psychologist vs. psychiatrist

[dgettel90]

i have seen a regular physician and been to a therapist, it was just family therapist.

i felt the physician didnt really care and just wanted to toss out a prescription for test.

but at the same time i felt that the therapist cared to much, she often felt bad for me and always asked me what i thought i should do. and often times i would get the responce of oh i wish there was more i could do.

and my symptoms of  depression would be:
i cant sleep at night at all, and when if and when i do fall asleep i am in a very conscious sleep where the slightest movement or sound can wake me up.
i hate being alone but at the same time i hate being around my family and friends.
i cant concentrate on things, and many times even after thinking about things for 5-10 mins ill walk over to go do it and forget completely what i was going to do and it will take another 5-10 mins for me to remember.
i dont feel suicidal now but i have a lot in the past, now i just have this constant feeling of not going to make it much long, like i feel that one day soon im just going to go to sleep and not have the will to wake up.
i only eat about one meal a day, not so much because of lack of appetite as to lack of motivation to find something that sounds good.
i am currently not on medication.
i have been checked into a clinic due to the therapists recommendation and was asked not to be given any medication.

i have recently realized that i want to get better

and i want to do with with someone that cares and can help? but i dont want to go through a physician because it always feels like they dont really care, yet the therapist i went to before was just making me feel worst and more frustrated before i started seeing her.

any suggestions?

[Bob_D]

I agree with "Florena" that you should see another therapist, preferably a psychologist. I would select avoiding those who specialize in areas that do not apply to you (family therapy, marriage counseling, etc.). You should also be evaluated by a psychiatrist.

I hope I am not painting with too broad a brush when I say that general practitioners
(who generally labor under severe time constraints) often do not have a great deal of interest or respect for non-medical (mental) complaints or those who treat them, so your experience does not surprise me.

You say you have the following symptoms: disturbed sleep and thought processes,
changes in appetite and a history of suicidal ideation. While I a not a doctor, those are
often hallmarks of clinical depression.

It may take some effort and perseverance to find a therapist who is both talented and with whom you can communicate but it can be well worth the effort.

Do not rule out the use psychiatric medication. It has helped many, including me.

Good luck to you. Let us know how things are going.

Cheers,
Bob

[ParamedFlorena]

Even if you don't feel like going through your physician you can straight out tell that you'd like a referral to another therapist. I don't know how it works there, but here it is so that if you're referred you get a better solution than if you should seek a therapist on your own. Besides, it goes faster.

Not long ago I was at my wits ends and thought I needed to start using AD's even in the summer. I did last year but that's a great let-down to me since I barely accept the winter-depression as a diagnose. My physchologist recommended to try a little longer without meds, because therapy does many times make you feel worse before you finally get control again.
It's like tossing a ball - when it is in the air you know only that: You haven't got it in your hands. When you then aim in to catch it, you might wonder if you're going to be able to catch it again. 99% of the time, you catch it and the control is back.

My suggestion is: Change therapist if you're feeling that the current doesn't help. If the chemistry isn't right, it isn't.

Please check back and let us know what you decide to do.

Florena