Psychiatrist, Psychologist or Counselor?

Miriam,

I think your plan of seeing your psychologist weekly is a great idea. One week is not long and you have your dr.'s cell phone and us and I am sure if need be you can call your psychologist.

Juat take it one step at a time. It is hard for friends that have not dealt with depression to understand, afterall sometimes it is hard for us to understand. Have a support system in place for your depression and as much as you want your friends to understand it just may not happen, so enjoy their friendship. The right doors will open for what you need.

Nancy

Nancy and Vicki, thank you so much for your support.
My next appointment with my psychologist wont be till next wednesday and the last time i saw her was about 3 weeks ago, when I was feeling great. I want to see her weekly again, just to know that if anything happens she will have an appointment for me. :)
Its so good to know that others have gone through this. I guess one of my biggest problem is that I do have great friends, but I just dont think they understand this.. and its putting a huge strain onto my relationship with them, as well as with my family.

The good thoughts jar is a brilliant idea. I already made a little book with inspirational, positive thoughts... then, when I cant sleep at night, I take it out and just read them.. It really helps to make you think about the world in a differnt light sometimes. Id suggest you all to do that too, just go onto any site on the internet and search positive quotes, or something.. :)

I've been having a really positive day today and I'd just like to say that that's also thanks to you all!! :)
Much love to everyone out there xoxox

Miriam - thanks for the update. I am so glad we were able to give you a sense of support and wellbeing. You are fortunate to have a dr who gave you her cell phone number. Should the feelings become too powerful, by all means use it. In the meantime do take some time just for you. Make a list of the things that are good about your life. Cut it up into individual pieces and put in a jar or bowl. At least 2-3 times a day, and anytime you are feeling down, pull from those items to remind you that life is good.

Stay in touch so we know you are doing well and continuing to improve.

vicki

Miriam,

Thank you for keeping us posted. I am glad you followed through with the suggestions. I feel more comfortable since you did this and you have several options to use should the thoughts get stronger and more persistent.

Does your psychologist know about your thoughts? I know you talked with your GP. I am hoping that your GP knows when to hand you over to a psychiatrist to deal with the medication issue, as they are experts - GP's have some knowledge but are not specialists when it comes to depression and medication. This may be a worthwhilr topic to have with your psychologist. When is your next appt.?

As you can tell by the responses we do care and many of us, including myself have been where you are at right now. Please know we are here for you to share anytime.

Make these next few days worthwhile, maybe you can set up your spark page.

Nancy

Hi everyone,
Wow, You guys are so supportive and even just reading all your messages made me feel a little better. :)
I did go see my GP again and told her about my thoughts and worries. She said I need to be patient with the pills, as it takes a while for them to show any proper effects that she can analyse. She wants to see me again in two weeks. In a way that calmed me down, because I know she cares and wants to monitor me.
I am just scared something will happen in the meantime. But she did give me her cell number, so I can call anytime.

I dont think i will really end up going as far as actually commiting suicide. I am still scared of the thought. That's a good sign right?
I am at home today and tomrorow from school, because I just felt horrible whenever I got home. I didnt want to see any of my friends. My Gp said it was a good idea to just take some time for myself.
I am so glad I joined this site. Thank you all so so much for all your support.
Love, Miriam

Hi Miriam, You have been given very good advice which I hope that you will follow. Depression, medication, and suicidal thoughts are all pretty risky business, so do get in touch with your doctor and let him/her know about this. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers in hopes that soon you will be feeling better. Please stay in touch with the team, and keep us updated on how you are doing. We are very supportive; we are here for you, and we CARE!

HUGS
Pam

Miriam - you definitely need to talk to your dr. ASAP. Some meds have suicidal thoughts as a side effect and when that happens you must seek help immediately. There may be a better med for you but the condition you describe is very worrisome.

Let us know as soon as you talk to the dr. And don't wait a long time for an appointment. This is a medical emergency!

