[YUNA!]

I'm the type to bottle all my emotions and walk outside with a painted smile to make others not worry.
However, I do confide only to my godmom, and recently, over coffee and a river of tears, she suggested me to see her friend who's a psychiatrist. She knows how I like to keep everything confidential (duh) and she knows I'm feeling awkward about it, so she offered to attend the sessions with me. I've never really pictured myself being in a room with a psychiatrist and pen in hand, so I'm quite hesitant. Never thought I'd come to such a dead-end in life to actually consider attending a session or two. But my friends my age are so immature and there's no one really to talk to. Not to mention I hate pity in any form.

So for those who have gone to psyhciatrists or have had friends gone, what was it like?
Am I weird for being so paranoid over it?

I'm glad I can stay annonymus over the net about this issue. ^^

[res0nate]

You have to want to do it and make it to your sessions; if you don't care, you're just wasting your time. Nothing gets resolved after a few appointments.

[derrek]

Expressing yourself is really really important. Even if you just do it on paper for yourself... a psychiatrist's job is to listen to you and help you understand things, personally I think it's a great thing... on the other hand, if you want someone to talk to and more important to listen, by all means I will be your talkin' buddy! I have been for many people! Just add me on MSN!

[Hax]

The psychiatrist kinda makes sense of what you are thinking, but unless you want change, it won't be very effective.

I went a long time ago and it was a good experience. But I really wanted to a path to follow and I was willing to follow through on what he had to say.

[Izam.]

You have to want to do it and make it to your sessions; if you don't care, you're just wasting your time. Nothing gets resolved after a few appointments.

Yes. That is why most of them require for the patient to make their OWN appointment. If they don't want to get help or attend, there's no point of others making the appointments for the patients and no shows is just wasting everyone's time.

I've gone to see a psychiatrist a few years back when I had problems. Actually I did not really realize I even HAD a problem until my boss (who is a PCP) sends me to go see one (he felt I really need help). He paged the psychiatrist and spoke to her about me from his observation of my well-being and she felt it was a very serious situation that she MUST see me the very next day. It was already 2PM in the afternoon when he called her and she ask to speak to me over the phone for a little bit so I'd feel more comfortable about this whole thing (I never expected to be send to one in the first place so it was hard for me to take it all in). Then she faxed me a bunch of questionnaires to fill out and to fax back to her before 5PM so she could get a little background on me before she sees me. She opened her office one hour early the next day to squeeze me in for an appointment. She felt it was THAT serious. I attended several sessions and I talked about a lot of things with her. Each time she digs out some stuff that I had long forgotten from my past....it was relieving to get some stuff off my chest.

A psychiatrist will not judge you that is why people can open more and actually talk to them and not to someone they actually KNOW. You do not have to worry about what she/he will think of you and speak freely of your feelings and mind. I think it is very helpful. You can give it a try I do not think it'll hurt.

[lhkim85]

I think it's a good idea, and it shouldn't be thought of as a last resort. Not every psychiatrist works well with every patient, though, so if you don't happen to like your godmother's friend, you might want to consider trying someone else.

[deadgiveaway]

Are you looking to see a psychologist or a psychiatrist...?

If you're open to the idea of opening up, try a psychologist. Even after numerous sessions, I have realized that I will never be very comfortable talking about myself to anyone, so to be honest the session didn't help me too much. They definitely didn't hurt, though. I want to try seeing a psychologist again, but not now. I just need to remember that whenever I'm in there, I SHOULD NOT still feel the need to censor myself in some way and just let it out. I realized that in a way I felt conscious of what I said and how I acted... these days I wonder why I never brought up the more psychotic, crazy thoughts. Maybe I was scared to face those.

I am currently still seeing a psychiatrist. This is what I originally wanted, to see a psychiatrist and hopefully be prescribed medication that would help me. I know it's not a quick fix-it, but I personally felt that there was something chemically wrong with me. I also liked the idea that I wouldn't have to open myself that much to the psychiatrist. I felt that talking to someone wouldn't totally help me, my emotions aren't something I could control. Fortunately, the meds are helping me, though I still feel like things could be better. If the medication doesn't work at first, don't give up - you might just need a stronger dose, or to try a different kind.

