OK, I'm sure we've all heard things from doctors / counselors in the past that are just off the wall. I wondered if we could share them for a laugh?
I went to a counselor after birth of first daughter on the advice of my ob/gyn. She was a total nut, and told me (after talking to me for about 15 minutes) that I wasn't suffering from "post partum depression", but rather a "soul death" because I wasn't making time to be creative enough anymore. She told me that she would like, not to send me to a ppd support group, but to a group of her clients that were retired women who were, in her opinion, going through the same things I was - trying to find themselves after a life change. I was like, "Hey, before the baby I'm fine. FINE. After the baby I'm not fine anymore. NOT.OK.ANYMORE. I seriously doubt that finding a hobby is going to give me the will to live!!!!"
I never went back. Called my doctor, told him this woman was completely off her rocker, and perhaps it was HER that needed a counselor!
The dumbest thing my counsellor ever said doesn't really sound that dumb to begin with. She said "you can pass your pain to me and I'll hold it for you". Well, ok, a little bit dumb, completely impossible, but sweet. The really odd thing was what she did as she said this. I'll describe it as best I can... . She raised her arms up and moved them in an arc each side, up from the top of her head -- as if she was carrting a water pot on her head. It was so odd to watch, and really didn't fit cos normally she's pretty good and down to earth. It was as if she paused from dealing directly with the issues I was talking about, and for just a moment fell back on some clap-trap she'd picked up in training. It was really artificial. I hope I didn't show what I was thinking on my face! Fortunately it passed quickly enough and she got back to being normal -- which is good, cos mostly I really like her!
Rosie x********************
People are not like fish: they do not work better battered.
I told this shrink about all the activities I was doing. Volunteer work, etc. He said "I guess it is better than lying around and watching tv all day". I never saw him again.
For the most part we have had great luck with therapists so I don't have a dumb thing story. I do have a totally hilarious story though.
When my son was in 3rd grade he was having mondo-difficulty adjusting to many things so we had him in therapy for a while. Being an active kid he was fidgety in session. The office was in a lovely wooded setting and the therapist right away got it that if they went for a walk the session was much more productive, so they would walk along the paths in the office park. I would wait in the office waiting room and read (the ony quiet moment in the day). One day the therapist came back with out my son. Thinking this was a little odd I asked him if he had forgotten something. Like a little kid caught in the cookie jar the therapist dug his toe into the carpet and with his chin on his chest he tells me that he got my son all wet and son didn't want to walk through the building dripping all over everything. Apparently they were standing on the river bank, one minute son was there and the next minute son was gone. The bank beneath him had given way. I would have given anything to see the look on the therapist's face when son fell in the river. Fortunately son is a good swimmer and it was a slow meandering river. We all had a good laugh and moved on. The next week when it is time to take son to the therapist he shows up in a swimsuit with beach towel hung round his neck and a swim mask and snorkle. Therapist had to stop laughing before they could get down to business.
Funny, Strong! It reminded me of the time that my family and I were walking by the Mississippi River (dad was a towboat capt) and my sis and I were at the edge of the water. You had to walk on the big rocks that varied in size from a loaf of bread to a bit bigger. Guess who steps on the "wrong" rock and tumbles into the water? HaHa!!! I was fixing to get up (the water was like 8 inches or so deep) when I hear my mom holler, "Get her, J.C.!!!" I looked up and saw my dad throw down the movie camera (no camcorders back then!) and come running down the sloped riverside towards me. Before I could get up, this 200 lb man was on me, causing me to scrape my leg on a sharp rock! He righted himself and grabbed me up. My leg was bleeding and I was mad cuz I hadn't needed "saving" in the first place and secondly, I was embarassed cuz when we got back onboard the towboat, the men were wondering what happened to me and dad goes on to tell them, so I was mortified and went to my room and cried! Quite an "adventure" for an 11 year old girl!
about the dumbest thing a therapist ever said to me was probably my first one. She wanted me to go into a group hometo learn how to overcome my phobias of working secularly (one girl had a job at Burger King...on-and-off!) and becoming an overall more functional human being....well, I was DEEP into GAD at the time, was barely making it out my front door to go ANYWHERE and she thought I was gonna agree to go into a group home?!?!? When I didn't show up for the "tour" and went to my next appointment with her, she told me that she was upset at me for not even going to check it out! Well, I didn't care if she was mad! Funny thing is, after I had made up my mind that I was NOT going to go to that place and couldn't be budged from this stand, I started actually getting better somewhat! The GAD lessened and I've always thought it must've been cuz I took some control for myself and wouldn't let her tell me what to do! :) Go figure! janetBless the beasts and the children...
