of therapy just didn't do it for me. A lot of CBT involves working through one negative thought at a time, like you'd work through parts of a project at work, or bits of a homework assignment. At the end of all of it, instead of having a finished essay or a new product, you have a happier life.
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| # ? Mar 9, 2013 20:39 |
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Tonsured posted:You refer to the noun job as being both great and the worst. Is there is something going on there or is it just a combination effect with the family drama? It certainly sounds like you have a mental disease- and yes they ravage the brain like a fever-but have you been taken steps to fortify yourself? Or have you been relying on outside influences to do the work for you. No, I have a new job now, in a corporation. Its helped my anxiety immensely. Honestly until my iPod got stolen out of my car last week I hadn't even considered therapy at all until all the unpleasant sensations came back.
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| # ? Mar 9, 2013 21:50 |
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I suggest you ask a professional dominatrix. I'm sure they'd be more than happy to inform you about safe and consensual CBT.
kelnira fucked around with this message at Mar 10, 2013 around 01:10 |
| # ? Mar 9, 2013 23:34 |
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why is "get" in scare quotes in the thread title
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| # ? Mar 9, 2013 23:44 |
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Raspy forgot posted:why is "get" in scare quotes in the thread title Because if the title was 'Help me get CBT' people would assume OP wanted help finding a therapist who does it, when in fact he already has one and wants help understanding how to make it work for him.
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| # ? Mar 10, 2013 00:33 |
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Maud Moonshine posted:Because if the title was 'Help me get CBT' people would assume OP wanted help finding a therapist who does it, when in fact he already has one and wants help understanding how to make it work for him. dang, that makes sense. i was hoping he was just being a retard
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| # ? Mar 10, 2013 00:34 |
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Raspy forgot posted:dang, that makes sense. i was hoping he was just being a retard nah man its hard to convey meaning online
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| # ? Mar 10, 2013 01:42 |
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Ularg posted:I have similar physical symptoms along with my depression. It isn't fun for sure. And I share some of the feelings the OP has. I've never had any sort of Therapy "work" for me besides maybe making me feel good for the day at best, and making me more critical of myself and depressed at any other time. Therapy can only do so much. You're not going to be able to help people explore their problems, come to terms with them, practice positive thinking, develop coping strategies and such if they have a serious, untreated physiological issue. No amount of CBT is going to make someone with bipolar disorder be able to control their moods, for example. CBT is still really useful in that case, but only once you have the chemical fluctuations that cause the episodes under control via medication. At that point you can start building up healthy and stable thought patterns with CBT, and if that is successful very often you can eventually taper off the medication.
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| # ? Mar 10, 2013 02:08 |
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Peven Stan posted:Let me relay my experiences in the last 8 months or so: I am a psychotherapist. I enjoy CBT and used it extensively in the past, but it has limitations, mainly that it thinks ALL emotions and behaviors stem from thoughts, which is not really the case (and why I now use a new model of therapy). Emotions happen much faster on a neurological level than thoughts do, and so someone can be having emotional trouble that is not directly thought driven (note that it is true that beliefs and thoughts CAN cause emotion; they just aren't the only thing that does). CBT works for tons of people but some just don't get much from it. You might be one of those. Talk to your therapist and ask him either for an alternative to CBT or a reference to another therapist. A good therapist is looking out for your best interest and will gladly get you to someone else who you connect with and who has a different area of expertise.
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| # ? Mar 10, 2013 04:38 |
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I've been dealing with issues of anxiety for years. One tool that has helped me tremendously are hypnotherapy programs by Michael Mahoney at healthyaudio.com. He has one for anxiety/panic issues. There is usually a listening schedule. I often listen to them during my lunch hour and come to after (usually during the ten second return) feeling fully refreshed. You may conk out briefly during the session, but his instructions include one that states you will absorb all of the information even if you fall asleep while listening. Check it out and see if it could be a beneficial daily tool to utilize for managing stress, anxiety and panic. If anything, it's refreshing to listen to, how he speaks to that part of the anxious mind. There may still be listening samples on his site too. He has a number of other programs. His IBS one is quite known and successful for that issue, especially for anxious stomachs.
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| # ? Mar 10, 2013 04:51 |
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Sailor Jim posted:CBT works for tons of people but some just don't get much from it. You might be one of those. Talk to your therapist and ask him either for an alternative to CBT or a reference to another therapist. A good therapist is looking out for your best interest and will gladly get you to someone else who you connect with and who has a different area of expertise.
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| # ? Mar 10, 2013 05:25 |
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Sailor Jim posted:I am a psychotherapist As an aside, OP, people who use this term to refer to themselves rather than "Psychologist" are unlicensed and are not doctors. "Psychotherapist" is not a licensed profession, so your dog could be a practicing psychotherapist. While I'm sure there are counselors who are helpful (and I'm sure Sailor Jim himself is providing fine services wherever he practices), don't write off the entirety of mental health as a profession until you've actually seen a doctor, because there are a variety of therapy options out there.
