My psychiatrist says the cognitive therapy wont help me?

Question

Hi.
I have PDD-NOS and social anxiety.
My psychiatrist says the cognitve therapy ((CT) I've recently started won't help me. The CT is for the anxiety. Seemingly someone with PDD-NOS can't generalize and this is necessary for CT.

I have had social skills training before and must admit it didn't help much.

The strange thing is I find the CT is really helping. It's helping me to gain confidence and think about situations in different ways.

I guess my psychiatrist is right though. It's pointless. I should just take medication and quit CT. Someone with my problems can't grow, develop, and learn.

What do you think?

Answer 1

.....Danny, there is something you should know. Many psychiatrists are unhappy about Cognitive Therapy because it works much faster, so is an effective alternative solution for many conditions. That means it can take away some of their clients and cut into some of their business.

I don't know why your psychiatrist said CT won't help you. Maybe it won't solve your problem without the meds you're getting from your psychiatrist. But you say "I find the CT is really helping. It's helping me to gain confidence and think about situations in different ways." Maybe this is a good enough reason to continue it...at least until you feel you are no longer getting a benefit from it.

Answer 2

Psychiatrists are generallynot trained in psychology, except some weekend seminars, so they are not really qualified to give advice like that. Psychologists go to school for 5 years or more to learn how to practice psychology. It is the same reason a psychologist should not prescribe medications. It would be appropriate to guide you to explore a type of therapy or giving a referral, but that is the limit, unless they have been extensively trained in conducting therapy. However, for anxiety Cognitive-Behavior therapy is good, and you can work on relaxation techniques as well as Cognitive therapy.

Answer 3

Well, how do you feel about your psychiatrists response? You know that you cannot take one person's opinion on anything. You know better than anyone else what is helping you and what isn't. Everybody needs a different approach on what will work best for them, because everybody is different. Honestly, I feel that your psychiatrist isn't doing a very good job on giving you positive motivation. If you feel that it is helping you, then it is. I think that you need to tell this to your psychiatrist, and if they decide to discontinue the CT anyways, maybe you need to find a new psychiatrist. But that's just my opinion from what you have said. You trust your instincts. If you feel that it is helping you, then the logical thing would be to continue it. Good luck. :)

Answer 4

I would hope your last statement was in jest... because the number 1 rule of science is as soon as you say something can't happen, it will. If it seems like it is helping.. keep it up.. also you may want to try a psychologist or a councilor or maybe even just a support group.. someone who is more focused on treating the problem than the symptoms (anyone who can write a prescription usually will.. and those usually just treat the symptoms)

Answer 5

I disagree. The therapy is helping you and seems to be doing what therapy is supposed to do. Stick with it.

People with disorders like autism, aspergers and PDD can learn to generalize as they gain more knowledge. Temple Grandin is a highly-functioning autistic woman who (among others things) did learn to generalize.

Answer 6

ok, you're unwell, yet once you're so desperate for help, why do no longer you attempt to pass with what replaced into provided. in the event that they are asserting it quite is step one, you may desire to do purely it and if it won't help, they are going to take it from there. You pass on approximately wanting help, yet you do no longer take it. Your mum is amazingly rightly stormed off, what you advised her replaced into emotional blackmailing. And if 8(!) experts suggested you have purely BPD, than you likely purely have BPD. you purely self-clinically determined all forms of 'disabilities', do you have the qualification to diagnose PTSD and OCD? no longer quite. 8 people who've, suggested you do not have it. So why do no longer you purely take care of what you recognize you have. in case you experience suicidal call a helpline, for unfastened, extremely of waiting for 'disability money', to tell in A&E... you're contradicting your self. or perhaps you're a hypochondriac. anyhow, I desire you greater useful.

Answer 7

Okay, I have just read up on your condition and there are a number of different types, however I am assuming that your condition is not as extreme as other forms of PDD, hense
-NOS! I could be wrong, but I feel that if you have the capability to use the computer and the internet, your typing and wording is very good, therefore you must have the capability to grow, develop and learn!!! So please try not to think down on yourself!
Personally I feel that Just because your psychiatrist disagrees with cognitive therapy does not mean that he is right, nor that it won't work for you it may be his professional opinion, but even the professionals get it wrong at times and it is most important that you do what you believe to be helpful in dealing with social anxiety.
I believe from what I know about this type of therapy, there are very little negative attributes to it and is just a way to re-train your brain to work the best way for you as an individual!
If you feel that cognitive therapy is working for you then I would suggest that you keep the sessions going, speak to your therapist, ( I am assuming your psychiatrist has refered you to a therapist who specializes in the field of cognitive behavioural therapy). Speak to them about your concerns, tell them you feel that this treatment is having a positive effect on you and ask them if they agree, from their assesment of you they will know if you are having a positive response to treatment!
I believe this type of therapy to be very relevant and helpful. People who have emotional disorders, social disorders, suffer with stress, depression, anxiety, ocd, agoraphobia etc etc all have a thought process which makes them think critically about themselves and situations, thus they react in an unhelpful way to themselves and deal with situations negatively or not at all in a lot of cases. ( depression etc has a lot to do with chemical imbalance in the brain, but I have been suffering with depression/anxiety amongst other conditions for 14 years, I have tried a number of anti depressants and alternative herbal remedies to help me deal with my problems and yet have found nothing which works as effectively as really applying your mind to work for you not against you)

Your situation is a little different but from reading your question I believe you have the ability to improve your way of thinking regardless and the fact you feel the treatment is working for you suggests this to me also!
By 're-training' your brain to think a different way you are only ever going to improve the way you deal with all situations in life.
The only down side that I know of about (CBT) is that when you are feeling at your lowest you may find it difficult to concentrate and therefore find it very hard to practise the thinking process. This may lead to feelings of disapointment that the treatment is not working for you, however I believe that most therapists will allow you to take things at a slow pace which is comfortable for you.
The best advice I can offer you from my own perspective is keep up with the therapy, find out as much about your conditions as you can so that you can further help yourself understand the way you deal with things and try not to get too dis-heartened by what your psychiatrist says to you, he may know more than I do about these conditions, but it appears to me that he is persuading you away from cognitive therapy for his own personal reasons! Stay focused on your goal, your goal is to be able to deal with social situations without anxiety!! Good luck, take care and do what you feel is best for you x

Answer 8

I think that if CT is helping you....keep it up!!! Just because your shrink doesn't think it will help doesn't mean it won't. You do what is best for you.

Answer 9

You are what you eat, get more nutrition in your system, and grow a spine and get out there with the rest of us, it is all in your head, when I count to 3 you will be cured;123! You could have too many toxins in your body, try detox and nutritious foods, cut out the junk and fast food. Just my opinion. Everyone has mental problems, some just hide them better than others.