Life with Bipolar 2

@Former-Member

Its like every attribute of who I am is corrupted by mental health issues. Like I knew my childhood was messed up but even that is tainted by mental health issues.

I used to go by the handle Living Dead, kinda reminds me of being dead inside but alive on the outside. That was my handle when I was in my teens.

It amazes me how much my life has been impacted by mental health but it wasnt until my early 30's I actually saw a psychiatrist. It was treated as normal and my parents did nothing.

@Former-Member

It depends on the type of psychologist, CBT DBT ACT etc. Mine have been talk therapy, I dont think much changes with that but have done a little CBT and ACT and that challenges you and helps you change/view your past differently. My psychiatrist I saw on Friday made a recommendation as to who I should see but not sure what kind. Ill give her a go though.

Psychiatrists and Psychologist kinda work hand in hand. Psychiatrist does meds and Psychologist does therapy. Theory is lasting change works best with both but it adds up price wise

Just wanted to stop in and offer my perspective @Former-Member, hope that's okay.

Can totally understand your hesitations around therapy. And what you're describing is pretty much the only way therapy gets portrayed in the media - just someone there getting paid lots of money to nod and say 'hmmm'...

But in reality, finding the right therapist is life changing. They train for many years to be able to create a safe space, build a meaningful relationship, and assist their clients in achieving their goals - which can be anything and everything from processing trauma and coping with overwhelming emotions, to improving relationships and our sense of identity.

No one can change the past but we can learn why it has effected us the ways that it has, how it has shaped us, and learn that we can have some degree of control over how our future unfolds. Therapy changed my life for the better - so much so that I became a therapist myself.

The trick is in finding the right person! Someone who both creates a sense of trust and safety, whilst also challenging us in the right ways so that we can learn new ways of going through life and break the patterns and habits that are no longer serving our needs.

Hope this helps, happy to answer any questions you might have 😊

@Former-Member

Ive always been told to find out from a Psychiatrist what type to see. I understand your point with a talk therapist type. I dont see the point. U can get that talking to SANE or a councillor. maybe I just havent found the right one.

@Former-Member

Odd, really odd. All mine have been 50min-1hr at least

@Former-Member

Have a look at psych2U, might be easier to get into than a face to face. Id be considering chosing another psych and having a proper assessment

I guess it's different for everyone @Former-Member some people get lucky and find a good one straight away, others need to go through a few.

You could always seek out your own, there's heaps of online databases and you could look through and see if there's someone who specialises/matches your needs.

Here's a couple you could start with:

1. Trauma Support Directory
2. APS: Find a Psychologist
3. Find a Counsellor

You could also get in touch with the therapist beforehand this way, almost like a pre-therapy screening interview, to see if you click. Also, sometimes therapists are willing to adjust their prices to suit client needs - I had one psychotherapist who was only charging me $60 a session because I was in pretty crappy financial situation.

Can definitely suck to start your story over again if you do need to, but each time it does get a little easier. Hope you can find what you're looking for 🤞💜

Mostly yes @Former-Member - some psychiatrists will spend a little more time with you, others are very down-to-business.

Typically, it's like this:

• Psychiatrists go to medical school and then specialise in psychiatry. So as far as I know they don't really study talk therapy at all, hence why some of them can be pretty cold/lacking in 'bedside manner'
• Psychologists study a bachelor of psychology and then choose to specialise in clinical psych (aka talk therapy) or research psych - so their degrees include everything from learning and development, statistics, brain anatomy, and 'abnormal' psychology (aka mental illness).
• Counsellors and psychotherapists study talk therapy from the outset, and will specialise in particular modalities, such as Gestalt or Narrative therapy.

That is super broad tho as there's all sorts of pathways into various mental health roles, but hope it gives you an idea of where to go/who to seek out when looking for particular types of support.

@Former-Member @Jynx

Diaagnosis, medss,treatment protocols mainly

@Former-Member

If you live in regional/country you can get a 291 which gives you 1 free appointment every 12 months FYI