My First Appointment

[JCJones86]

As some of you know, I posted around a month ago to vent on some frustrating anxiety issues. Well, I went to see a psychiatrist... It's just good to finally get help. The three to six month patterns of alternating depression/anxiety is actually classified somewhere. It feels good to have a place, even if it means I'm different.

On another note, I found out I have mental illness on both sides of the family. I have an increased risk of developing schizophrenia from both sides of the family. My late uncle, who I've never met, had an extreme case of schizophrenia. He lived under testing, treatment, and supervision for years. Eventually he could function on his own for some time and he didn't have to go under as intense treatment as before. One day he snapped and shot himself dead. I will never own a gun.

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[SpaceTiger]

> One day he snapped and shot himself dead. I will
> never own a gun.

Not that it will make much difference once you've snapped. <img src=smilies/magbiggrin.gif>

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[JCJones86]

> Not that it will make much difference once you've snapped.

True, but if I develop it later on I'll probably be sent to a ward for a much longer duration, given my family background... Either way... does anybody ever feel afraid of what they may do when they've lost control?

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[SpaceTiger]

> True, but if I develop it later on I'll probably be sent to
> a ward for a much longer duration, given my family
> background... Either way... does anybody ever feel afraid
> of what they may do when they've lost control?

Yeah, a little, though I don't have a family history, so I'm not too concerned. Personally, I've always wanted to be just a little crazy. It sounds fun, like an acid trip.

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[JadussD]

> Yeah, a little, though I don't have a family history, so I'm
> not too concerned. Personally, I've always wanted to be
> just a little crazy. It sounds fun, like an acid trip.
>

i've heard schizophrenia is similar to an acid trip...it would really suck to be on an acid trip for the larger part of your life. i've done acid, it's not so bad when you're staring at your wall in your room or listening to music, but if you were, say, in a bar full of drunken maniacs, or a guerilla force of national socialist venezuelans genetically engineered to be cyborg death-troopers invaded your neighborhood, or you got in an argument with someone, it would not be fun and you'd very quickly be having a very bad time.

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[SharkESP]

> or you got in an argument with someone...

That would be the worst of them all!
;-)

I <3 cyborgs.

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[JCJones86]

> A lot of people wouldn't
> admit something like seeing a psychiatrist

Thanks for your encouragement. However, the anonymity of the internet does give me a bit more confidence then telling, say, my casual everyday friends. I've told a few close people (i.e. girlfriend, closer buds, etc.), but they try to tell me I'm fine. My only response to that is "You've never seen a panic attack, have you?" Aren't those fun? <img src=smilies/thumb.gif> Actually, my girlfriend is suffering through a lot of the same things, and she's a big part of why I've sought help.

> let me give you some advice: If you don't like
> your therapist/don't think they're helping you, don't
> hesitate to see someone else.

Thanks for the advice. I read the exact same thing in the pamphlets the psychiatrist gave me, but hearing it from an actual person is much more powerful. I don't think I'll hesitate to switch psychologists (as I've been prescribed for psychotherapy), but my psychiatrist seems like a very caring guy. Since I had no idea what seeking help would entail I assumed the stereotype portrayed in films and television: lying on a large leather couch and ranting of my life story as the psychiatrist/psychologist racks in the dough. I have a little more understanding of the workings now, but any more input you have is much appreciated.

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