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<\/a> can provide you with immediate help.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nIf you are in a crisis or any other person may be in danger \u2013 don\u2019t use this site. These resources<\/a> can provide you with immediate help.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s how to tell your therapist that you\u2019re depressed:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This article will explain why you should be frank with your therapist about your depression. You\u2019ll learn about: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a> is common.<\/li><\/a>. <\/li>In this post, we'll cover:<\/p>\n
Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, had a rule: \u201cno matter how insignificant or shameful, speak what comes to mind.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a result, he learned that what his patients withheld was often the most painful, and finally speaking about it helped them heal. But unfortunately, not all therapists are dogged emotional detectives like Freud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most therapists can only interpret what you express to them. As humans, our experiences are too varied to guess. So, unless you tell them about your depression, they may not be able to help you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fortunately, fear of self-disclosure is common, and in session, your therapist will prioritize creating space for you to tell them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Research has found that around 50% of patients have secrets they\u2019ve hidden from their therapist. Sometimes, they\u2019re ashamed of what they see to be personal failures or mistakes. Other times, they don\u2019t know how to bring it up or fear what\u2019ll happen if they do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fear over self-disclosure is common, as most people who self-disclose fear being dismissed, humiliated, committed or even having their children taken. However, therapists should never brush you aside. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
They also can\u2019t admit you to the hospital involuntarily or take your kids unless you\u2019re considering hurting yourself or others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most of us have experienced being dismissed or taken by surprise by someone else\u2019s reaction during a vulnerable moment. Many of us have been told we\u2019re being irrational or unreasonable. Afterward, some of us even obsess over how we express our thoughts, blaming ourselves for others\u2019 unempathetic responses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sometimes, the people giving these responses are the people we trusted to help us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We come by these fears honestly, but sometimes they hold us back from seeking help or relief when we desperately need it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do you often find yourself grappling with opening up? If you do, ask yourself whether you should lean into your fears. What makes you doubt your therapist? What are the pros and cons of telling them anyway? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Exploring a problem and questioning your anxiety can help you feel confident enough to be vulnerable with someone whose reaction you fear. It can also help you identify whether you\u2019re truly in danger without having to ask someone else for a reality check.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Have you ever wondered why it\u2019s so hard to pinpoint what your therapist is thinking<\/a>? Or why, when you tell them something, they don\u2019t react? This will seem contradictory, but it\u2019s because your therapist is centering you during your session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As I said before, your therapist shouldn\u2019t dismiss you. Unless you\u2019re considering hurting yourself or others, you won\u2019t be committed or have your children taken away. But, what will happen?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can expect them to ask why you feel depressed and about any trauma to understand your struggles better. And, if you\u2019re willing, you may be referred to a psychiatrist for medication to help control your mood. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You may also be asked to attend Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or attend group therapy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Psychiatrists are medical doctors that specialize in treating mental illness. Their focus is solely on diagnosing and prescribing medication instead of counseling, and they generally use the Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM) as a guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If your therapist refers you to a psychiatrist, you\u2019ll receive a phone call from a counselor or nurse from their office. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They\u2019ll work with you to fill out an intake questionnaire about your current state of mental health, after which you\u2019ll book an appointment for a later date. Because they\u2019re potentially prescribing medication for the first time, this appointment is likely to be in-person at their office. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, they may not be located in the same office as your therapist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At your first appointment, your psychiatrist will ask about you and your family\u2019s medical history and whether you\u2019ve taken any previous medications. In addition, they may ask about any medications that have worked well for your family members. They\u2019ll also ask whether you\u2019ve experienced any trauma. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, you\u2019re under no obligation to recount your story for anyone, especially if you\u2019ll find it hard to cope. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even so, if you\u2019ve experienced a traumatic event, no matter how far back in your history, it would be a good idea to mention it briefly. But if you\u2019re asked to recount it in full, you can simply inform them it upsets you deeply, and you want to work on it in a controlled setting, like therapy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After that, they\u2019ll ask you to explain your symptoms in full, then maybe, if there are signs it\u2019ll help, they\u2019ll prescribe a medication that works well with your set of symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, medication isn\u2019t the magic fix; it was marketed as in psychiatry\u2019s infancy. We now know that unhealed trauma, unprocessed emotions, biased opinions, and unaddressed issues in one\u2019s life cause mental illnesses, not solely by chemical imbalances in the brain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So while it\u2019ll lessen the physical symptoms as you work through their cause in therapy, medication won\u2019t change what\u2019s lacking in your life. This means the problems aren\u2019t solved, and your depression may return or even worsen, and for this reason, some people go in and out of the mental health system for years before they receive the help they need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For this reason, it\u2019s essential to continue therapy, even if you feel better after starting medication and feel you no longer need it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The medication\u2019s calming effects may even help you make better progress with your therapist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy<\/a> (CBT) is a subtype of therapy that teaches healthier coping methods, thereby reducing unhelpful behaviors and ways of thinking that can cause anxiety and depression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some well-known examples include Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What do you do if you tell your therapist, and they don\u2019t believe you? Or if you see a psychiatrist, but you disagree with their conclusion?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mental health professionals are people too, and sometimes, they may go by the book to the point of handing out misdiagnoses, misunderstanding you, or even being burnt out. In addition, they may have personal biases against the existence of certain disorders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you encounter this and can\u2019t get through to them, you can ask for a consult or second opinion or find new mental health professionals to treat you.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
If your session doesn\u2019t go well and your therapist doesn\u2019t believe you<\/a>, you can politely ask them for outside consultation or a second opinion regarding your depression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you don\u2019t trust your mental health carers, or they\u2019ve ignored a consultant\u2019s opinion, it might be better to find new ones who are more willing to listen to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, you must speak to them about leaving first if you decide to do this. While it\u2019s easier to stop coming to appointments, they need to know. Not only is it a sign of maturity and respect, but once you do, they can refer you to someone better able to help you, saving you weeks or even months of reassessments and referrals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you decide not to tell them anyway, or they didn\u2019t or weren\u2019t able to give you a referral, the best way to find a new mental health professional is to contact your general practitioner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your GP knows your location\u2019s health system and can give referrals, getting you back into the system sooner. They may even know someone who could better help you or have resources you could pursue. In addition, they\u2019ll give you direction during the process and monitor your well-being during the transition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They may even refer you for a consultation to get you onto medication so that you can cope better in the meantime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you fear you may hurt yourself or others at any point during your wait, or if your symptoms worsen, phone your general practitioner\u2019s office. They have helplines for you to contact and may give you an urgent referral to an on-call psychiatrist in your area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whether you suffer from recurrent mental health issues or not, don\u2019t be afraid of reaching out to your doctor in a time of need. Anxiety shouldn\u2019t be used as an excuse to dismiss you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If this is happening, find a new general practitioner or visit an urgent care clinic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It can be distressing to tell your therapist you\u2019re depressed. Fortunately, fear of self-disclosure is common and well-understood. In addition, your therapist should never judge, no matter how messy your self-disclosure is. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, it\u2019s best just to tell them, even if you have to blurt it out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After you tell them, you can expect to be referred to a psychiatrist, or CBT, or even group therapy. If your psychiatrist or therapist doesn\u2019t listen to or investigate your concerns, you can ask for a second opinion or find new mental health practitioners through your family doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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