Counselling

[Dead Angel]

Have a problem and want some advice? Or maybe you just want to talk about it?
I have some experience of being counselled, and how they go about it. I want to help people as much as i can, so if you have a problem with something, absolutely ANYTHING, post something on here and i'll try to reply as soon as i can.

(I would say it's confidential, but this is kinda a public thread!)

[Sasquatch]

Why do people do this?

Look. If somebody needs help with a personal issue, what makes you think they're going to discuss it with somebody they don't know, over the internet? And even if they were to do that, chances are you're definitely not the best qualified to discuss it with.

[awall]

Originally Posted by Dead Angel

(I would say it's confidential, but this is kinda a public thread!)

I'd say this is probably one of the biggest strikes against the idea. Although, not the only one; being counselled is not the same as being a fully trained counselor. If somebody just wants to talk/rant about something that's getting on their nerves, they'll create a seperate thread for it here or in the flaming forum (depends on how much it drifts toward the "rant" end of things).

If anybody needs real counseling, I suggest you find an actual counselor.

[Aleks]

Still, some people find it good to express they'r feelings and tell someone else what they are experiencing. It makes them more comfortable, and besides in a thread full of others problems, they get the usuall stuff. Just one change. You get the good feeling of having shared it - the feeling of having said something secret to someone you know. That last feeling is almost completely eliminated (in most cases) because with all the other problems, few are gonna read you'r anyway.

[Dead Angel]

I know this is nowhere near proper counselling. The reason i came up with this is because it has been suggested by people before, and i thought it might be a good idea. A very similar thing has been done before and some people liked the idea.

Please, if you don't think it's a good idea, just don't post here. If no one posts anything useful, then it will probably be closed and you won't have to worry about it.

[fire exit man]

Maybe it would be a better idea to discuss the pros and cons of counselling as a "cure" (for want of a better word) for depression. This is the discussion forum so maybe a topic like " Which works better: Counselling or Drugs?" Or words to that effect. Generally people don't like talking about personal problems over the internet, of course there is abit of anonymity, but some people have posted in the picture threads and whatnot so they may feel uncomfortable about it.

To add my own opinion, I think counselling is a good idea, as it stops people being drugged to the eyeballs by the healthcare system (i'm in the UK, so it may be different in the states). In most cases here, people are giving counselling sessions with fully-trained, proffesional counsellors, before drugs are even considered. Some people are put on something called "suicide watch", where the person is given a place to sleep where trained healthcare staff are present in order to prevent them killing themselves. I was once counselled on the NHS, and it worked quite well. (I'll have to write more on this later because i'm nearly out of time st the moment!)

[Dead Angel]

ok from now on people, we have something new to discuss, thanks to 'fire exit man'.

Drugs - what do you think? Are they good or bad? And i don't just mean illegal drugs and whatnot, but also anti-depressants, sleeping tablets, etc. Stuff you don't necessarily need to survive, but they help.

There's a toon about drugs on www.illwillpress.com and funnily enough, it supports what i think about drugs. Take a look.

Though people might disagree with me I see an important role in the use of legal drugs in the treatment of any psychiatric disorder.

As an example Mrs. Mighty_Quinn has bipolar disorder (manic depression < old term) and she has been on Lithium for 30 years. That medication has been a god send. It provided a means to even out the mood swings that occur with bipolar disorder.

On the downside the medication causes tremors which, at times, can be quite noticable. But given that other meds used to treat this illness have much stronger and worse side effects Mrs. Mighty_Quinn has opted to continue with Lithium.

Here in Canada we have advocates who advise psychiatric patients that they have the right to refuse treatment (including meds). This is kinda disgusting because in a lot of cases these patients require the meds in order to be a contributing member of society.

Certain psychiatric conditions can benefit from counselling; however, in a majority of cases I believe that meds are part and parcel of the treatment.

One final point the above is based on a definitive diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder. The occasional feeling blue situation is obviously different than an out and out psychiatric disorder and is part of everyday life.

Handling the feeling blue situation could probably be better handled with counselling.

MQ

[Dragoon Joe]

i have never had anything wrong with me, not even broke a bone, but i do feel sympathy for you people who are, and forgive me if i sound harsh i dont kno how to put it 'disabled'

but yea good luck with the problem and i hope u get better soon...



Im your friend if you need one