Even if you choose to see a psychiatrist, it is still a good idea to see a psychologist as well, so you could figure out if you should change the way you think, because it might be adding to your negative times.

Good luck! I sincerely hope that you'll get great results and be happy.

[dopa]

id say give it a shot. nothing to lose. just be open to the new experience. you have to want to improve yourself for there to be any significant changes to happen. if you feel going to a session with a psychiatrist or therapist is too extreme, you can always consider calling a crisis line. a crisis line is a private/confidential and safe environment for you to talk to someone about your feelings and possibly that can be a baby step towards scheduling a session with a professional.

[terrorist]

instead of psychiatrist or psychologist.. just go to therapy.

[brownman90561495]

I'm the type to bottle all my emotions and walk outside with a painted smile to make others not worry.
However, I do confide only to my godmom, and recently, over coffee and a river of tears, she suggested me to see her friend who's a psychiatrist. She knows how I like to keep everything confidential (duh) and she knows I'm feeling awkward about it, so she offered to attend the sessions with me. I've never really pictured myself being in a room with a psychiatrist and pen in hand, so I'm quite hesitant. Never thought I'd come to such a dead-end in life to actually consider attending a session or two. But my friends my age are so immature and there's no one really to talk to. Not to mention I hate pity in any form.

So for those who have gone to psyhciatrists or have had friends gone, what was it like?
Am I weird for being so paranoid over it?

I'm glad I can stay annonymus over the net about this issue. ^^

i am not sure if you did this, but did you ever ask your godmom why she wants you to meet her psychiatrist friend? i believe it's important for you to know and understand the reason why you have to see and express yourself to another person. it may be a no-brainer question, but it is important that you explicitly know the reason/s.

[crucifyxmyheart]

It's your first time. It's completely normal to awkward.

There's an assumption that something has to be seriously wrong for you to need a visit to the psychiatrist. It makes you wonder, do I have problems? Do I seem crazy? Am I still normal? If it helps to know, sometimes people would come in to talk about stress in their school life in a casual manner. They didn't feel that it was worth bringing up to friends, but awkward to talk to strangers. It might be good to speak to a psychiatrist, since you don't need to keep your mask on. You're not as worried about giving the wrong impression or trying to keep up the image they had of you. Sometimes its harder to speak to the ones closer to you or people who have already formed their impressions of you.

Counseling isn't always a pity party session, but there's nothing wrong with indulging yourself either. Sometimes you hear the implied words out loud and somehow it changes everything, even though you might have already known. The pen and paper seems a little distracting at first, but that's not the focus of the session. Its you. Maybe just being able to ramble on, without people trying to assume things.

Keeping things in isn't wrong, but it seems to be pretty hard on you. Things build up and build pressure. At the same time, it feels as if you're burdening others if you voice them out loud or complain. You're considerate of others. But, other people care about you, too. Like your Godmom.

[kenchanayoh]

be careful not to take any meds the psych gives you unless you do some research first.
they seem to not care too much about the side effects

my old psych prescribed me abilify, and upped the dosage causing horrible side effects to arise. even more great, the douche bag goes on vacation when my side effects act up.

how bad was it? well it cause my muscle to twitch uncontrollably, inability to sit still for more than 5 minutes, restless leg syndrome, insomnia ( i slept like 2 hours a day for 2 weeks while i was trying to detox from it), and i almost attempted suicide because it john teshs up your judgment.

so be careful!

[emma007]

I don't think a psychiatrist is what you want to see. They are the ones that prescribe medications, and from what you are describing, it doesn't sound like you are in need of medications. It sounds to me like you need some counseling or therapy. I am a psychiatric nurse, and the psychiatrist typically gets some information about the past of the patient, about their problem(s), and then they discuss the medications and give it a trial run and they will recommend consueling and or therapy. So I just don’t think that is what you are in need of.

[ilovemangos]

^ agreed.
you are looking for a psychologist.