Some realisations about seeing a psychologist
Hi everyone! This will be my first post in the OC, and I just want to share a conversation I had with my friend recently that made me realise a lot of things.
A few days ago, I was having dinner with a friend when I opened up to them about possibly seeing a psychologist because there’s something that has been bothering me. I told them about how I’d been reluctant to see one because I felt like it wasn’t that much of a worry. After all, the thoughts haven’t really been too bad to the point that they interfere with my life. It is a bit ironic, even to myself, that as a psych student, I feel like I have to have severe symptoms before I am convinced that I need to see a psychologist. Even tho when it comes to other people, I always encourage them to go whenever they’re having doubts like this. My friend then told me that it actually would be better to see one now that I think the symptoms are not that bad yet than going when it’s already interfering with my life and treatment will be more difficult. When they said that, I had several realisations of how I view psychologists and therapy, and my own well-being compared to other people’s well-being.
As I mentioned, I always encourage people to access mental health support and psychologists if they feel that they need one but are having doubts that their symptoms are not severe enough. But it seems that I can’t say it to myself. Whenever I feel that I’m not in a good place and I consider going to a psych, I always follow it with “If it doesn’t interfere with my life, then it’s not that important.” After the talk with my friend, I realised how much I have been invalidating my feelings and how I’m risking making things worse by not getting support earlier.
I also realised the reason why I feel like if it doesn’t get in the way of my life, then it’s not worth seeing a psych is because I feel like if I’m not going to get diagnosed with anything, then it’s probably just random and that I’m making it worse than it actually is. When it comes to myself, I always felt like getting a diagnosis was the end goal and that if I’m not diagnosed with anything then I’m just overreacting. I don’t even think this way when I encourage other people to see a psych, but somehow, when it comes to myself, I have so many boxes I have to tick. My friend then reminded me that the main reason that I see a psych should be to feel better, and not to get a diagnosis. And that was really eye-opening.
I had other realisations, but these are the main points. This is really personal to me but I thought that I wanted to share it here in case you’re also having hesitations about seeing a psych. I’m currently still searching for psychologists and deciding whether I should go to a psych directly or if I should go to a GP first to get a referral. Any advice on that would be great 😊
I know this is a long post, but thanks for reading! Sending you all lots of hugs and love 🤗💙
Comments
Hey @Calming_Waves,
Thank you so much for sharing this. This is a super relatable post and I think a lot of people can feel the same way about seeking help. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that we need to have "big" problems to justify getting support, especially when we're used to encouraging others to seek help, but not always doing the same for ourselves. This is definitely something I struggled with for a long time myself.
When it comes to whether to go directly to a psychologist or get a GP referral, it can really depend on what you're comfortable with. Some people prefer getting a GP referral because it might make things easier when it comes to claiming Medicare rebates (if you’re eligible). But you can also just book directly with a psychologist if you feel ready for that, especially if you’ve already done some research and found someone that you think might be a good fit. Personally, I started with the GP route and found it worked well for me.
Given that so much has been on your mind, I'm wondering if there's anything you can do to take care of yourself? I find that small acts of self-care can help ground me in the moment and give me a more positive outlook for the day ahead, such as going on a short walk or treating myself to my favourite snack.
Sending you hugs! 💛
Congratulations on coming to these realisations, in some ways, it might feel like there is less weight on your shoulders. I can also relate to you, I am also a fellow psych student and have dealt with issues in the past and struggled to find a psych.
I think when it comes to seeking out help, a diagnosis isn't always required sometimes it is about talking things out. I have seen some psychologists and counsellors in the past when I felt a diagnosis was required but have recently gone back to deal with some issues in my life that just weigh heavily on me. I realised that the issues I had and even speaking to my friends helped but I always felt their input mattered and they became involved almost in the decisions. Whereas seeking a psychologist allowed me to take my perspective and see it as an overview like a bird eye view. I also knew if I didn't deal with the issues it could grow into a bigger issue that could impact my everyday life. This helped me a lot with my mindset about seeking someone out and seeing them again, this could just be another perspective so it is less about a diagnosis and more about stepping back and looking at the bigger picture.
