What's the most ridiculous thing you've ever been told by anyone in the mental health profession?

[LastFlowers]

After making me tell her in detail why I felt so hopeless (I was trying to deal with an extreme, complicated personal loss and grief over feelings of mutilation after a difficult surgery), she told me I need to stop being a "Negative Nancy" and that I'll never feel better with that attitude.

There have been other things, but that one really stuck with me.

Horrible.
I don't understand how someone like that can even be in the profession. Then again, I don't understand most of the merit even seen in the profession..so yea.

 

[Soul]

This is not quite the same league but it absolutely qualifies as a ridiculous thing: I was told my national ID number must be a mistake, because it's a male number.

It took me months to feel really confident that there are no "male numbers" or "female numbers". It shook me.

 

[StillWaiting]

My therapist told me I am just going through a period of sadness and told me that believing in a religion will help

 

[Jean Améry]

After making me tell her in detail why I felt so hopeless (I was trying to deal with an extreme, complicated personal loss and grief over feelings of mutilation after a difficult surgery), she told me I need to stop being a "Negative Nancy" and that I'll never feel better with that attitude.

There have been other things, but that one really stuck with me.

So basically she told you the only way to feel better is to pretend your problems did not exist? I'd have called her a bloody fool to her face and walked out. It truly is incredible how crass these so called professionals behave while they usually don't have the slightest clue about how it feels to actually be in that situation.

This is yet another piece of evidence the mental health industry has nothing to do with healing people but with indoctrination in the public ideology of optimism. Which is the raunchest stupidity: if people could will their problems away why wouldn't they just do it?

 

[eve2004]

This is yet another piece of evidence the mental health industry has nothing to do with healing people but with indoctrination in the public ideology of optimism. Which is the raunchest stupidity: if people could will their problems away why wouldn't they just do it?

Not to mention that we all already know that, I think subconsciously everyone has already tried that (optimism and willing themselves to happiness) before landing here...

 

[Jean Améry]

My therapist told me I am just going through a period of sadness and told me that believing in a religion will help

Next time he/she says that reply with following: "If religion will help me with my problem why would I need you?" Besides: if the problem is only temporary why would you need (paid) therapy? Won't the problem just go away on its own?

 

[justanotherday]

My nutritionist kept telling me I had an eating disorder due to my vegan eating habits and the fact that I'm on the low end of the normal weight bracket for my height. So the DSM IS coming for the vegans too haha. ED-V : Eating Disorder - Veganism

I am vegetarian. I wish I had the discipline to be a vegan.

 

[eve2004]

I am vegetarian. I wish I had the discipline to be a vegan.

What is it that you don't want to give up? The vegan cheese is eerily similar to dairy cheese. At first I avoided it but now I eat it cause of my newly skewed vegan taste buds, it tastes just like regular cheese.
However, you have to be careful about getting all your nutrients. I don't give a shit about myself nevermind nutrients so I probably in the long term will suffer from some issue. My B12 is already extremely deficient, most people can't function at my level of deficiency but I'm a freak. My whole body is insensitive to any toxin and my mind is numb. Makes it real hard to find a decent way to CTB.

 

[justanotherday]

What is it that you don't want to give up? The vegan cheese is eerily similar to dairy cheese. At first I avoided it but now I eat it cause of my newly skewed vegan taste buds, it tastes just like regular cheese.
However, you have to be careful about getting all your nutrients. I don't give a shit about myself nevermind nutrients so I probably in the long term will suffer from some issue. My B12 is already extremely deficient, most people can't function at my level of deficiency but I'm a freak. My whole body is insensitive to any toxin and my mind is numb. Makes it real hard to find a decent way to CTB.

I find it difficult to be in a hurry when I am out, to find any vegan foods. I am not worried about my health, in fact, I am very healthy, and I never eat meat.

 

[Soundgarden]

That chronic fatigue gets better with exercise. I hear that a lot from doctors who have no clue what me/cfs is. Unfortunately it is so imprinted in everyone's minds that exercise is good, that they can't even concieve of an illness where it actually does more damage than good.

Geeez... a doctor even prescribed it to me, he literally wrote "exercise" on the prescription.

Unfortunately I did not have to courage to tell him that research shows exercise does not improve chronic fatigue, and can actually cause severe post exertional malaise.

Any me/cfs warriors around here?