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| # ? Mar 10, 2013 08:04 |
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The laws regarding nomenclature are far more nuanced than you're making it out to be, and it will vary from area to area. Someone who is a therapist/psychotherapist may simply be someone with a LCSW for example in a state where psychologist is restricted to specific doctorate programs. In a lot of states (mine included) "psychologist" has very specific and silly requirements and a lot of legitimately good mental health care professionals don't qualify for the title simply because they don't have exactly the right PhD - many of which, I add, have absolutely no focus on clinical work. By all means check their credentials but don't assume they're kooks either.
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| # ? Mar 10, 2013 08:17 |
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Peven Stan posted:I will keep this in mind. I had my first session last week and I'm going back Wednesday for round 2. I would be hesitant about changing from CBT when you've only had one session and you've also just discovered that you do in fact have a problem with cognitive distortions. Give it maybe a few more weeks and if you're still not noticing improvements, by all means ask for something else. Though that's not to say you couldn't do something else alongside the CBT (medication as just one example).
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| # ? Mar 10, 2013 10:47 |
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Sigma-X posted:As an aside, OP, people who use this term to refer to themselves rather than "Psychologist" are unlicensed and are not doctors. "Psychotherapist" is not a licensed profession, so your dog could be a practicing psychotherapist. I used the term "psychotherapist" to say that I deal with the mind and behaviors, because everyone uses the term "_____ therapist" to mean "I help people with ______." I don't know anyone who calls themselves a psychotherapist that isn't licensed in some way, but it may have a different nomenclature where you are from. I wish the term "therapist" was more protected, but when I toss my licensing letters around I get a lot of blank stares. Where I practice as an LPC in Louisiana, you cannot call yourself a psychologist unless you have a specific degree (Ph. D., I think) and license with the state board of psychologists. My degree is in Marriage and Family Counseling and the state recognizes me as a Licensed Professional Counselor (Intern, since we have to do 3000 counseling hours AFTER graduating with a Masters to become licensed). Maud Moonshine posted:I would be hesitant about changing from CBT when you've only had one session and you've also just discovered that you do in fact have a problem with cognitive distortions. Give it maybe a few more weeks and if you're still not noticing improvements, by all means ask for something else. Though that's not to say you couldn't do something else alongside the CBT (medication as just one example). I totally agree with this. CBT takes time to sink in and you should give it a fair shot. It works wonders and has helped millions of people heal and be free of lots of troubling thoughts, images, emotions, and behaviors. Therapy and therapy models aren't like giving someone a pill for high blood pressure and sending them home (everyone's brain and circumstances are wildly different); the skill and insight of the therapist, the willingness to commit and work from the client, and the chance that a model just doesn't work for your learning style/brain/problem all combine to make therapy work.
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| # ? Mar 10, 2013 19:45 |
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Sailor Jim posted:Where I practice as an LPC in Louisiana, you cannot call yourself a psychologist unless you have a specific degree (Ph. D., I think) and license with the state board of psychologists. My degree is in Marriage and Family Counseling and the state recognizes me as a Licensed Professional Counselor (Intern, since we have to do 3000 counseling hours AFTER graduating with a Masters to become licensed). Same in Texas. My mom works with the MHMRA which is the state mental health division in charge or Harris County (Houston). She has a degree in psychology, a masters, and a state license. She is NOT a psychologist. That is a term reserved for someone with a particular doctorate, and the profession overall is mostly research/academia related. She is also NOT a psychiatrist. That is reserved for people with another doctorate, who can prescribe drugs. Counselor, therapist, psychotherapist, and social worker all correctly describe her position, however. The post you're responding to us the second I've seen in E/N recently which incorrectly advised people that they need a 'real mental health expert like a psychiatrist!' when people were talking about therapy. Signma-X, in the future please make certain you know what you're talking about before posting. We wouldn't want people to get the wrong idea and mistake ignorance for certainty when it comes to their mental well being.
