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I don't want a psychologist anymore
I've wanted a psychologist for ages. I've been going through shit for the past three years because of friendship drama, and now that I've moved schools I just wanted to recover from the trauma with a psychologist. I got a referral for a free psychologist last year, and finally got around to using it recently. Except it wasn't free for some reason? I only got a small rebate? Anyway now I've done two sessions but I don't want to do it anymore. I don't even want a different psychologist, I just want none. I feel fine? I was thinking about booking an appointment with my counsellor, but now I feel like I don't even need that. If anything I just want a psychiatrist to prescribe me anxiety meds and be done with it. I literally just told my friend who said "my mum wants me to take antidepressants and if that'll get her off my back about therapy I'll do it" that therapy, not meds, is the only long-term solution. But still, I suddenly don't feel affected by trauma, and my only problem is anxiety that just feels like a biological problem at this point. So yeah, I feel fine. I have good friends now. I've started going to an open floor dance class, so doing physical stuff that's good for my mental health. I can deal with my problems better than psychologists seem to be able to because I'm used to dealing with myself, I know myself better, and I'm constantly psycho-analysing myself, so everyone I go to never really has anything new to bring to the table. They really just feel like people to vent to but not really give any proper solutions, and I can just do that for free. But I guess what I'm getting at is, I know people go through phases where they suddenly think they're cured of everything but they still need help, so is that me? Do I just need to find another psychologist? Or am I actually okay now and it's okay to just get the anxiety meds?
Comments
I just wanted to update and say I have gotten a new psychologist because things started to get worse again, and I'm seeing them for the first time after the holidays
@utgard I'm sorry to hear that things have gotten difficult for you, but glad to hear you've got a new psych to support you through it. Hopefully they'll be a good match for you.
Is there anything you've got going on that you feel could be helpful to talk about with us here?
well it's not the only thing but I did just make a post about one thing
Hi @utgard , thank you for sharing your experiences. To be honest, I used to be in a similar headspace - that I didn't need any help because I was able to do everything myself. That worked fine until I hit rock bottom and suddenly those things weren't working anymore and I had nothing to lean on. At that point I finally saw a psychologist and I was doubtful for a while, but there was a moment that I realised things were getting better and even though I probably would have eventually reached the same conclusions on my own, the therapy had made it significantly easier for me and accelarated things a lot.
But regardless, therapy is completely your choice and for it to work, you have to want to be there. If you didn't click with the psychologist that you saw, it may be an option to try a different professional or take a break for a while. In the end, like you suggest, therapy may just not be for you at the current moment.
I find your viewpoint interesting that your anxiety is only a biological problem that can easily be solved with mediciation. Perhaps it would be ideal to speak with your GP or a psychiatrist about medication and treatment options. My GP once explained to me that medication or therapy on their own can only get you to the baseline, but doing both doubles the effect and gets you to a higher place. It's also worth it to discuss the side-effects and long-term effects of medication because I was not prepared for those at all!
Remember there's also many different kinds of therapy if one in particular just isn't working for you. It also doesn't have to be forever! You can learn a lot in only a few sessions. I think it's also worth it to keep in mind that a psychologist isn't going to solve all of your problems. They're not really there to give you the answers. My psychologist always described that she's 'like a mirror' - there to absorb what I'm telling her and help me to reflect that back onto myself. When I thought of it like that, a psychologist is really just an effective tool for untangling my own thought processes and creating new healthy thought habits rather than anxious ones. When I was speaking to her, I could put things into perspective so much more easily. I think it's really important to have the right expectations going into therapy in order to get anything out of it. Unfortunately it is very expensive to see a psychologist in Australia so it's very hard to stick with it if you're not seeing results right away.
It's awesome to hear that you have some good friends and are doing physical activities that you enjoy. Those things are always going to be great at boosting your mental health! I would love to know your thoughts on everything and how you're going now?
Hey @utgard , it sounds like you've been going through a challenging time due to friendship drama, and it's disappointing to find out that the psychologist you were referred to wasn't really free nor really helpful to you. This must have added to your frustration.
It sounds like you have strong self-awareness and are open to criticism, and it's wonderful to hear you are still considering keeping your options open as a psychologist may benefit you when you feel like you need to see one in the future. Do you think it may be worth discussing this with your psychiatrist when you go to get your prescriptions as they may be able to provide you with a professional advice regarding counselling and psychologist services?
I just wanted to say that seeking help is a personal choice, and that it's nice to hear you are prioritising what feels right for you. Trust your instincts and allow yourself the time and space to reflect on your needs and goals for your mental well-being.
Stay strong.
Hey there @utgard thanks for sharing your feelings and questions about whether to continue seeing a psychologist. It sounds like you've put a lot of thought into deciding what's right for you, and I want to acknowledge how proactive you're about looking after yourself 🥰 it's so good to read that you've made some new friends and are going to dance class! How are you finding it?
Deciding whether or not to see a psychologist is such a personal decision, and I think most people on a mental health journey will ask themselves if continuing therapy is what they need at least once! Whichever way you decide to go, it's always reassuring to know that you always have the option to revisit the idea if you find yourself wanting to chat with someone in the future. I want to share some information with you in case you need it.
You said so far, a psychologist hasn't been able to bring anything new to the table. It can be hard to find someone you trust, connect with and who offers guidance that actually resonates. There are so many different kinds of support which can make it confusing, too. We have an article about types of mental health professionals that might be helpful to read if you ever need support in the future.
You mentioned that you were seeing a psychologist but only received a small rebate which must have been confusing. If you ever want to know how the rebates work, here's some information.
Let us know what you think and if you have any other questions. We're also here to listen if you want to weigh up the pros and cons together 😊