 

[eve2004]

I find it difficult to be in a hurry when I am out, to find any vegan foods. I am not worried about my health, in fact, I am very healthy, and I never eat meat.

Cooper Branch is a Canadian vegan chain that is opening all over Canada and started in the US and around the world.... I mostly just don't eat when I'm out, I eat breakfast and dinner only. You could bring fruit when you're out. Try the vegan cheese Daiya. Don't eat it cold, melt it on some break or pizza. Or buy a Daiya frozen pizza, bake it in the oven, it is surprisingly tasty!!!!

I feel like such a hypocrite... I eat vegan only, stay away from processed foods, except if they are manufactured by a pharmaceutical company or « research lab »...

That chronic fatigue gets better with exercise. I hear that a lot from doctors who have no clue what me/cfs is. Unfortunately it is so imprinted in everyone's minds that exercise is good, that they can't even concieve of an illness where it actually does more damage than good.

Geeez... a doctor even prescribed it to me, he literally wrote "exercise" on the prescription.

Unfortunately I did not have to courage to tell him that research shows exercise does not improve chronic fatigue, and can actually cause severe post exertional malaise.

Any me/cfs warriors around here?

Did they prescribe any meds for the cf? Does/would caffeine pills do anything? Or anything in the stimulant department? (Sorry, I'm ignorant about it but would like to know more).

 

[woxihuanni]

If I were to go, they would even tarnish my memories, saying nothing was real or worth anything. That would've been it.

Not a shrink, but a doctor told me recently told me they would've never believed the promises I believed. Apparently I'm just stupid and had it coming. Good for them for being clever. :)

 

[Soundgarden]

@eve2004

There are currently no treatments that target the actual disease because there is no consensus regarding what causes me/cfs.

Usually patients are prescribed painkillers and antidepressants to help them cope with the consequences of being constantly in pain and/or in a state of utter exhaustion.

Other treatments include vitamins and supplements such as B12, Omega 3, Q10 and others I don't remember right now.

Regarding caffeine, I can say with some certainty that it does not help with me/cfs.

In fact, any stimulants in high doses do more harm than good, because they cause the body to "crash". When you have me/cfs there is no magic source of energy you can tap, and if you force your body to spend energy it does not have, by taking caffeine pills for instance, you will pay a heavy price in the end.

 

[eve2004]

My therapist told me I am just going through a period of sadness and told me that believing in a religion will help

Then why isn't she in the religion « business »?

 

[puppy9]

I'll go to hades if ctb.
I must be a dog in a library, that is how I should perceive God; don't question god coz a dog can't read books intended for god.

 

[Blackjack]

When I was diagnosed with a terminal disease and was scolded for not wanting to take anti-depressants. There is not a happy pill on the market strong enough to make this death sentence OK.

 

[The-end-is-here]

After I got PSSD, SSRI induced permanent sexual dysfunction/anhedonia, after 5 months of zoloft use, I was told this was not possible. It was all in my head etc. This happened many times. It took me 2 years to find professionals who were knowledgeable and helped. It was really traumatic to be so ruined by meds, and afterwards get gaslighted.

 

[LadyPanda]

That my rape was most likely because of the medications I was on and its interaction with alcohol. He didn't ask if I was on any medication or if I was drinking, he just assumed. He also gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. All this while I had been taken off my meds cold turkey and was in the throws of super-psychosis.

I don't care if I'm passed out on the floor, drunk, tripping balls and verbally asking to be raped--it was and will always be the rapists' fault. When I spoke up my family assumed I was being dramatic because of the psychotic episode. All this happened in a foreign country so I had no idea how to report him. He's also my family's therapist which explains A LOT.

(I typed the rapist and my autocorrect tried to change it to therapist lmao)
OH, and when I told another doctor that antidepressants haven't helped me in 15 years, I've taken so many that it's safe to say my depression is treatment-resistant and I wanted to come off Prozac and Effexor because of the side effects and inefficacy he said "fine, but don't come back here crying". Some people are actual dickswabs with a degree.

AHEM: Antidepressant Use Does Not Prevent Suicide, Study Finds

 

[Rachel74]

Mine was that sucide was genetic and because my grandad hung himself that's why I am like this.

 

[Pistolero114]

Maybe we can "cure" you. With what? A labotomy?