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| # ? Mar 10, 2013 20:51 |
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Reene posted:The laws regarding nomenclature are far more nuanced than you're making it out to be, and it will vary from area to area. Someone who is a therapist/psychotherapist may simply be someone with a LCSW for example in a state where psychologist is restricted to specific doctorate programs. In a lot of states (mine included) "psychologist" has very specific and silly requirements and a lot of legitimately good mental health care professionals don't qualify for the title simply because they don't have exactly the right PhD - many of which, I add, have absolutely no focus on clinical work. I generally agree with what you are saying, but I don't understand what you mean when you say that "psychologist" has very specific and silly requirements. To use the term "psychologist" you have to be a psychologist--i.e. have studied psychology. Anyone with a PhD in psychology is a psychologist. Of those people, only individuals with a PhD in clinical psychology, aka clinical psychologists, have any business treating individuals with mental illness. The problem isn't that "psychologist" only applies to those who are in fact psychologists. The problem is that other competent mental health professionals haven't banded together to register a term which would clearly identify the work they do. For instance, why not work to make "psychotherapist" a protected term that can only be used by a person with x, y, or z credentials? Peven Stan posted:I'm doubtful of PTSD due to other things as well. Flashbacks aren't necessarily the only thing I'm not having that's indicative of PTSD. For example, I also don't have nightmares and I get a solid 7-8 hours of sleep every night. There was a guy in one of my classes with legit PTSD from his time in Iraq who would flip out if he heard loud noises and bug out of the classroom. I don't have the same kind of aversion to my triggers, for example. This was also a diagnosis by a LPC, not a LCSW/MD/PhD. I'm not in the States so I don't know exactly what exactly an LPC is. A lot of professionals who practice psychotherapy, and are trained to do so, are not trained in assessment and diagnosis. I would be wary of a diagnosis given by someone who was not explicitly trained in assessment and diagnosis of mental phenomena. Maybe you've just chosen to leave it out, but from your account it doesn't sound like you've experienced any type of event that would qualify you for PTSD. If you're issue is that you started to have panic attacks related to the stress of your job, and then have been feeling anxious, and more worried about panic attacks since your car was robbed this past month, then there is nothing in there that even hints at PTSD. Nathilus posted:Same in Texas. My mom works with the MHMRA which is the state mental health division in charge or Harris County (Houston). She has a degree in psychology, a masters, and a state license. She is NOT a psychologist. That is a term reserved for someone with a particular doctorate, and the profession overall is mostly research/academia related. She is also NOT a psychiatrist. That is reserved for people with another doctorate, who can prescribe drugs. Counselor, therapist, psychotherapist, and social worker all correctly describe her position, however. If your mum doesn't have a BSW or an MSW I'm pretty sure she can't be referred to as a social worker... quote:The post you're responding to us the second I've seen in E/N recently which incorrectly advised people that they need a 'real mental health expert like a psychiatrist!' when people were talking about therapy. Signma-X, in the future please make certain you know what you're talking about before posting. We wouldn't want people to get the wrong idea and mistake ignorance for certainty when it comes to their mental well being. I'm not sure where Sigma-X is from, but in Canada only psychiatrists and psychologists are properly trained in assessment and diagnosis. If the treatment targeting a specific diagnosis then it seems like a pretty good idea to see a psychiatrist or a psychologist to get an accurate diagnosis first. Sigma-X was also pointing out the very real problem of lack of regulation of the term "psychotherapist" so it's best not to write off all therapy before you've been seen by a qualified professional.
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| # ? Mar 10, 2013 23:28 |
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In my state "psychotherapist" is actually also a protected title just like psychologist (since I just checked) and you need a PhD from specific programs to use any of the titles associated with it or to make statements like "I practice psychotherapy," on top of a few other requirements including being "of good moral character." I know most states don't protect psychotherapist though. I think it's silly that a PhD is required at all, because most PhD programs are not oriented to actual treatment (they're oriented to research) whereas Masters programs do tend to be more treatment-oriented. It also makes no allowances for experience - how is it a kid fresh out of a PhD program in experimental psychology is more qualified to call themselves a psychotherapist than a LCSW with an MSW that has been practicing with actual patients for ten years? It's dumb the requirements are dumb. I also understand where they're coming from with the "good moral character" stuff but that is the vaguest bullshit ever.
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| # ? Mar 10, 2013 23:43 |
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Goosed it. posted:If your mum doesn't have a BSW or an MSW I'm pretty sure she can't be referred to as a social worker... Her program delivers government resources to at-risk youth. That fits any definition of social work that I've ever seen. At an earlier point in career she could have been considered to be doing both types of social work, direct and clinical, at the same time. Clinical because of her treatment of the kids themselves, and direct because she also dealt with law enforcement and other governmental agencies on the families' behalf. I have no idea what her master's is. It might well be an MSW. Could as easily be psychology related, her agency is in need of both types of people.
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| # ? Mar 11, 2013 00:08 |
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| # ? May 22, 2013 03:32 |
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Nathilus posted:Same in Texas. My mom works with the MHMRA which is the state mental health division in charge or Harris County (Houston). She has a degree in psychology, a masters, and a state license. She is NOT a psychologist. That is a term reserved for someone with a particular doctorate, and the profession overall is mostly research/academia related. She is also NOT a psychiatrist. That is reserved for people with another doctorate, who can prescribe drugs. Counselor, therapist, psychotherapist, and social worker all correctly describe her position, however. I didn't advise a psychiatrist, but a psychologist. Which your mom is not. Which Sailor Jim is not. I am well aware of the difference. I am aware of the terms, and psychotherapist is not one of them (except in whatever state Reene is in, apparently) It's wonderful that Jim is a LPC, which involves licensing. You just admitted in the post above this that you're calling your mom a social worker even though she doesn't have the credentials to be a social worker, however, which is really fuckin' sketchy. There are a myriad of letters you can dump after your name, but none of them are required in (most, apparently) states to call yourself a "psychotherapist." Credentials and licensing are incredibly important for the treatments of physical ailments, and your disregard for them for mental health professionals shows a lack of respect for the medical importance of mental health, at least. Given that the OP has issues with trusting the efficacy of CBT, it's probably in the OP's best interest to research what their medical professional actually is, and what their qualifications are. Everyone with their BA in psychology wants to pretend they're a doctor, but they're not, and healthcare licensing is the difference between talking to someone's mom or the equivalent of a mental health nurse, or a surgeon. also when calling someone out, spell their name right, bro
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| # ? Mar 11, 2013 00:41 |
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