Need some help

[Meganholly98]

Hello,

I’ve not written on this in ages, but basically to fill everyone in, my mental health is in shambles, currently 2:20am and I’m writing this when I have a doc app at 7:10am, great start.

So I have severe depression and anxiety, I’m on medication for both, see my doc every 2 weeks, on sleeping tablets because I have a fear of sleeping at night because that’s when night terrors happen, hallucinations etc.

After months of trying and emailing and ringing my doc has finally set me up with someone who can help outside, a psychotherapist, but I just wanted to know what is the difference?

Between a therapist, psychiatrist and a psychotherapist? Meeting him next Monday and I’m scared because I don’t know what to expect, will I be pumped full of new drugs or will I be taken off to see how I go or what?

I’m even more so scared because I suffer from seasonal adjustment disorder otherwise known as SAD which I find fitting, so I have a sad light to help, but I just don’t want the list to expand? It feels like it’s never gonna end all these doc apps, tablets, feeling down etc.

Hope someone can help put my mind at ease at what to expect.

Thanks in advance!

[BlueSky125]

I’ve seen the term psychotherapist uses as a board term for anyone practicing psychology. Kind of like there are many different types of doctors. I’ve also seen it used interchangeably with just therapist. Generally a therapist deals with developing skills and behaviors to help someone better cope with there problems. They could use different therapies like cbt or dbt. A psychiatrist would mostly diagnose disorders and prescribe medications.

[Hidden]

Hello

BlueSky125 has answered exactly what the different meanings are to the titles they have and what they do I cannot add more to that

Reading your post I could feel your fear though and when you mentioned are they going to pump me up or something to that effect with more medication , I wonder what you are already taking is it helping ?

How do you feel about taking more medication ?

I know we can feel so grateful when we finally get the support we so need but don't loose sight that you also have a say in what treatment you would like and if at this moment you don't feel more meds are needed you can speak out and say you would rather see how therapy goes etc

So don't be afraid , they are there to help but remember you have a voice and have every right if something they offer does not feel right for you

Good Luck and hope you let us know how you get on

Take Care x

[Kkimm]

Hi

I really feel for you. A psychotherapist uses therapy of different sorts such as talking therapy or CBT. The do not administer drugs.

That is a psychiatrist or a doctor.

Very good luck when you see him.

Antidepressants can be useful. I certainly found them a life saver.

Very best wishes.

Kim

[secondhandrose2]

A psychotherapist is someone who uses talking therapies rather than medication to help people with mental health problems. How they will work will depend to some extent upon the kind of therapy they are trained to practice - some will ask you to carry out homework tasks for example keeping a diary of thoughts, feelings and behaviours or noting things that trigger or help symptoms, while other therapists will try to help you understand your feelings in terms of your past. However what all therapies have in common is that they should be good at listening to you and understand your problems in terms of the particular model of therapy they practice. I have experience of various therapies and have trained and practiced several. Personally I found psychoanalytic therapy the most helpful in the long term in that it has enabled me to make sense of my feelings in terms of my early life and how I learned to understand the world and my place within it, that has enabled me to realise that how I felt at the time was normal but that I was holding onto feelings that were preventing me from forming different kinds of relationships. I found that completely transformed my ability to form deep relationships that are mutually emotionally supportive. I did also have some shorter term therapy looking at habitual thought and behavioural patterns and found them helpful in the short term as they enabled me to behave differently with others but I found they didn't alter the way I felt about myself as those feelings were a part of my personality and required deeper more long term therapy. Since your GP has referred you to a psychotherapist I imagine it will be one of the shorter term therapies since long term therapy is generally only available within the NHS for people with major mental health problems causing often quite extreme problems for others as well as for themselves. If you are employed you might benefit from the short term therapy to improve your current mood sufficiently to enable you to feel able to function better and then consider undertaking private psychodynamic of psychoanalytic therapy if you think your problems are the result of difficulties during chidlhood and adolescence. The important thing is for you to trust that the therapist is there to help you and to be honest with them, try not to say things just to please them as that will waste their time and yours. You need to value yourself sufficiently to want to use the time available and to use the skill of the therapist to ensure you benefit from working with them. I hope it goes well for you.x

[secondhandrose2]

Sorry, I forgot to mention one or two other things. You say you have night terrors and hallucinations - I also used to get both. I wonder whether by hallucinations you mean flashbacks ie a re-living of past traumatic situations and events? It does sound as though you have been traumatised at some point in your life, I wonder do you have any conscious memory of having had traumatic experiences? Often simply acknowledging trauma and beginning to talk about the experiences that you found overwhelming can begin to lesson the night terrors and hallucinations or flashbacks. Putting trauma into words even on a website such as this can begin to enable the mind to make sense of what was previously overwhelming your rational mind ie waking you at night and resulting in hallucinations. It is not easy facing trauma but I found it very much easier than living with the experiences that were unshared, so have the courage to remember what has left you feeling terrorised in your mind. Make sure you share what you remember with the therapist, if necessary write down what you need to say and take the writing to the first appointment. Therapists are generally well trained and experienced in working with very difficult experiences, they can help you to move on and live a more peaceful and happier life.xx

[nell3967]

Hi just seen your post and I’m sorry to hear you are feeling so unwell. I have been through something very similar and regularly see my gp and psychiatrist- I have complex ptsd linked to multiple childhood traumas. I don’t take medication apart from limited use of diazepam when the night terrors make me frightened to sleep. I was referred to a psychologist who used a mixture of cbt and emdr, she was lovely so don’t be frightened. I’m sure yours will be too. Also, only psychiatrists can prescribe anti psychotic medications. Your GP can prescribe diazepam and anti depressants but I personally don’t do well with drugs - I needed to feel my feelings and get them out. But as said I have about 14 diazepam 5mg every 8 weeks or so and it is a comfort to know they are there if I’ve had a run of flash back nights.

Best of luck, it is scary especially when you are anxious and everything seems to take such a long time, but please trust them to look after you and keep talking. I was quiet for too long and since I’ve opened up I’ve found help in the most unexpected places.

Take care.