 

[justanotherday]

After making me tell her in detail why I felt so hopeless (I was trying to deal with an extreme, complicated personal loss and grief over feelings of mutilation after a difficult surgery), she told me I need to stop being a "Negative Nancy" and that I'll never feel better with that attitude.

There have been other things, but that one really stuck with me.

Yes, as if we can help feeling negative.

 

[Jean Améry]

The only thing they are good for is having some reason to leave the house for a appointment, a face to face person to talk to without having to pretend to be OK, and .... benzos. Regular docs don't want to dish out benzos but psychs will do it almost liberally.
Those who also do therapy are at least a bit more useful...

Perhaps it would be useful to search for some kind of peergroup and attend it regularly as this would accomplish the same goal as going to a shrink (talking about one's problems without being judged) but without the costs, indoctrination, stigma and drug pushing that goes with psychiatry.

Benzos are highly addictive and the withdrawl from them is known to be quite difficult. I would be careful about relying on any drug to regulate your mood or anxiety. It will mess with your neurochemistry and in the long run screw up your life even more.

'Therapy' is basically venting and dispensing advice sold as medicine or 'healing'. 'Therapists' goal is to indoctrinate you enough to serve in the workforce (wage slavery) and make other people rich. Personally I find that distasteful and incongruent with human dignity which is why I think a good death is the answer to all my problems. I did not ask to be born and I sure as hell did not ask to be a slave.

 

[Angst Filled Fuck Up]

When the medical testing for my various physical symptoms showed nothing, I was sent to therapy for 8 weeks under the premise of hypochondria. So I had to sit there listening to some girl way younger than me tell me I was imagining everything. Literally attempting to brainwash me into believing I had nothing going on as I sat there in discomfort every week. I told her just because you can't find it, doesn't mean it's not there. But that just makes you sound even more crazy. It really was ridiculous, and a no-win situation.

 

[LonelyLight]

After telling my Doctor about how I wasn't sleeping, eating, finding joy in anything, seen no point whatsoever, she suggested I go for a walk. I just said okay thanks and left. I avoid her at all costs now.

 

[eve2004]

After telling my Doctor about how I wasn't sleeping, eating, finding joy in anything, seen no point whatsoever, she suggested I go for a walk. I just said okay thanks and left. I avoid her at all costs now.

Unbelievable. I would have skipped the Ok Thanks and just walked out.

 

[Sweet emotion]

Well I can tell you some ridiculous things I've been asked. I was at a hospital trying to deal with headaches.ni wasn't suicidal at the time. Some psychiatrist comes in and I just got my dinner. It was meat, mashed potatoes, and peas. I went to eat a bite of the mashed potatoes first and he asked me ......why did you do that? I said....why did I do what? He said...choose to eat the mashed potatoes first. I just looked at him with the dumbest look on my face. I saod well i have to start somewhere right? I mean theres no hidden meaning to it!

 

[eve2004]

Well I can tell you some ridiculous things I've been asked. I was at a hospital trying to deal with headaches.ni wasn't suicidal at the time. Some psychiatrist comes in and I just got my dinner. It was meat, mashed potatoes, and peas. I went to eat a bite of the mashed potatoes first and he asked me ......why did you do that? I said....why did I do what? He said...choose to eat the mashed potatoes first. I just looked at him with the dumbest look on my face. I saod well i have to start somewhere right? I mean theres no hidden meaning to it!

Did he specialize in eating disorders? Probably thinks everyone has one! My nutritionist who did specialize in ED thought I had an eating disorder because I am vegan......

 

[Boochky]

As usual the fuckery from some people knows no bounds. Sorry, folks. These are jaw dropping stories.

Mine told me that I had to wean off my Klonopin because it was not intended for long term use. This is while I'm working and stable after a recent hospital stay. Tapering down was awful and my brain is still damaged. I also lost my job.

 

[Sweet emotion]

Did he specialize in eating disorders? Probably thinks everyone has one! My nutritionist who did specialize in ED thought I had an eating disorder because I am vegan......

No I wasn't there for an eating disorder I was there for chronic headaches that I found out seven years later weren't headaches at all but Complex Regional Pain Syndrome which is the highest ranking pain condition in medical history. I've gotten so much worse since then and I can't do it anymore.

 

[737492]

that forgiving/getting back in touch with the man who sexually abused me as a child would benefit me.

or that things will ever get better. lmao