Please reply as soon as possible and let us know you have either gone to an emergency room, called your dr.or therapist. There are drugs that do have suicidal thoughts as side effects. Please get yourself to a professional as soon as possible.

Absolutely, the wrong med for you could cause you to have suicidal thoughts, and, especially if it is the med, it can be very dangerous! Get to the prescribing doctor ASAP -- but what ever you do, don't take yourself off of them without medical supervision, and especially NOT cold turkey, because that can be even more dangerous.
Jodi

Hi Miriam,

If you are having these types of thoughts, you need help now. You need to see a Dr ASAP and tell him/her exactly what is happening - sometimes with young people particularly some medications can have this side effect. It MAY be that this med isn't for you. It is quite possible that you will require a different type. It may also be appropriate to ask your Doctor for a referral to a Psychiatrist. When I was first treated for depression I hadn't wanted to live. My Dr (a GP who was VERY good for me) had me go in to see him every 4-5 days to start with then it would be a week, and then we got on to fortngihtly. This was the ensure that I was being monitored very closely.

Nancy has given you some good advice.

Please come back and let us know how you are getting on and that you have sought further medical help.

Take care,
Kris xx

Miriam,

Please if you are having thoughts of hurting yourself or even starting to think suicidal thoughts - call your psychologist now and let her know.

We also have a list of numbers to call. I will give you the link. www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/team_mes
sa
geboard_thread.asp?board=711x953x301R>56597

I am glad you shared and I will respond to your other remarks after I know you have talked with someone about your suicidal thoughts.

We are here for you. Please let me know what you have followed through with and how you are doing.

I care

Nancy

Hey everyone,
I am 18 and just about to do my final exams. A year ago I started seeing a psycologist. It has really helped, but as stress started building up more and more, my doctor (GP) put me on anti-depressants. I have taken them for 4 weeks now, at the start I felt better, but now I feel like I'm back to where I was before I started. I am still seeing my psycologist. She is great and has helped me, particularly with anxiety and panic attacks. but the depression lasts.
For anyone I would really recommend trying to see someone first, before going on medications.. It helps you see yourself in a different light, and maybe realise how bad (or good) things are.
I didnt think I had an actual depression, until after my therapy.
Do any of you have any experience with Anti-depressants and how they worked out?

I am just very worried, as I am started to get suicidal thoughts, which I hadnt had before..
Thank you so much for this page.. :) Miriam

I saw a therapist, who was a licensed social worker working in private practice as a therapist, for a few years in conjunction with a psychiatrist to prescribe the medications.

I would probably start w/ a therapist/counselor/social worker as they can access your situation, give you support & point you in the right direction.

Hope you find the one that works for you.

Have a great night!

I have been to heaps of councellors and i found that a psycologist helped me the most. I was seeing a councellor and i think my "problems" were too complex for her because she referred me to the psycologist. They do cost more though, i was only able to afford it because i got most of it back through the government.

I see a pychologist for my counseling and I see a psychiatrist for the medication part. When I go in and see the psychiatrist, I see him for like 10 minutes maybe not any more. He asks me about my meds, how I am feeling and if we need to make a change. That's about it for me.

I, like you, have been hesitent to taking drugs. In part because drugs as a young child distorted my world when on asthma medicine, and in part to family members who became addicted to drugs and alchohol. I found behavioral changes for the most part helped me live a healthy fulfilling life. However as stressors built, I did try medication with mixed results. It helped if I was in distress but didn't bring me back to my former level of functionality. I have found medication is better now than 20 years ago but it needs to be used in conjunction with other tools to help.

Please feel free to write to me if you have further questions on my experience. I wish you the best.

Paul

While the differences between titles can be important, I want to mention that a key element is just finding someone you can work well with. The Ph.D. psychologist I tried to work with first was not especially skilled and tended to map my experience into what she expected. The masters level social worker I'm working with now is much better at hearing me and guiding me toward useful perspectives and behavior changes.

