[Dilmah G]

Not really, parents are out of the question since she hates them both (for some reason I can't grasp), and the school counselor is well... The school counselor. Though he might possibly be the only person who can make sure she sees a psych.

[Flipside]

I suppose it revolves in part about how old she is, parents would probably be the best bet, she may hate them, but that doesn't mean the feeling is mutual, and, if she's quite young, they are probably the best people to decide how to progress.

School Counsellors are a second option, because they tend to be obliged to report incidents like this, which could lead to investigations of home-life, which usually ends up doing more damage to the family than good, but if my child was self harming, to my mind, the first step is dealing with that, she could despise me for it for the rest of her life, but at least she'd have a rest of her life in which to despise me.

[Bob-san]

Not really, parents are out of the question since she hates them both (for some reason I can't grasp), and the school counselor is well... The school counselor. Though he might possibly be the only person who can make sure she sees a psych.

Is there a JCC or something near you? Unfortunately, many parents see them selves as de facto & de jure go-to's for their children and don't want to see a psychologist for x, y, or z reason. Short of her going off to college and them helping her, I'm not sure what else could help her.

[Flipside]

Personally, I think the first stop should be the parents, otherwise Dilmah is leaving the decision in his own hands, which is certainly not his responsibility beyond affection for his sister, obviously though, I have very little idea of his family life and this may not be at all possible.

[Dilmah G]

Well my mum is one of those "I don't want a psych to pump my little girl full of drugs/Marge Simpson" types (and before the abuse is hurled, I am not one of those types), or at least she was when my sister asked to see a psych in seventh grade apparently. I'll see if I can get her a doctor's appointment myself if I have to, but I think I *should* be able to convince mum. IIRC, it was my sister who ended up deciding not to show up to the doctor last time.

[iamzack]

There's a difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist. Psychiatrists are bad people.

[Snail]

There's a difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist. Psychiatrists are bad people.

Why's that?

[Flipside]

Mostly because phsychiatrists tend to approach most situations with 'I know something is wrong, it's my job to find out what', which means they will always find a problem, even where none exists, whereas phsychologists are more analytical, they don't go looking for problems, they simpy try to 'decode' the mentality of the person and find out why they feel as they do, the actual cure is more in the manner of letting someone see themselves than assuming you know the patient better than they do.

[redsniper]

Also, psychiatrists have gone to medical school. Psychologists have not.

[Aardwolf]

There's a difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist. Psychiatrists are bad people.

Also about $50k

[General Battuta]

There is also a huge difference between:

1) Psychiatrists, medical practitioners

2) Analytical/clinical psychologists, devotees of a vaguely literary and scientifically questionable school of therapy

3) Research psychologists, behavioral scientists who actually do science

[Aardwolf]

I've got a bunch of homework due tomorrow and Tuesday!!!!!!

[Snail]

Mostly because phsychiatrists tend to approach most situations with 'I know something is wrong, it's my job to find out what', which means they will always find a problem, even where none exists

So basically they just want an excuse to **** up your life with behavioral meds?

(I really, really don't like the idea of a "medicine" that's supposed to "cure" your personality)

[General Battuta]

Mostly because phsychiatrists tend to approach most situations with 'I know something is wrong, it's my job to find out what', which means they will always find a problem, even where none exists

So basically they just want an excuse to **** up your life with behavioral meds?

(I really, really don't like the idea of a "medicine" that's supposed to "cure" your personality)

There are definitely some disorders that require medicine.

[Snail]

I still don't like behavioral meds.

[Flipside]

Yes, but the problem is that many Doctors feel compelled to prescribe something, even if nothing is needed, and part of me is concerned that this is a very indirect form of 'pushing' by pharamcutical companies, I do believe that Doctors are encouraged to prescribe drugs. In the UK it's even got to the point where Doctors prescribe placebos under fake names, purely because people expect to be given some kind of magic pill to fix their problem, when the true source of the problem is far more often social or familial.

[General Battuta]

I still don't like behavioral meds.

Yes, but the problem is that many Doctors feel compelled to prescribe something, even if nothing is needed, and part of me is concerned that this is a very indirect form of 'pushing' by pharamcutical companies, I do believe that Doctors are encouraged to prescribe drugs. In the UK it's even got to the point where Doctors prescribe placebos under fake names, purely because people expect to be given some kind of magic pill to fix their problem, when the true source of the problem is far more often social or familial.

Read this.

[Colonol Dekker]

You have a Facebook account, Dekker? So do I.

 
 
Look for James Slasher Dobbs.

[Flipside]

I still don't like behavioral meds.

Yes, but the problem is that many Doctors feel compelled to prescribe something, even if nothing is needed, and part of me is concerned that this is a very indirect form of 'pushing' by pharamcutical companies, I do believe that Doctors are encouraged to prescribe drugs. In the UK it's even got to the point where Doctors prescribe placebos under fake names, purely because people expect to be given some kind of magic pill to fix their problem, when the true source of the problem is far more often social or familial.

Read this.

I've read it, but a very small proportion of cases are as extreme as the ones described there. I'm not saying that no cases whatsoever require medication, I'm saying that the willingness to give medication in far less extreme cases should be more moderated, people walk into a Doctors office expecting to leave with a prescription for something, and often all these drugs do is hide the problem, not solve it, that's why coming off of anti-depressents can be such a risky business which requires monitoring, but they've actually fixed nothing, they've just locked it away in a cupboard until, with luck, the mind can look at those feelings more objectively, but there's really no being sure without withdrawing the medication and hoping for the best, many Doctors won't risk that.

So yes, I'll agree these medications are needed in extreme phsychiatric cases, but they are only a stop-gap, the real challenge is dealing with the source of the problem rather than the effect of it.

[General Battuta]

I still don't like behavioral meds.

Yes, but the problem is that many Doctors feel compelled to prescribe something, even if nothing is needed, and part of me is concerned that this is a very indirect form of 'pushing' by pharamcutical companies, I do believe that Doctors are encouraged to prescribe drugs. In the UK it's even got to the point where Doctors prescribe placebos under fake names, purely because people expect to be given some kind of magic pill to fix their problem, when the true source of the problem is far more often social or familial.

Read this.

I've read it, but a very small proportion of cases are as extreme as the ones described there.

Cite please. How do you know that?

I'm not saying that no cases whatsoever require medication, I'm saying that the willingness to give medication in far less extreme cases should be more moderated, people walk into a Doctors office expecting to leave with a prescription for something, and often all these drugs do is hide the problem, not solve it,

Cite the frequency of this behavior, please. Why was the author unable to find any such examples?

that's why coming off of anti-depressents can be such a risky business which requires monitoring, but they've actually fixed nothing, they've just locked it away in a cupboard until, with luck, the mind can look at those feelings more objectively, but there's really no being sure without withdrawing the medication and hoping for the best, many Doctors won't risk that.

Cite data on patients coming off antidepressants. The reaction to treatment discontinuation varies highly between individuals. Moreover, your lay explanation for negative discontinuation experiences (the issues haven't been dealt with) is not supported by data, which implicates neurotransmitter mechanisms as much as any psychological factor.

So yes, I'll agree these medications are needed in extreme phsychiatric cases, but they are only a stop-gap, the real challenge is dealing with the source of the problem rather than the effect of it.

The assumption that the source of psychiatric problems is purely psychological is deeply problematic. Many psychological disorders are biologically rooted and require treatment like any other disease.

Please cite data on the frequency of disorders which can purely be attributed to psychological factors and experience full relapse once medication is withdrawn.