Anonymous

I feel I should seek help for depression but for some reason no matter what I'm told I never believe that therapists and such truly care. If I did see a professional I don't think I would bear these thoughts in mind. What should I do?

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Ancient Hippy Profile
Ancient Hippy answered

A therapist is not going to cry with you, they'll rarely laugh with you either. They are a neutral "listener" who will help YOU help yourself. They do care, otherwise, they wouldn't be in their chosen field. They can't read your mind and will constantly ask questions to determine what is going on in your mind and make suggestions on how you can help yourself. Give them the time that they need to help you, it can't be done over night.

Best of luck to you.

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Ancient Hippy
Ancient Hippy commented
Thanks Sin. He's 29md29 from Ask? I had him blocked on Ask because of this same thing.
Tom  Jackson
Tom Jackson commented
@Ancient Hippy

I never noticed you had me blocked on Ask.com. (Ancient Hippy, where is thy sting?)
Tom  Jackson
Tom Jackson commented
@Sincerity Annabella

You disappoint me. Normally your opinion is that of an orderly mind. Perhaps friendship is your "hubris."

His experience and observation is of a specific limited nature and yet he wants everyone to believe that what he observed is necessarily how all therapy is conducted.

I can only hope that his "opinion and experience" with therapy will dissuade very many people from seeking such help.

Therapists are not neutral "listeners" (unless they are evaluating you for forensic reasons). They are in fact your advocates in helping you understand and deal with the issues you are seeking assistance with.

I don't argue religion. I explain why I believe what I believe. And if your ( read: "anyone's") comments constitute nonsense in my opinion, I will respond accordingly.

And I have no problem with anyone telling me I'm wrong. What I say on here I believe to be true. If you disagree with me and I'm right, that's your problem. If you disagree with me and I am wrong, we'll both eventually find that out.

But in the meantime, what you or anyone else thinks about what I say about religion or anything else on here is really not a concern of mine---that would be to offer to the God of all truth the unclean sacrifice of a lie.
PJ Stein Profile
PJ Stein answered

Their job isn't to care about you. Their job is to care about how you are handling your life.  A good therapist will keep their feelings out of it, and help you deal with yours. It may sound cold, but it is actually a good thing. They give you an unbiased point of view to help you see past your pain.

K. B.  Baldwin Profile
K. B. Baldwin answered

If you don't give it a try, you will continue to just suffer.  As someone told me once, "Do SOMETHING, even if it is wrong. At least you will know and can then try something else.", 

Tom  Jackson Profile
Tom Jackson answered

Tell your therapist that you think therapists don't (or couldn't---whichever it is) really care about the people who come to them with the issues they need help to deal with----I guarantee you won't be the first patient that feels that way, and you won't be the first person that has said that to them.

One therapist when questioned about how he feels about all the different patients he treats with different problems stated:  "I hold all of my patients in warm regard."

Therapy is not something you do for a living if you don't want to help people.  Pretending to care if you don't is way, way too much work.

Best of luck.  (And by the way, the way you phrased your question makes me think you are a very good candidate for successful therapy.)

otis campbell Profile
otis campbell answered

I see a shrink for depression and I'm on meds, I told my shrink if I won the lottery I would be happy for about ten minutes. Nothing can really help depression they give me meds it helps somewhat but being 16 years sober from cocaine is the price I'm paying. My brain is screwed up from years of drugs and alcohol and I was a introvert. I help animals now I guess that makes me happy. Nothing else will.

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