Friend of mine has best comment - years ago from her GP. She was seriously depressed, overloaded at work, anxiety, etc.
"Take Prozac and get a dog."
Antidepressant and unconditional love?
Maybe he had a point...
My Pdoc told me that pets are great therapy and I have to agree with him. I recently got 2 cats from the RSPCA and they have helped me so much. They do make me happy and they really make me laugh!
If you feel you can take good care of a pet, I do recommend it.
I was taken to the VA hospital with an alcohol overdose ".430 blood level" and had to detox in the psych ward, strapped down, no shoelaces.etc. Al lot of detox meds, IV,s. Later I was taken into a room with a long conference table and sat across from the entire staff of psyciatrists. One said" you are the fastest recovering alcoholic we've ever seen" Another said "we concluded that you just like to drink...Discharged." I was drunk by that evening. It's been over 2 years now since i have had a drink.
The dumbest thing I've ever dealt with came not from a therapist/MD/PhD, but from a psychology teacher. When I was in HS, my mum went in for one of those parent-teacher meetings, and the teacher told my mum that I seemed tired and listless and distratcted (amongst other things). My mum looked her dead in the eye and said, "You know she has depression (at the time they thought possibly bipolar, but I disgress), right?" The teacher was like," Umm..yah".
To which my mum replied, "So you know that these are symptoms of depression and are side effects of her medications...right?"..."Umm, yah. But she should really be applying herself more and participating in class, etc etc". My mum was a bit flabbergasted and said to the teacher," Do you realize that most mornings, just getting out of bed and getting to school to all she is able to do some days?"..."well yes, but she should still be applying heself".
sheeshDiagonsed Aug. 1, 2006...and so it begins.... - Wellbrutin XL, Adderall XR, Levaquin, Flagyl & Pentasa www.myspace.com/mmkc
I finally have a dumb thing entry (somehow it doesn't feel like a victory). I am not a good flyer but have to go to Arizona this week end. I never let fears stop me from doing stuff but have to admit that flights have been a stressfull experience where I arrive totally exhausted. Three hours is about my max and at that point if I had a phone to the captain I would be the passenger calling to say, Are we there yet. I finally thought that this is just dumb and emailed my pdoc to see if I could get something to help me out. I told her that I only wanted about 4 pills and nothing that would totally knock me out. When I got to the office first of all she called me Jane. Then she couldn't find my email and launched into an entire routine about her new file clerk and how they were in transition....blah, blah, blah. I said, let me help you out and started to tell her what was in my email when she stops me and says that she really has to find the email because she is obsessive about her files. Okay, who is the wacked out one? So here I am in my pdoc's office paying her for the time it takes her to find nonexistent paperwork because her transitional file clerk misplaced it. Does this shriek Twilight Zone or what? She finally admits that she can't find it and then writes out a prescription for 30 xanax, nevermind that I only wanted 4 to get me through this flight. The final obsurdity is that there is a refill listed on the lable. How often does she think I'm going to go to Arizona?
Hello, this your patient speaking, you really do have to listen to me. Perhaps I could refer her to a good therapist? LOL
stlouiemeg...it is all so familiar and people think we are lazy. Gee whiz, I am too exhausted to even comment...except maybe that teacher needed to write on the blackboard 100 times. "I will not be stupid anymore."
Wild beagle, did you look into getting another psych doc? Your psych doc is there to offer advice, help and support aswell as dispensing medication. I hope you have some support from a doctor.
Welcome to Healing Well, hope you continue to postVictoria
Well long story, yes I am seeing a counselor now and trying neurofeedback....but she was an interesting lady, very hostile and rude and apparently only there for one thing.
The dumbest thing my therapist (and no, not my therapist any longer..lol), was that my sudden onset of panic attacks was due to my childhood. And she was ADAMENT about this. Going on and on about it for six sessions. My pcp told me when he diagnosed me with fibromyalgia, that panic attacks are common due to overload of adrenalin in already stressed out muscles. So... try to explain it. And no go. She still insists that my "childhood" was to blame. How can you get from childhood to 31 with no anxiety problems at all.. and suddenly "develop" one? Her answer.. are you ready for this?..... "Well, your doctor is an idiot, everyone has an underlying anxiety disorder, usually related to childhood". Yeah.. Uh huh. Sarah
I'm not procrastinating----I'm still doing yesterday!!!!
I have no medical training, any medical opinions expressed in my posts are just that....opinions.
OK, I'm sure we've all heard things from doctors / counselors in the past that are just off the wall. I wondered if we could share them for a laugh?