I'm seeing a therapist today!

[spookie]

I finally made the appointment. I know I've been depressed (possibly bipolar) for a long time but I guess I always viewed mental illness as a part of my personality. But, it's gotten to the point lately where I can't MAKE myself get out of bed/care about anything, and I know I need help before my life totally falls apart.

 

What should I be asking/saying at my appointment/

[spookie]

Well that was interesting. There was a questionairre about what was bothering me that I had to fill out before I went in. I checked like 30 boxes.

 

I really liked the man I talked to. He got be bawling in the first 5 minutes as I got going on my story chronologically. Then he probed about my feelings and concluded that there is, indeed, a strong possibility that I am bipolar.

 

I am failing all my classes anyway and he suggested I withdraw from the semester and go home and get some help. Or stay here and get some help.

 

I might.

[oppath]

Hmmm....you also had money problems and were selling plasma, right?

 

Is it possible to just reduce your courseload to the minimum?

 

Ok, it does not mean you are bipolar for sure. Bipolar is mostly characterized by the frequency and duration of mood changes, from depressive to mania, as every person has the symptoms, even depressed people, of mania. What matters is that you seek treatment because as you say, you are depressed.

[Ariadne]

Wow,

 

I can't MAKE myself get out of bed/care about anything, and I know I need help before my life totally falls apart.

 

That may be because of all that blood you give.

 

You may be anemic or weak or all those things.

 

Your situation is awful, ask her to help you get your life on track financially, to take you to the right connections with social work helpers.

 

You don't seem depressed to me, you seem cool, just deadbeat.

 

Ariadne

[Ariadne]

Omg

 

Then he probed about my feelings and concluded that there is, indeed, a strong possibility that I am bipolar.

 

(I wish I could do some fire and burn them all)

 

Ariadne

[sweetem]

What should I be asking/saying at my appointment/

 

I know it sounds like a waste of time, but you may just want to let him/her get to know you first. The therapist needs to hear your background, why you've done the things you done, and felt the way you've felt. Just talk to him/her like you would talk to a friend, briefly scimming the surface of multiple things that bother you, or trigger your depression. As you continue with sessions, go into these subjects more deeply.

 

I have seen multiple therapists, and when I tried what I listed above with my current, I found that I went to see her as a road to recovery rather than a chore.

[whichwayisup]

Well that was interesting. There was a questionairre about what was bothering me that I had to fill out before I went in. I checked like 30 boxes.

 

I really liked the man I talked to. He got be bawling in the first 5 minutes as I got going on my story chronologically. Then he probed about my feelings and concluded that there is, indeed, a strong possibility that I am bipolar.

 

I am failing all my classes anyway and he suggested I withdraw from the semester and go home and get some help. Or stay here and get some help.

 

I might.

 

Hey Spookie, just wondering how you're doing.

 

I know therapy is rough, but it will help you.

 

Is it possible to cut half your workload, maybe drop afew classes? Even if you're failing, you're doing something, keeping your mind busy and it's a good distraction. Gives you a reason to get out of bed.

 

Don't worry about the failing, you have tons of time to get back into the swing of things when you're feeling better.