Posted by ayuda on March 26, 2003, at 8:38:47
In reply to psychoanalysis, posted by annlanka on March 25, 2003, at 8:17:18
> hey guys-
> I have two questions. First, re the posts about wellbutrin. What is wellbutrin mainly used to treat? is it a more of a stimulating anti-depressant or relaxing anti-depressant? is it an ssri? i dont know anything about it and was curious. Also, tomorrow i am supposed to see a psychoanalysist. I am unfamiliar with this practice besides the freudian techniques and lying on a couch. But is this what psychoanalysis is even like? has anyone gone to a psychoanalysist? if so was it helpful? Did they get you on the right meds?
>
> Thanks!
> anneMy psychoanalyst is not the pdoc who prescribes my meds, I have a separate doctor for that (a psychiatrist). I've been in and out of psychoanalysis since I was a teenager, so I am used to the methods. You just sit and talk about what's up with you. They usually want to know your background, because they are looking for tie-ins to your current problems. Even though mine does not do my meds, she does keep a close eye on whether or not my meds are working for me, and she gives reports to my doctor, and vice-versa.
I don't know specifically why you are seeing a psychoanalyst, so I will tell you from my experience in needing them because I not only suffer naturally from depression and GAD, I was raised in an abusive household by immature parents, and that has tainted the way I react to authority and life in general.
The good ones really try to get to know you, to know how you feel inside -- the ones who aren't so good want you to change, to be more like a person with no personality (at least, that's been my experience -- they want you to be some kind of generic person). What I am implying, but should say, is that they do give you advice of different kinds of behaviors or ways of thinking that they want you to practice, that should be healthier than whatever they perceive to be the reasons you are in psychotherapy. A good doctor will work within the parameters of your personality, to make you a better you.
It may take some time to find someone you are comfortable with -- if you are not comfortable with your psychoanalyst, there are plenty of them out there, don't feel like you are stuck. You need to trust your intuition on it -- a lot of people tend to think that the doctor is right even when it doesn't feel right, and that's not good. Not every psychoanalyst is going to work well with you, just because they are human too.
Good luck -- just remember that their job is to help you sort through all that is going on and has gone on and make sense of your issues, so that you can see more clearly who you are and what you need to do. It takes some time, and they sometimes bring out a lot of raw emotion (most of them keep tissues on hand!), but a good psychoanalyst won't leave you feeling abandoned or vulnerable, they will make you feel empowered and befriended.
I hope that some of this makes sense -- and that any of it helps you. Just remember that you are the consumer, and they are providing you with a service, and that this is supposed to make you feel better.
Good luck! Let us know how it goes.
poster:ayuda
thread:109458
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030325/msgs/213005.html