And I say this as someone who was very biased toward wanting to work with a psychiatrist or psychologist originally.

A psychiatrist is an M.D. who diagnoses and prescribes. May also do therapy, psychoanalysis, what have you.

The education and training required for others in the mental health field varies state to state. For example, in New York:

-- a Ph.D. is required in order to call oneself a psychologist There are several doctoral programs in psychology. The one best qualified for therapy is a clinical psychologist.
-- Psychotherapist. No requirements whatsoever. A shoelace salesman may hang a "Psychotherapist" shingle.

Since I began hearing people refer to "counselor" several years ago, I thought they were using it as a synonym for "therapist." Still don't know if it is a separate animal. My own peeve about it is that, to me, a "counselor" is someone who pretty much tells you what to do." That may just be my own semantic bias.

Various social workers are well-qualified to do therapy. There are also psychoanalysts, who prepare in that area. I believe that most have had prior training/experience in therapies, but can't give a percentage.

Is there a specific reason that you don't want medication again? It might be the wise way to go, as you describe your feeling as a downward spiral. As one of my therapists who was encouraging me to see a psychiatrist for medication said, "You don't have to walk around feeling this way." If you decide to take medication, seek a good psychiatrist rather than your primary doctor. Primaries are notorious for not being well-versed in the psychotropic.

One other thing: the prevailing view in the mental health field is that treatment consisting of medication and talk therapy is more effective than either alone.

Please let the team know what route you choose, and of course, remember that this is a place for support and sharing.

Hi Charliangel3.

Here is a link that describes in detail what the difference is and a description of each.

There are many different kinds of counselors that do varying therapies. This site describes all this.

I have used all three. Currently I see my psychiatrist who talks with me and prescribes my medication. He also has input into my diagnosis. A psychiatrist is an MD.

I saw a psychologist for 3 years. Yes, they are excellant and I would prefer one now - but, oh well. My psychologist followed cognitive-behavorial techniques, which basically says we can change our way of thinking and also our behavior.

My counselor now is a licensed clinical social worker and uses various techniques including talk, relaxation techniques, etc..

Please get back to us with any questions you may have. Here is the link.
psychology.about.com/od/psychotherap
y/
f/psychvspsych.htm

Nancy

Hi CHARLIANGEL3 -
A Psychiatrist is better placed for making accurate mental health diagnosis and prescribes the appropriate medications AND can do the talk therapy CBT etc.

A Psychologist can make mental health diagnosis and does talk therapy, CBT etc. My understanding is in the States SOME may be able to prescribe if they have undertaken additional training.

Councellor is one who just does talk therapy. I usually suggest away from them for the more serious stuff, because they only have basic training, and at times don't realise that what they are dealing with is above their skill level. They aren't really qualified to make a diagnosis. They DO have their place, tho'.

I haven't used a counsellor (except for help with dealing with hubby's drinking and she is good there), but have had friends who have, and I know (on a personal level) some certificated counsellors. I have seen the level of help given, and in a couple cases it was way below what the person should have received, but that was because of only basic training.

I have seen a Psychiatrist (once) who made the diagnosis which confirmed the Psychologist's diagnosis, and have had a lot of input from Psychologists, which has been very helpful. My husband has had a lot of input from a Psychiatrist (for OCD) (CBT etc. and meds) and that was extremely beneficial.

Hope you can make sense of this and that it helps.

Kris

Edited by: SLIMMERKIWI at: 1/18/2010 (15:59)

A psychiatrist prescribes psychotropic medication.

A psychologist can do therapy, but probably leans more towards doing more testing and less individual therapy.

I would look for a counselor/therapist/social worker. They all do talk therapy.

I don't want to go back on medication and I have no one to help me deal with my depression but I recognize the spiraling downward feeling. I am thinking of going for professional help but can you tell me the difference between the three listed and if you have been to any - has it helped without the drugs??