I have not been a big supporter of therapy, at least for myself. I know I am pretty ignorant, with the exception of how it is portrayed in the media and from my friends or family who have gone. I understand that it can be very helpful in diagnosing mental problems such as depression, and when it comes to marriage counseling, it can be beneficial to have a mediator who is impartial. However, I do not think I could bring myself to go to one, and these are my reasons:
Human nature is to judge. While a therapist cannot say anything judgemental, and I am sure they have been trained to think impartilally, they will still judge me. And as long as they are, I would rather they tell me the truth, even if it is harsh, and I don't like it. But I really doubt they will do that.
I feel as though the mental health industry relies too much on medication. I do not trust these pills, and think that other methods shouldd be used first.
It seems a little ridiculous to pay for advice when I could get it free from friends, even though this person has a degree on their wall and has published a couple of books. I know this is not the best reasoning.
Psycology is still a somewhat newly developed science. Although it has been around for some time, it is not something that is completely understood. I have a lot of doubt, especially since I read a bit about Freud.
I am pretty independent. When I have a problem, I prefer to deal with it on my own.
Finally, this is a stranger, that I am essentially telling all my secrets to, and that is not something I am comfortable with.
If you disagree, or would like to share a story when therapy has really helped, then comment.
Therapy did not help me at all. The first time I went I was 15, I was rebellious and a teenager. My parents saw that as an "issue" that I needed "help" dealing with. They dragged me there ( I am being half literal) and I refused to talk once I got there. It was uncomfortable and forced. The second time around I was sent when I was 17 because I didn't have good grades. I wasn't motivated so my mom sent me to a "learning specialist" aka a therapist. I did't mind this one so much because I could talk to him about how crazy I thought my parents were, but really I didn't need it and he agreed. It may work for some people but not for me, I am fairly independent as well.
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You may have some misconceptions of psychology because of Freud or as he has been referred to as fraud. If you have ever taken a psychology course you would know that most psychologist hate Freud and his ideas. They some what encourage you to hate him as well.
Now I do agree with you on going to a therapist and I am not a big fan of medication but some medication I need to take. I have Generalized anxiety disorder. I diagnosised myself before I even went to a Psychatrist. so I pretty much was wanting to hear this from a "professional" so that no one could call me crazy anymore.
I apologize for this being so long but I just figured I would put it out there. I went to one therapist and she told me "next time" we could work on ways to get rid of my anxiety. Trust me there is not a way to get rid of my anxiety disorder. So I never went back. some people do infact need therapist and benefit from them. But therapy does not work for me either. But everyone is different. I did feel better after talking to the therapist, but after she was trying to help me get "rid" of the impossiable I was shut off. So it did not work for me.
I watched my mother die in the hospital in 2006. She was in a coma for almost a month. This has forever changed me and everyone felt like I should go to therapy. Anti-depressants do not work for me at least. They told me it would help my anxiety but it made it worse and made me more depressed.
Try it if you really have an urge to go. It has really worked for some people. It just depends on your personality I guess. Therapist can not prescribe medication anyway only Psycriatrists can. Hope this helps! :)
http://www.progressiveu.org/032913-lupus-uncureable-wait-what
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Therapists do not prescribe medicine, so you don't have to worry about them forcing meds on you. You have to see a psychiatrist for meds.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman
i understand when you say that you would feel uncomfterable because i mean talking to a complete stranger thats horrible.also if you dont want to go you dont have to, make your choice, you could talk to a friend and use them as therapist thats what i do. lol but be careful dont trust every friend you have only the really close ones. i took therapy when i was way little and i dont even remember why or when exactly but i dont think it helpedme soo some feel confterable and others dont , your choice, you might want to try it or others may want to try it just to make sure that you are not judging them by their title, u know?
Good luck
I think that you have to find the right therapist. My sister has been through a couple that she made no progress with but has found one that is actually helping her.
Not all therapists are there for the patient, but... I think it can be helpful, or it can hurt. It is partially the patients responsibility to give the therapist a chance. After all, if you go in thinking the therapist is only out for the money, then I can almost guarantee you will not have much success with therapy.
My mom used to force me to "therapy" - or rather, sit in my pastor's office together and have him ask me what the problem was while I cry my eyes out and my mom is just angry - she actually used it as a threat. "Do we need to go back to counseling??" Yeah, so I was really hesitant, really REALLY hesitant to ever try it again. But after hearing how good the [free] services were at college, I decided to give it a shot. My first time, I was a sophomore, and I couldn't do it. I wasn't ready. I finally went back my senior year, after struggling with my issues (which I have yet to finish blogging about... still working on how to do that...) for four years, I was at a wall. No one can do this thing alone - no one. All of life is suffering, and, like Buddha says, until we can separate ourselves from the need for attachment, it always will be suffering. Since I can't, nor do I want to separate myself from attachment, particularly human attachment (sorry Buddha) and desire, I suppose I will have to take the good with the bad. Anyway, so I went and talked with my "therapist," one of the school psychologists, and she was fantastic. Some of it seemed very strange, but I have to tell you, having my feelings affirmed, getting the encouragement that I'm not crazy, hearing that what I've thought was true actually IS true, and even saying out loud all of the things that went on, all of my deepest troubles - the load was lifted. I don't think I could have come as far as I have emotionally without that time with her. No medication was given, just pure, good conversation. And yeah, she was a stranger, but that also meant an objective viewpoint, and one from a professional. I don't necessarily want to keep going back, but knowing that the services are available - sometimes I don't want to tell my friends my deepest, darkest struggles - I think therapy, when used genuinely, is a fantastic, natural, very needed resource.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/kariskoett
"All things appear and disappear because of the concurrence of causes and conditions. Nothing ever exists entirely alone; everything is in relation to everything else."
-Buddha
Just to clear this up- I am not planning to go to a therapist, this is just something I have been thinking about since I just started reading about psychology. I suppose one of the mistakes I have made is confusing therapist with psychiatrist.
That is totally understandable. I got them confused even after taking a psychology course. Then I researched it and realised that psychiatrist have to take more years of schooling then a normal therapist to be able to prescribe medication, even though I sometimes believe they don't have any idea what they are talking about medication wise..
http://www.progressiveu.org/032913-lupus-uncureable-wait-what
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