Third week of therapy. My psychiatrist has let me talk for 2 hours so far and not offered anything much in the way of a response to anything I say. I feel like I am spending a lot of effort and money to talk to a blank wall. Is this normal or should I be seeking a different therapist? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Dec 12, 2009 - 29 answers

I'm a male in my early twenties who has washed out of college and is looking for a mental health professional of some sort in Northern Virginia. Issues I feel are likely to come up are my (long-ago diagnosed) attention deficit disorder, depression, and some form of OCD - I have a deep and (likely irrational) fear of psychosis and other impairments of cognition. I am deeply wary of psychiatric drugs, and want to work with someone who shares my attitude toward them, but would recommend them as a last resort. So what I'm after is some sort of talk therapy, preferably with a medical doctor (as oppose to "just" a PhD). [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 13, 2009 - 11 answers

After a long and losing battle with depression, I am going to a short-term (10 day) partial hospitalization program at McLean Hospital near Boston. I need advice on how to convince myself that there’s hope for me and get into the kind of frame of mind that will allow me to benefit from this kind of program, despite its short length and limitations. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jul 14, 2009 - 23 answers

I just got back from a psychiatric evaluation. The diagnostic impression is "chronic major depressive disorder versus dysthymia." What does "versus" mean in this context? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jun 19, 2009 - 15 answers

Please give me advice on inpatient psychiatric treatment programs for depression. I'm looking for recommendations and advice on specific clinics anywhere in the US. I'll spare you the long detailed background and try to give the most essential and relevant details. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jun 1, 2009 - 11 answers

as a twenty-something, how do i address possible memory/cognitive issues with a doctor without both of us thinking i'm crazy? or am i crazy? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on May 20, 2009 - 19 answers

Is there a place I can go to get help with ADD/Anxiety in NYC, which charges by sliding scale? I have no health insurance and very little income, but a recent AskMe thread has helped change my fanatical stance against medication, and I would like to seek some help despite the financial obstacles. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Apr 13, 2009 - 5 answers

I have Stratterra, Adderall, and Xanax. What can I do to get serious anxiety and ADD symptoms under control, quickly and for the short-term? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Nov 24, 2008 - 27 answers

Antidepressant filter question #4529, I've searched the archive to no avail and I am wondering what antidepressant might be right for me. I know, I know, YANAD, but I am looking for anecdotal info. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 24, 2008 - 24 answers

You're not my psychiatrist, and I'm not your patient. But I need some help evaluating my feelings and setting my dosage within the limits my psychiatrist has prescribed. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Apr 15, 2008 - 5 answers

Anyone know a good psychologist or psychiatrist in Columbus, O? In fact, which might be better? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Mar 25, 2008 - 4 answers

Clonazepam is my go-to workhorse drug. But am I setting myself up for addiction? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Mar 21, 2008 - 20 answers

Anxiety medication for panic attacks? What should I look out for / expect. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jan 4, 2008 - 32 answers

An adolescent relative in her senior year of high school is suffering depression, and recently spoke to a psychiatrist about suicide, which resulted in her near-hospitalization. She's taken Zoloft, and done some therapy -- what now? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 31, 2007 - 14 answers

Iowa & mental health: What can someone do if they're threatened with being admitted for psychiatric reasons against their will? What happens? Does it really only take two other people signing a document? Is threatening someone with this a crime? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 14, 2007 - 18 answers

Do I need a psychiatrist as well as a psychologist? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jul 12, 2007 - 11 answers

Will the Peace Corps disqualify me if I have to keep taking my antidepressant during my assignment? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jul 10, 2007 - 12 answers

What are the potential (career, financial) ramfications of receiving a diagnosis for a psychiatric disorder? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jul 1, 2005 - 15 answers

ShrinkFilter: I've been increasingly stressed, self-loathing and distracted for years, and (since my spouse and I are having a baby in a few months) have decided I need to Get Professional Help--mostly to figure out what's wrong with me and deal with it, so I don't pass it on to our kid. But "professional help" is a very big category, and I need to narrow it down. I want to find somebody whose perspective is "let's figure out the big problems and how you can fix them, as efficiently as possible," rather than "there's nothing wrong with you that years of expensive chatting can't prolong." I'd also like to avoid medication. How do I find the right... therapist? counselor? I don't even know what the right word is.
posted by anonymous on Jan 23, 2005 - 26 answers

I need a therapist. I recently moved to the Boston area, I don't really know anybody, and Psychology Today isn't doing it for me. I know that I'm clinically depressed (runs in the family, and relatives who are docs say so), and it's gotten worse of late. It's ruining my job, my life, and my sleep. Where do I find a top notch psychiatrist/psychologist?
posted by anonymous on Dec 12, 2004 - 8 answers