When it came to seeking one, I went straight to a psychologist and used my local counsellors. It was easier for me as speaking to my GP about my mental health I could never find the words, even when I went in with something to say, I just forgot. Going straight to them also allowed them to assess the situation in what I felt was a less pressured way, even though I have had my sister offer to go to the GP with me. However, though my local town has access to free sessions (I live rurally access is important to them), I have never had to worry about the payment options. If I did I would seek out my GP and do a mental health plan for the rebate because it can be expensive. Probably the other good thing about GP is they can provide you with a list of services and psychologists as well (mine do at least).
Another option that I have considered is using the university support services. Most of them now have wellbeing support and counsellors you can seek out for sessions, the ones at my university are only about $40. I would have considered this an option as well if I didn't have access in my hometown. This might worth be looking into and the ones I have at my uni have heard they have made referrals for some students I know, this could be another option.
All the best, but it's great to see you taking strides in your mental health and recongising the importance of it.
hey @Calming_Waves,
As a fellow psych student and a person who struggles with their mental health (I have seen many different psychologists in my life!), I can totally relate to your post but also want to share my insight on how to navigate through this situation 💖
Although you are struggling with thoughts and feelings of not needing to see a psychologist and that your struggles are not severe enough or rewarding of a diagnosis, I want to reward you for acknowledging this is irrational and you should part with these beliefs. I'm happy you shared with your friend and they advised you to still see someone, it seems you have a great support system in this friend 😊. To further challenge these thoughts you are having, I want you to adopt the belief that all mental health challenges are valid and need addressing, no matter how small or large they appear, they still impact our lives. You do not need a diagnosis to speak to a psychologists, they work to help people not to diagnose!
In my worst mental state I was hesitant to seek professional help. I thought I only truly understood what was going on in my own head, and because I'm studying psychology I can successfully manage it myself. But I was so so wrong and it only got worse. I took the step and put my ego aside (which I know can be scary), and got professional psychological help. It was so relieving to have a conversation with someone who listened and just simply got it. I had a whole other perspective and gentle advice which was truly comforting.
Please don't feel discouraged to speak to a psychologist. Your struggle (no matter how small or large you perceive it to be), is highly valid and deserving of attention and exploration.
I hope this helps and all the best with your journey 💖
Hi there @Calming_Waves
I really feel this. I just graduated with a psych/counselling bachelors and I still relate to feeling this way. I feel like sometimes I put off getting support for a long time, which shouldn't be the case. I know how important it is to get help, and I tell everyone that they should seek support, and yet sometimes I don't practice what I preach. This is something I've been working on recently actually and I've started opening up to my psychologist about issues that I didn't previously talk about / avoided. I already feel so much more relief seeking the support I know that I truly needed.
I would really recommend going to see a GP first for a mental health plan so that you can claim the medicare rebate for psychology sessions 😇
Best wishes 💜
Hi @Green_Ghost, thank you for your support and for sharing your experience! Sometimes it can really be hard to practice what we preach, especially in matters of mental health. It's reassuring to hear that you've started opening up to your psychologist about certain issues and that it already made you feel better.
Also, thanks for your advice! Many people have been suggesting to see a GP first so I might do just that 😊
All the best! 🤗💙
Thank you for posting this, I have experienced telling myself the same thing and I am sure many other people have too! It's very easy to fall into the trap of invalidating yourself and thinking it's not that bad and psychologists are only for more serious situations. But at the end of the day, just like our bodies need maintenance and exercise to remain strong and healthy, so do our minds and our mental health! We need to treat our health holistically and realise that putting energy into and nurturing our mental health is just as important as washing our hair weekly, or eating healthy for example, if not more important. This is such an important issue to address and I am so glad that you've brought attention to it. Your friend's insight is also very helpful and I am glad you have someone in your life like that, because I agree, it's best to address things now before they manifest and get worse.
In regard to whether you should see a GP first or a psych directly, I would suggest going to a GP first. A GP could sign you up for a mental health care plan which would allow you to get free sessions through medicare, and a GP referral might help you skip the waitlist or direct you to a psychologist with availability.
