Post Punk Kitchen Forum

So I was sitting in the breakroom at work, watching tv, when there was a commercial seeking people who have taken the anti-psychotic I used to be on, Risperidal, for a class action lawsuit. Apparently it makes some men grow breasts. So that was great to worry about.

welp, just sent an e-mail to the school counselor trying to set up an appointment. officially not dealing with my emotions appropriately, realized I needed to talk to someone about it. sigh. this is really annoying to me as I thought (completely unrealistically) I had my head under control.

Trying to find a therapist in Portland....trying not to slip into those old comfy cozy self destructive habits. You know, same old same old.

SR, just a note to say I empathize. I find the process through Kaiser to get mental health consultation to be painfully frustrating, degrading, and flat out stupid. When one is depressed or anxious, it is all compounded. The infinitely idiotic questionnaire that you have to go through on the phone is so awful. I've seen several in-network therapists and finally got so fed up I went out of network and pay out of pocket because I was so appalled by the process, and the therapists. I know some people have had far better luck, and I hope you can sort it out and talk to someone you like.

So I guess I'm joining this thread. I'm worried my depression is coming back in full force like it hasn't been since I was 17. It just suddenly occurred to me that crying at 3 am and sitting up all night staring into space and crushing loneliness and endless misery are not normal side effects of how I deal with stress. I'm not entirely sure how to approach this with my current therapist. She's never seen me depressed.

I've sort of been hoping she can magically read my mind and catch on that there are unhealthy thought processes going on, but she's not psychic and I'm really good at avoiding difficult conversations even in therapy. I guess I'm just going to have to go right out and say it to her? But that makes it real.

I could have written this! I am so good at hiding things even from myself. Do you think you can write it down, or practice saying it out loud in a comfortable place before your appointment to make it easier to say to your therapist? Writing especially helps me feel more sure about what I want to express. I often feel like I have to "practice" before therapy (oh hi control issues!). I bet if you can say it to your therapist you will feel relieved. Good luck!

I battled depression in my mid to late 20s. I went to therapy and was on celexa for a few years. I've been good for almost 4 years, but I think it might be coming back. I don't feel depressed really. But I don't want to get out of bed in the morning and I've lost all motivation to do anything. I get home from work and just want to sit on my asparagus in front of the TV or computer. I'm wondering if it's situational. Maybe I'm just not happy with my life right now?

Not surprised. My friend lactated when she was on that drug.

appointment to meet with one of the counselors tomorrow at noon, though she's actually a social worker. not ideal, as the training is different, but for something I need immediately addressed I guess it's okay.

i hope it works out well, boober. some of the best people i worked with were not traditional psychologists-- one was a LSW, and she was AWESOME, and another was a med nurse (LNP, maybe?). both had years of training counseling people and their sessions were as good as if not more helpful than the official therapy sessions i did.

Some years ago when I was referred to the local mental health services by my doctor, my initial appointment was with a social worker. It was their standard practice - the social worker made a general assessment of the situation, then referred you on to the relevant services. In my case she made appointments with a psychiatrist, occupational therapist and a counsellor specialising in anxiety.

I know systems in the UK and the US can be very different, but maybe it is the same kind of set up?

Getting drunk on two beers: the one upside to taking antidepressants.

Is she an LCSW? Because in that case I'm sure her training will be totally adequate.

Oh also I finally got my Kaiser therapy appointment lined up a bit ago and they just told me who it's with and I looked him up and decided he looks like a douche.

Ok, I'm a crasshole, and really I just don't really want to see a man. And I would reeeeallly prefer to see someone not straight. Hopefully once I'm in the system it will be easy to switch.

A social worker would be even better! Not that I'm biased or anything

Social workers are awesome. My mom is an LCSW and has been doing therapy for 30-something years. I feel like I automatically trust social workers more than other mental health professionals because of that, even though my dad is a psychologist and he's pretty cool too.

Oh, man! Both parents in the mental health field. Did you feel super over-analyzed as a kid? :)

Not at all. Mostly they just didn't worry about me that much because they were working with kids who were doing a lot worse. Like if you're working with institutionalized teens like my mom did when I was in high school, you see things like your teen getting arrested after sneaking out and drinking as part of the range of super normal things healthy teens do, you know?

That makes sense.

ETA: I guess when I think of psychiatrists' kids I always think of Brenda and Billy Chenowith from "Six Feet Under" and how messed up they were. But obviously that's fictional!

Thank god they're not psychiatrists then!

But really, has there ever been a positive depiction of a mental health professional in a TV show? I feel like it's rare. I do love Six Feet Under though.

I've been really, really happy lately and my boss just shiitake all over that today. I hate when one thing ruins everything! Once it happens I get stuck in a black cloud of just sadness and feel tired and sick for days. I hate it.

Hmm. Drugs are starting to look pretty great right now. I should probably start seeing my therapist again. But it all felt so silly and shallow when I was seeing her. She was a great lady and I felt like I could be friends with her... but I never went away from the sessions feeling any different about anything.

Now that you mention it....

But what about Dr. Melfi on the Sopranos? She's a pretty sympathetic character. Although I guess it could be easily argued that she doesn't make any progress with Tony and is merely enabling a crook.

i'm jumping in even though it's SAD. i lost my job recently and took it really hard as a large part of my identity is wrapped up in being the bike shop employee. and that was ok. but the lack of day light and the constant cold and wet weather makes it hard to leave my bed and why bother if i don't have a job?

My new therapist is named Siri. I kid you not.