Psychologist vs psychiatrist

I'm very sorry to hear about your traumatic childhood @Former-Member 😢

I wonder what you think about writing down what you need from her, and giving it to her when you go in? I only mention this as you said you have a tendency to withdraw if you feel unheard or overwhelmed. I write down all my issues in priority order and give them to my psychologist at each session.

That’s a great idea, thanks @NatureLover

For my first session with my psychologist I had typed up a spreadsheet containing summary of each event in date order and my age at the time. We both found that very helpful.

this afternoon when I have my meds review with my psychiatrist I’m going to be taking with me the exact same list. Didn’t have it with me at initial appointment as was still unpacking.

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@Former-Member wrote:

For my first session with my psychologist I had typed up a spreadsheet containing summary of each event in date order and my age at the time. We both found that very helpful.

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I'm impressed, @Former-Member ! When I did my timeline it was scrawled in tiny letters on an A4 piece of paper! With an actual line!

How was your review with the psychiatrist?

@NatureLover I wrote dot points onto piece of paper for timeline which hand writing wasn’t good so know that feeling. Typing up the timeline first time prompted my mind of things I had forgotten about that thinking about that event I immediately got upset.

I had to rebook psychiatrist appointment until next week. I got stuck in road works on the highway I use. 3 lanes of traffic brought down to 2 plus speed limit reduced from 100km to 40km.

I had good day yesterday, finished 3 jobs on my to do list which I’m happy with. Woke this morning feeling better within myself after first night in weeks where I didn’t wake during the night and didn’t toss and turn in my sleep.

Glad to hear you had a good sleep, @Former-Member .

I'm amazed you could rebook your psychiatrist within a week! I would have to wait 3 months to book in with mine!

Hi @NatureLover just over a week ago I had my second psychiatrist appointment which lasted for approx 90minutes with next appointment booked for mid February. Walking to the car after the appointment I was wanting to cry and it felt my head was throbbing. Since then been trying to process things.

Immediately after calling me into his room I gave my psychiatrist identical list of events that my psychologist has. After reading it he said he wanted to talk about my dad. The entire appointment evolved around my dad, impact of stroke that changed him to being violent and my memories of impact on me but mainly on my dad. Due to his questions I started to remember things I had blocked for over 40years, things I wish I don’t remember.
Psychiatrist had me sit opposite an empty chair, imagine my dad sitting there and tell him anything I wanted to tell him decades ago. Felt myself wanting to cry and part of me wanted to say, ‘no, can’t do it’ but felt powerless, in my mind I heard my dads voice telling me to do what I was told which I did. Psychiatrist asked if I forgive my dad. As I told him, I forgave my dad over 30years after finding out his behaviour change was due to a stroke but that hasn’t taken away the pain or stopped the flashbacks about things that happened over approx 7 years

my psychiatrist knows that I have been having regulsr fortnightly appointments with my psychologist which will continue as of start of February. I’m feeling confused about who is helping my start to heal. I know part of me sees my psychiatrist as in a position of power so is too scared to ask. I have seen my psychologist for quite awhile and feel comfortable with her, will have a note with me at next session with her to discuss her. He isn’t nasty, nude etc but there is something about my psychiatrist that scares the traumatised little child inside me

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@Former-Member wrote:

there is something about my psychiatrist that scares the traumatised little child inside me

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Oh no, @Former-Member 😢

I am very impressed that you were able to forgive your dad. At the same time, it's brung up lots of flashbacks and pain for you 😣

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@Former-Member wrote:

I’m feeling confused about who is helping my start to heal.

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I would say both? I know unpacking trauma in therapy is the start of healing, although painful. Plus your psychologist is helping by the sound of it. I think it's a good idea to discuss it with your psychologist.

Well done @Former-Member .

Thanks @NatureLover for listening, for being there and for caring

I completely understand where you are coming from. They want to bring these memories up but we want to bury them and not have to relive them as it is just too painful. I’m sorry for what you had to witness with your poor dad - survivors of strokes can be a terrible thing to endure.
I just lost my dad and I am so thankful that I got to mend things with him before he passed. I am spiraling also and am waiting for help for PTSD and whatever else they want to label me with.
If you are not happy with your psychiatrist then stick with who you are happy with. I hope things start to improve for you. Life sucks sometimes 🖤

@Jojo-Dakota This morning I phoned BlueKnot and spoke with one of their counsellors.

talked with her about what happened in second session including how it made me feel. Also talked with her about 24hr loop of nightmares, tears and being imposter every time I leave my home.

following chat with her I’m going to type up list of things I want to say to psychiatrist and will give him at start of next session. Things including how I felt during last session and flow through impact, asking what his plans are for each session and plans to support me when triggered. I realised when talking with BlueKnot counsellor psychiatrist has provided me no info including his plans to help and support me.

2nd session started with him reading through of trauma events during the last 50 years followed by him asking me how I had been since seeing him approx 6 weeks prior. Soon as I mentioned I recently had couple nights of nightmares relating to my dad the psychiatrist went straight to asking me questions. Not once during the 90 minute session did he ask if I was coping ok or if anything discussed had triggered me. End of the session he comments to me was I explain things clearly and he will see me again at next session. During both sessions he is constantly asking me questions including prodding and prodding my memories but not once has explained anything to me. He has done nothing to try to build a rapport with me or to help me feel I can trust and open up to him.

due to my involvement with refugees and that lots of them are not comfortable talking with someone of their own gender, as I mentioned to BlueKnot counsellor, I’m wondering if seeing a female psychiatrist may be more beneficial for me. My psychologist is female and have felt comfortable talking with her about anything including my SI from second session.