I wish you all the best moving forward and I hope things start to look up!
Hi @Luna_Lovegood, it’s really heartwarming to get this kind of support. Thank you so much 💙
It’s reassuring to know that I’m not the only one who feels this way, but it’s also sad that many of us have experienced or are experiencing feeling like this. You’re right about how we need to treat our health holistically, and that includes taking care of every aspect of it including our mental health. When there’s something physically wrong with us, it’s so easy to go to the GP, but somehow, when it comes to our mental health, seeing a psych is so much harder. I’m so thankful that there are spaces like this where we can talk about these kinds of topics openly because I feel like it is not talked about often enough.
Anyway, thank you for your advice about seeing a GP first! It’s a really big help because these things can get confusing sometimes 😅
Sending you lots of hugs and love 🤗💙
Hii @Calming_Waves
Thanks for sharing - that was incredibly eye-opening! Its super impressive that you were able to gather your thoughts and coherently write it out like this :))
Maybe its just really common to think that accessing the health system is the absolute last resort in treating illness.
But if we really think about it, this 'last resort' is only really relevent to a specific type of situation - like going to the emergency room for example.
Maybe its easier to look at accessing health services, such as pyschologists, as a preventative measure. You want to prevent a diagnosis, than to necessarily seek a diagnosis. I think you've worded this much better than I have.
I actually learnt more about preventative health later on in my psychology degree so it could be something worth looking into now if that interests you! It seems to be a much more proactive and positive way of looking at health and wellbeing in general.
Well done again! 🫶
HI @formulafrenzy, thank you so much for your support! This means a lot to me 💙
I agree that looking at accessing health services as a preventative measure rather than seeking a diagnosis is a better way to look at it. I actually learnt about preventative health in my undergrad too but never really thought to apply it to myself. All this time, I’ve always thought of it as something that other people should do and that it doesn’t really apply to me. So, thank you for bringing that up! I agree that it is definitely a more proactive and positive way of looking at health and wellbeing.
Anyway, thanks so much again!
Sending you lots of hugs and love 🤗💙
Hey @Calming_Waves !
Thank you so much for being so vulnerable and sharing here with us, and big congrats on your first proper post!
First, I wanted to say that I really admire how clearly you've been able to work through all of these thoughts you've been having. What you've describe here is definitely something I relate to, and I have a hunch it might be something that many other people would relate to as well. 'm a fellow psych student and the irony isn't lost on me either haha! I think that starting to talk about things like this is a big first step in challenging this idea that while everyone else absolutely should seek support, you yourself must be in some extreme kind of situation to even be worthy of support. I think that culturally we've come a long way in the way we understand psychology services and mental health - moving from thinking of therapy as something that you seek if you're experiencing mentally ill health a while ago, to now thinking about therapy as something that can be useful for pretty much anyone. But, I think individually, a lot of people still have that internalised stigma around accessing support, I certainly do.
It seems like you've figured this out already, but i'd like to say that you are absolutely worthy of support 💜.
I work in health admin so I know a little about navigating referrals etc! I would absolutely suggest having a chat with your GP and getting a referral for a couple reasons. First, your GP might have a couple of people in mind they could refer you to, based on the types of things you want to chat about/the type of therapy you'd like to do. Second, you can get a mental health care plan through your GP, which enables you to access a Medicare rebate for psych sessions. But, this said, absolutely keep looking around yourself as well - if you find a psych who you think would be a good fit, then your GP would probably be happy to refer to them specifically.
Sending so much care your way 💜
Hi @Scarlet_Locust, thank you so much for your support. I really appreciate it 💙
I like it when you said that culturally we’ve come a long way in the way we understand psych services but individually, many of us still have internalised stigma around accessing support. I think it perfectly encapsulates our society right now where we’ve become so open and encouraging to others to access support but still hard on ourselves when it comes to this because we still hold some internalised stigma that sometimes we're not even aware of. I haven't thought of it before but internalised stigma is definitely the word to describe it.
Also, thank you so much for your advice! It is such a big help and I’ll make sure to take note of it 😊
Sending you lots of hugs and love 🤗💙
