I'm thinking about seeing a shrink for stress, but I know i'll regret it. What should I do?

Question

I really want to see one, but I know for a fact that i'll regret it and that I will probably get into the habit of seeing one.

Also, when someone mentions a shrink.. most people naturally assume or think that the person who is seeing one is either really depressed or has a lot of problems.

Answer 1

when you said u know you'll regret it is it because it might change your outlook towards going to a psychiatrist? i know what u mean. before when this whole psych's thing was new to me i am the same as you. i dont wanna go because i also knew it would change me, it might become my habit as well and people's view on that is someone might be really retarded. but i still tried, what i did was i separate the thought, u know what i mean? even though i don't like it i still tried. i would keep it to myself anyway. but the thing is, don't ever lose yourself. your original thoughts when you started visiting the psych because it will really change. i dunno if you understand me. but i hope you do.  

Answer 2

I don't know why you would regret it. It could help you a lot. Also there are other things that might help. First of all, make sure your physical needs are covered (healthy foods, good sleep, exercise, relaxation). Being in good physical health helps when dealing with stress.

Second, take more charge of your own life. Lots of times stress occurs when we feel powerless. It helps to take some authority over your own fate so you don't feel so helpless.

And, sometimes a person just needs some time to himself to reflect, organize thoughts, relax and plan.

Good luck to you..I hope you are soon feeling better.  

Answer 3

Seeing a psychiatrist is almost the norm these days. With the amount of publicity that is around the celebrities that are dealing with some type of mental health issues, people's thoughts about it are changing fast.

Stress can be as disabiliting as depression or other issues. Seeing someone to get some help is not a bad things to do. You should start out with a therapist or counselor. They will be able to work with you so that you will be able to gain some skills to help. Then if you are still struggling they can make a referral to a psychiatrist for you and tell them what you have been doing in therapy, with they think is your diagnosis. This will help the psychiatrist have a bigger picture of your issue to provide you with a medication or two to help you even more. The medication will not be a life long thing. Most people are able to use the med's for up to a year while they are working on different techniques to handle their stress. The therapist is a useful tool to help find strategiesand tools to try.

Best Wishes!!!

Answer 4

try things on your own. i still want to go to one myself...but i'm kinda glad i waited...i learned things about myself and my stress and everything really. so i feel more in control now. i was like my own shrink. but i feel i still need to talk to one sooner then later so the past really goes away. i can only do so much on my own. then i need a doc to guide me ..even if it's like 3 visits. he can also give me tips on how to control things. i know how to do it now i think...but again i need that little push.

so on your own...try and work through things...then go ahead and get some help. it's not a bad thing. we all need a little help in our lives...but the difference between us and the people who don't go get help...is we actually have the you know what to admit it. which is a step in the right direction. just go with the flow. if you feel you need a couple visits. go for it. don't over do it. just get the help you need then move on. good luck. :)

Answer 5

try doing yoga to calm yourself down.. its a great stress reducer

Answer 6

Go see one, worse case you don't go back.  

Answer 7

What you should do first is sit down, by yourself and just think. Think about what's stressing you out, why it's stressing you out and how you can lessen the stress on yourself.

Try to figure out the issue on your own before paying out the hind end to someone who will most likely put you on some kind of meds.

Also, find something that takes away the stress. For example if you get stressed out and listening to music helps, use that to ease the stress. Something along those lines. Stress is part of life but it doesn't have to be a controlling part.

If none of this works, then maybe you'll have to just go ahead and go see one, and there is nothing wrong with that.

Answer 8

go fishing

Answer 9

A selection of treatments follows, because circumstances, and individual preferences vary. See stress treatments, at ezy build, below, in section 42. A certain level of stress is unavoidable, in modern society, so it is a good idea to develop effective coping methods. For others, or yourself: A massage (at least neck and shoulders) with jasmine, lavender, juniper, and/or bergamot, or German chamomile essential oils added to the massage oil, and to a warm bath, preferably beforehand, to help make any tension knots and muscles more pliant (they may only want, say, a juniper and/or bergamot and/or sandalwood mix: check first). I am aware of advice that strong heat, applied to essential oils can damage them, and so I would not use a diffuser.

Also consider anise, basil, bay, eucalyptus,  peppermint, rose, and thyme. Place some pieces of rock salt in a small vial, then add a few drops of the oil of your choice (the rock salt absorbs the oil and is  less risky to carry around than a bottle of oil). Open the vial and breathe in the scent whenever you need a quick stress release.  See if they will do long, stretching yoga exercises, or t'ai chi with you (see section 2, at ezy build, below).      

Practise daily, one of the relaxation techniques on pages 2, 11, 2c, or 2i; whichever works best for you, but the mindfulness breathing for 15 - 20 mns is ideal, although the progressive muscle relaxation can be learned quickly, and takes only several minutes, if pressed for time. Repeat: "I feel calm" and/or "I can handle this."  Employ the EFT version for use in public, for which you can reasonably claim that you have a headache, as you massage/tap your temples, but it may be advisable to restrict yourself to subvocalising (saying it to yourself, in your mind, not aloud). Section 53, and pages 2, 2.q and 2.o refer. "Even though I sometimes suffer from stress, I deeply and completely accept myself".  

(The following is a variant of EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing  therapy, which has been used successfully for those people suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, insomnia, and anxiety: it is easily learned, quick to use, yet can be very effective. It is easy to be dismissive of such a seemingly unusual technique, but give it a good tryout, for at least a few weeks, to see if it is effective in your case.).              

                    Prior to using either of the methods in the above paragraph, first sit comfortably, and take a deep breath. Then, without moving your head, move your eyes from the left, to the right, and back again, taking around a second to do so (say: "a thousand and one": this takes approximately a second). Repeat this procedure (without the words, although you can count, subvocally, if you like) 20 times. Then close your eyes and relax. Become aware of any tension or discomfort you feel.                        

                 Then open your eyes, and take another deep breath, and repeat step one, closing your eyes, and relaxing afterwards, in the same manner. Then, repeat the procedure one last time. Some people may find that this is all they need do.   With experience, you may find that you can practise this in public, with your eyes closed, which greatly widens the window of opportunity for its use, and avoids attracting unwanted attention.              

                    I have found that the 2 - 3 minutes spent using the EMDR markedly reduces distractions to the relaxation process, and is repaid many times over. With experience, you may find that you can practise this in public, with your eyes closed, which greatly widens the window of opportunity for its use, and avoids attracting unwanted attention.

     You can also multitask, using the gazing technique, as you walk/jog or exercise, by focusing on a distant object, or just focus awareness on how each step feels, noting any thoughts which flash across your mind, without pursuing any particular train of thought, just gently redirect your focus to the task at hand.              

                    For some people, it helps to visualise of a quiet, relaxing scene, (Imagine, as vividly as you can, that you are on a tropical beach, reclining comfortably; you luxuriate, as the the sun warms you, and a gentle breeze caresses your skin lightly, inhaling the tangy, sea scented, salt laden spray from the sparkling, translucent, aqua waves, crashing on the white, coral beach sand, and feeling the hot sand slip through your fingers in one hand, sipping your favorite drink with the other; all the while, the seagulls call, swoop and cavort playfully overhead in a cloudless, azure sky: you feel just like one of them, free to soar and cartwheel, or just glide in the moist, heavy air, and that this moment will last forever ... ).      

  Some people may find it helps when they listen to: http://www.amazon.com/Sounds-Of-The-Ocea...  O