HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

To find a counselor or not?

Support Forums
>
Bipolar Disorder
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 6/30/2010 6:21 PM (GMT -5)
My psychiatrist, whom I like and trust, says that now is not a good time for me to find a counselor, because I'm really unstable as far as meds go. He says that, once I'm stable on meds, that would be a good time to find a counselor.

I did go ahead and find a counselor, despite my psychiatrist's words, but the counselor, a psychologist, and I didn't connect. I went in with a list of problems that I wanted to address, and after only about three meetings, she was simply not comprehending what I was talking about and where I was trying to get to. So, I stopped seeing her. Maybe it isn't the time to see a counselor.

What do you folks think? Hunt up a counselor? (And we know how much work it is to find a good one, don't we?) Or wait until I stabilize on meds? (May that happen!)

Thanks for any advice you can give me.

Havana, a newbie

Posted 6/30/2010 10:53 PM (GMT -5)
My Pdoc suggested counselling 'especially' when I was unstable on the meds.
Counselling is a fabulous way to talk things out instead of stuffing. Plus a
problem shared cuts the problem in half. I think counselling is a good idea for
anyone dealing with a mental illness. That's just been my experience.
Posted 7/1/2010 9:37 AM (GMT -5)
Thank you so much for your thoughtful note. It's given me a lot to think about.

Many thanks,
Havana
Posted 7/1/2010 11:33 AM (GMT -5)
What is your goal of counseling?  Maybe a psychologist can teach you coping skills to help you get through the hard times?  Mine did and I'm doing OK without needing to see her!

Posted 7/1/2010 11:42 AM (GMT -5)
As a counselor, I see a lot of people unstable on meds, and let's face it, you could use some coping help until the meds kick in.  You just may not have clicked with that counselor, but I wouldn't let me from looking for another one.  I know it costs money, but I have had people come for an intial interview to see if they are comfortable with me and will check out a couple others at the same time.  You need to be very specific on your goals for counseling and amke sure the couselor has the expertise to help you meet those goals.  You are the consmer....you pay the counselor for a service...and you should be happy with how things go.  Good luck...somewhere out there is the right counselor for you.
Posted 7/1/2010 5:52 PM (GMT -5)
Thank you so much for the posts regarding whether I should look for a counselor or not. I appreciate all of your insights immensely. I went online to look for counselors who take the insurance I have and found several. So, I sent email to one who seemed to mesh with the kinds of problems I have. Here's hoping I hear from her and that she can help me. Thanks again for all of your words of wisdom. They made a big difference to me.

Warmly and with gratitude,
Havana
Posted 7/1/2010 9:38 PM (GMT -5)

   When i was first diagnosed and was learning to live with  this thing and also getting my meds right, a therpast was a HUGE help in getting me not only to accept who i was but how to live with it.  It was a very rough time of my life made easier by her kind words and helping nature. 

   I feel there is allways a use for a helful friend to listen to your problems. And in the mean time there is allways us here to bounce problems, questions, and ideas off of.

  Bill

Posted 7/2/2010 9:15 AM (GMT -5)
Despite the fact that I've had this miserable thing for years--well, I was diagnosed as simply having clinical depression for a very long time, and the diagnosis has been changed to bipolar II--I feel that I have not learned to accept it and live with it. I keep feeling that there's a cure or that, when I'm feeling well, I won't have another downturn. And then when the inevitable downturn does occur, I feel deeply disappointed and start wondering what I'VE done wrong. It's very discouraging to be at the mercy of one's brain chemicals. Yes, I know that there are a slew of miserable diseases out there, and I'm grateful not to have them. But still, I am NOT at all grateful to have what I do have: bipolar II, fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue syndrome. I'm hopeful that a good counselor will be someone who will listen and help me to find the tools to deal with what I have.

And this group has really impressed me. You folks are awe-inspiring. Bill, your postings are the kinds of things I want to print out and put up on my wall so that I can read and reread them. You have indeed learned so much about being bipolar and living successfully with it. I can only hope that I get to that point some day.

Thank you,
Havana
Posted 7/2/2010 9:28 AM (GMT -5)
"I keep feeling that there's a cure or that, when I'm feeling well, I won't have another downturn. And then when the inevitable downturn does occur, I feel deeply disappointed and start wondering what I'VE done wrong. It's very discouraging to be at the mercy of one's brain chemicals."

I completely understand the disappointment. It's like realizing (again) "something is actually wrong with me!"

But I'm starting to think we have more control over this than we think we do. I am impressed how dramatically my diet impacts my bipolar. It is so dramatic that I can be off meds and my mood swings are so mild that I notice them, but it doesn't interfere with life and no one else can tell. Compare that to being disabled by the condition! Wow - what a difference! Only problem is that the diet is very hard for me to stick to. I fell off my diet a few weeks ago and am suffering the consequences. I see my nutritionist today and will hopefully get back on track.
Posted 7/2/2010 9:34 AM (GMT -5)
I'm very interested in what you have to say about diet. I went to a nutritionist several times and was disappointed in him; he was pretty much "one size fits all" and assigned the same diet to everyone. (I knew a lot of people who went to him, and he was giving them all the same diet, no matter what their particular problems were.) How does one find a nutritionist who deals with people who are bipolar??

Havana
Posted 7/2/2010 8:42 PM (GMT -5)
oh i have similar condition to you havana. bipolar I and fibromyalgia. its a bad combination isnt it? for me when i'm depressed my fibro is so much worse and that increases my depression! then i cant really exercise either that makes things worse for my mood and my fibro..
so i can understand why ur not 'grateful' for your conditions.

i really hope you find a good counselor. as you probably know there are some people who believe fibro is real and some who think its all in your head. my newest doctor thinks its all in my head she's confusing me i may need to switch doctors. but counselors should be trained to be sympathetic and not judge. thats what you want.

I think nutrition for bipolar is very interesting. i dont know anything about it or how it works but i guess regulating blood sugar swings could help regulate mood.
i personally try to add protein to every meal ( im a pescetarian so mostly fish and vegetarian), eat lotta fiber, and vegetables. and cut out caffeine.
but HAHA i havne't had any luck staying away from caffeine. It makes me feel too good to stop. :P

good luck!
Posted 7/3/2010 1:04 PM (GMT -5)
I would really recommend you see one regardless if you are stable or not. often times when you are unstable that's when the scary suicidal depression comes out or the problematic mania and if you don't have anyone to talk to about it things can go south fast.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply