I need help for my anxiety but I don't want to share my experiences with a Phychiatrist/Psychologist?

Question

I just want to go to a doctor to get medication for my anxiety/ low self-esteem/ lack of motivation / depression. Will the medication be enough, or will I need to talk to someone about it to completely resolve it in the long run?? How long can I take medication? I can take it for the rest of my life without repercussions?
I don't want to share my inner thoughts and personal experiences with a complete stranger. I don't want to share it with my family, or my friends, so please don't suggest these.
I want to keep my thoughts and experiences to myself. I don't want anyone I know ever knowing about this.
Also, do psychiatrist / psychologists write down what you say or record you?? What do they do with the file when you stop seeing them?
I REALLY don't want to share my thoughts/experiences with anyone! It will not make me feel better, it will make me distance myself from the person forever!

Answer 1

well, then you aren't going to get help if you aren't willing to talk about it, are you? there is no meds for low self esteem. yes, they keep records, but they are sealed. no one is just going to give you meds.

Answer 2

I know where you are coming from, I dont care to talk about my issues either. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor that takes care of the physical side of anxiety/depression etc. They prescribe medications. They do not necessarily make you talk about your issues...that is what psychologists are for. They will write down what you say but I swear it seems your psychiatric file is near impossible for anyone to get. As for how long you take medication, it depends on what you are diagnosed with. A psychiatrist once told me that depression is like fingerprints; no one has exactly the same experience. That same psychiatrist told me that with some people it is a temporary thing, some people have it off and on and some people have it forever. Even though mine appears to be lasting forever, it has gottten significantly better than it had been and I take much less medication now. Hope this helped some. Oh and in the 8 years since I was diagnosed with anxiety/depression I have never once went to therapy.

Answer 3

There are doctors that will just give you medication. The problem is that there are some things you need to work on to generally feel better in living. It is a learning experience. These people have the skills in helping you to look at these gradually as you are ready. You certainly don't have to go, but you are missing out on some personal growth here. They have to keep records. It is kept in a file that cannot be shared outside of your health professionals dealing directly with this. The files go in a back room, or old file and eventually it would be destroyed. I think they may have to keep it for 10 years. However, you are worrying about something that is not going to be a problem.

Answer 4

First, I'd suggest changing your avatar name to:
"Problems are challenges in disguise". Saying that YOU HAVE PROBLEMS probably isn't a great way to reduce them. Actually, Wayne Dyer would say, "Okay, you have problems, there's nothing wrong with that."

When you visit a counselor, you can ask him/her what their procedure is regarding privacy & confidentiality and if you don't like their response, you don't have to work with them.

There is a saying:
"You are as sick as your secrets"

Here's another:
"Whatever is NOT made conscious becomes your destiny"

My therapist never writes anything down.
When you talk to your therapist, you don't have to give names, dates, or places to talk about your FEELINGS.
I understand you don't want to talk to a stranger.
I agree with this.

My advice is that the first few sessions you just talk about minor things that are troubling you to see if they know how to handle your problems.

If/when you feel that you can trust the guy/lady, then you can tell them some of the more disturbing stuff that's in your head.
If you have killed someone, don't mention the name of the person you killed. You are there to process your feelings, so the name of the person is irrelevant. Of course, I'm being silly & serious at the same time. I hope you haven't killed anyone.
But, then again, talking to someone may help you to NOT kill any more people.
I'd suggest getting into a fitness plan also:
Here are some good ideas:


1.Do something that gets your heart rate up a bit like, walking, running, biking, and swimming.
2.Eat Whole, Organic foods like: Broccoli, Cabbage, Organic Brown Rice, Spinach, Sweet Potato, Apples, and other fruits and vegetables in their Natural State.
3.Avoid eating corn, white bread, white rice, candy, sodas, chips, and anything else that you already know you shouldn’t be eating.
4.Drink clean water as your beverage of choice. Avoid Fruit drinks and fruit juices (unless YOU juice them yourself)
5.Stop smoking, drinking beer & wine, and drinking coffee.
6.Get 8 hours of sleep each night.
7.Hang out with people who want to be healthy.

Tone up the muscles:
1.Join a gym and get a trainer.
2.If you’re short on cash, start a light stretching & yoga regimen.
3.Do push-ups, and light dumbbell curls for the upper body.
4.As I said above, walk, run, swim, and or bike.
5.Take an aerobics class, a yoga class, or some other fitness class.
6.Join the local YMCA..

Mental Health:
1.Get a friend to talk to each day about your feelings.
2.If you have some money or insurance, get a counselor to talk to.
3.Learn how to meditate.
4.Join a support group for the issue you’re dealing with.
5.Ask your Higher Self (or God) for guidance.
6.Start keeping a diary or journal about your feelings & thoughts.
7.Write a ‘gratitude’ list every night.

Answer 5

LISTEN:

WOULD YOU GO TO A HEART DOCTOR AND JUST ASK FOR MEDICINES BECAUSE YOU THINK YOU HAVE A HEART PROBLEM? DO YOU THINK YOU WILL GET THEM? DON'T THINK SO!

SO WHY DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO GET MEDS FOR ANXIETY AND DEPPRESSION, WHEN THEY ARE DRUGS THAT CAN GET YOU HOOKED FOR LIFE.
AND BESIDES DRUGS ALONE DON'T WORK.

YOU NEED TO GET OVER THE FEAR OF TALKING "ABOUT YOUR SECRETS", OR YOU WOULD NOT GET ANY HELP.

MY PSYCHIATRIST SEES ME EVERY TWO MONTHS, BUT I HAVE A LICENCED MEDICAL COUNSELOR MWSC, WHO IS MY LIFE SAVER,WHOM YOU WILL SEE WEEKLY, I AM REALLY GLAD GOD PUT HER IN MY PATH. I HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FROM DEPRESION, ANXIETY, PANIC ATTACS, DIZZINESS, I WAS A BASKET CASE. HAVE BEEN FOR MANY MANY YEARS, AND HAVE MOVED FROM DIFFERENT STATES, SO THAT MEANS CHANGING DOCTORS ETC.
I INTENTO TO STAY PUT NOW, BEEN HERE 14 YRS, AND MY COUNSELOR IS AWSOME, YOU NEED TO MEET THE PERSON THAT WOULD BE YOUR COUNSELOR, AND IF YOU PREFER A PARTICULAR SEX, THEY ARE ALL GOOD. JUST HAVE TO CLICK WITH THAT PERSON, BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T TELL THEM EVERYTHING AS YOU REMEMBER, THERE IS NO WAY OTHER THAN MAYBE A "LOBOTOMY" WHICH WAS WHEN THEY USED TO USE ELECTRICITY IN YOUR BRAIN TO ERASE YOUR THOUGHTS.

YES, THEY KEEP NOTES, ONLY IN THE CASE THAT YOU BECOME SUICIDAL, AND THEN THE GOVERNMENT COULD ASK FOR THOSE RECORDS TO PROTECT YOU, THEY ARE NOT SHARED WITH ANYBODY ELSE.

GOOD LUCK, IT IS WORTH A TRY.

Answer 6

you will probably have to go to a therapist in order to even get the medication to begin with. they have to properly diagnose you, which usually means finding out about your background and what has caused your issues. i understand your dilemma. the doctor is REQUIRED to keep your confidentiality unless you are a minor and make threats on your own life, or if you make threats on another's life (regardless of your age). usually the files are shredded when you stop seeing your doctor.

maybe you can find a doctor that will allow you to simply keep a journal of your thoughts. they won't request to read it, but just showing them that you're trying to deal with your problems might convince them to give you the meds.

you can usually take meds for as long as you need them. i've known people who have been on them for years and had no bad experiences. i think that in order to fully resolve your issues, you need to talk it out and try to fix your behaviors, instead of trying to medicate them. medication is not for everyone. i was heavily medicated for about 6 years (age 9-15) and it was a really horrible experience for me. keep in mind that you need to have someone monitoring your progress, how your attitude changes, and what effects the medication is having on you.

good luck. i know that these types of things are the hardest to deal with, and you'll need all the help you can get. try not to be so afraid of letting people in... you might discover that you're not alone in the way you feel and that letting someone in might help you more than anything.

Answer 7

I have had anxiety and depression on and off again since I was a child. At age 25 it hit me hard...panic attacks, so I went on xanax, kept me from going crazy but I wasn't normal. It wasn't until I went on combo of xanax and lexapro that things got more normal for me, I started on 10 mgs of Lexapro, now I take 20 mgs. God Bless!

Answer 8

it is the kind of depression your going through whether you can get certain meds for it or not, reading between the lines here, you have a lot on your mind ,if you don't feel comfortable about going to a professional,try God. I KNOW YOU PROBABLY AREADY HAVE, HE IS THERE FOR YOU,AND NOONE WILL HAVE TO KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS THERE ARE SOME MEDS WHICH IS NATURAL AND SAFE , OVER THE COUNTER ,ITS ST. JOHN'S WORT. I THINK HERBS AND HEALTHY FOODS ARE GOOD FOR OUR BODIES AND OUR MENTAL STATE OF MIND, ALSO IF IT'S A BIG ISSUE OR PROBLEM , AND YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE A DR. CAN HELP ,JESUS IS OUR GREAT PYHICIAN.
I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH HIM WHO STRENGTHENS ME....this is inYOUR BIBLE ....PHil;4;13
HE DOESN'T CONDEMN, HE LISTENS AND IF YOU ARE WILLING, HE HEALS US. I hope you will feel better soon,
and GOD WILL LEAD YOU ON WHAT IS BEST, BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU, HE WENT TO THE CROSS FOR US.

THE QUESTION ABOUT A MEDICAL DR. KEEPING RECORDS IS THEY ARE KEPT CONFIDENTAL .WILL KEEP ON RECORD FOR SEVERAL YEARS THEN THEY WILL DISCARDTHEM.
I AM PRAYING FOR YOU.

Answer 9

many people have the same fear that you have so wont go to a doc. first let me say that if you are terrified to share what you are thinking, you are probably having "intrusive thoughts". they are unwanted thoughts that mortify us, and we are afriad to share them for fear of being locked up or ridicules harshly.
at this point, go see your general practitioner and just say that you are experiencing depression. if the meds he prescribes help. you may soon get to the point that you will lose enough fear that you can work with a professional further.
all the best>

Answer 10

I have read some litterature about panic attacks. But they allways seem to have a more scientific approach and that is nothing I need in my struggle to survive those horrible panic attacks. This is a "hand on" and very practical book. I felt it was written to me. I am sure that you are going to feel the same.

Joe Barry writes exactly how I think. The examples are perfectly described. And the method is genius. I recommend this book and thanks Joe Barry for writing it. It changes your life

Answer 11

If you don't feel like talking to a person try talking to a pet dog or cat. they seem to always understand your feelings without judgement and love you no matter what.