cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/1012436
Hey Lemmings
I think maybe I’m just a bit anxious right now.
But I don’t know what to expect.
I already go to a psychologist once a week, since my early teens (although I had some time off until now).
Should I expect the same dynamics?
I know why I’m going and all, I know what I wanna “treat”, but I’m still in doubt about if what I want to treat is the treatment I need, and it would be more of a consequence of some deeper stuff.
Don’t know if I made myself clear, but there it is.
Has anyone been to one before? What should I expect? How it went for you?
Edit: so, I did it and it was VERY NICE. He was very welcoming and made me feel very secure. He ended up prescribing two medications for me, to which I expressed some concerns, but he made me feel comfortable and trust him about it. When he was talking and said something about “having a normal life again” I almost cried lol.
My guess is that experiences will vary greatly between people, but I can offer you my experience since I was somewhat surprised by how it played out.
When I decided I needed help, I made an appointment with a psychiatrist. Based on assumptions and what I’ve seen in popular media, I thought they’d want to dig into my past and deep seeded traumas and on and on. When I met with them, they seemed mostly uninterested in the why of my problems. He focused on the actual symptoms that I was experiencing and suggested medications and treatment for them. I was actually embarrassed because I tried to delve into some of those deeper concerns, and he politely guided me back to the negative symptoms I was experiencing.
My treatment ended up being two-fold: chemical and interpersonal. In addition to medication, I was refereed to a talk therapist within the same practice. That is where I was encouraged to explore some of the foundational issues that I felt were negatively contributing to my thought processes and explored new ways of thinking.
My suggestion would be to go in with an open mind, and explore what exactly the practitioner does and how they do it. Don’t be self conscious or embarrassed if it doesn’t go how you expect. We are laymen, after all, and don’t know how these things work on the professional side. Also, be open to the help that is offered, even if it isn’t the entire treatment plan that you’ll ultimately need. Maybe they’ll only offer medical treatment, maybe they’ll want to talk to you about deeper trauma. But I think (hope) they will probably be very open to helping you find other resources if they think you need something they don’t provide personally.
Best of luck to you. I don’t know what issue it is you’re seeking help for, but whatever it is I’m glad you’re putting yourself out there to get assistance.