I posted my story here yesterday. Someone asked me if I had ever gotten help from a mental health professional.
I have not. Honestly I’m scared. Not only of what everyone in my life will say, but about the process itself. I do not want to just be pumped full of anti-depressants and spend an hour each week talking about what makes me sad. I am also terrified of being admitted to a mental ward.
Is there anyone on here who has been to therapy/gotten mental help and would be willing to share what it’s like?
2 comments
I’m sure a lot of people might tell you it’s not worth it, but that’s just an opinion, for some it works and for some it doesn’t. What I’m about to tell you is all from my experience. I’m sure it will vary based on the place you live and the place you go to receive treatment. Yet most places aren’t too strict unless they believe you are a danger to yourself or others.
First, you don’t have to be put on anti-depressants. From my experience, it was always a choice and if you’re uncomfortable with taking pills no one should force you. I have been on and off anti-depressants since I was fourteen. When I turned eighteen I told my psychiatrist I don’t want to be on them and they honored my decision. I’m back on them now but it was again, my decision.
Second, there are some therapists who won’t make you go every week. Some will see you every two weeks, some even every month. If they think your depression is very serious they may persuade you to come more often but some just set appointments for a time that’s good for you and them and make you promise that you will show up.
Don’t worry, no one will put you in a mental ward unless you are a true danger to yourself or others. If you show up with huge cuts on your arms, or look like you aren’t taking care of yourself ( like super emaciated or you aren’t showering), then they might take action; but most times you’ll have to tell your therapist “I have a plan to kill myself” or “I have a plan to kill someone else.”
Okay, so like I said this is all from my experience. I suggest you try to find a place and see how it works for you. You really won’t know until you try. I hope I did my best to help. 🙂
From my own experience therapy helped more than meds. To be fair I was given very potent drugs, and they were always changing the cocktail. The side effects were worse than the symptoms. Not everyone reacts the same to meds so proceed with caution.
I did DBT therapy. When I started I was in bad shape so I did 2 sessions a week plus group therapy for about a month. Then I did once a week. Dropped to once a month.
Now I’m med free (in my case the meds did more harm than good, again not typical) and haven’t needed therapy for over a year.
6 years of meds 1 year of therapy