I want a therapist but can’t get one!

[faroukfarouk]

This probably won’t be the most Christian advice out there but have you tried rationalizing the whole thing?
Besides prayer, sit down close your eyes and tell yourself “this was Hollywood. It was acting. It was special effects. It’s not real. The monsters in it are not real. The people and the location are real but they were just playing a role. This whole thing was just a portrayal of the inside of some director’s sick mind. No one was actually killed.” If you remind yourself of that enough, you start to picture the whole thing as broken down into its parts ... the actors, the special effects, the Hollywood set... and you can place those parts in a box in your mind and seal them in there and throw the box away.

I used to get disturbed my movies when I was a teen. “The grudge” came out when I was 17 and my boyfriend at the time wanted us to go see it on the big screen. Big mistake, I couldn’t sleep alone for weeks, had to sleep in my moms bed and I was 17 lol. Gradually by rationalizing the whole thing, I stopped being afraid of it and when I was 23 and my now husband was watching it at home I just laughed at how stupid it all was and the rediculous special effects.

bluegreysky:
Yes, I think it's good to remember that therapy often won't be given from a Christian perspective. Great that you and your husband have the sense of maturity to realize just how conditioning some films are, and how manipulative Hollywood can be on the mind. Philippians 4.8 ('Whatever things are true...honest...just...pure...lovely...etc.) is a great reference point.

 

[pinkjess]

What do you think a 14 year old should do in this situation?

Hey. I relate to you because when I was 15 I watched a scary and disturbing "Christian movie" about hell and it literally scarred me. I remember crying in panic to my mom because the images stuck in my mind. I totally understand how you feel about what you saw. It's almost like PTSD isn't it? I've had a few episodes in my life, thru different events in my life.

I wish I could help you get help. I know there's online therapy, I tried it this month. BetterHelp.com I think? It costs $45 a week to keep your subscription so you can "talk" to a therapist. I don't have much money and live paycheck to paycheck so after grocery day I don't have hardly a dime to my name. They cancelled my subscription because I wasn't paying for it. Honestly, it didn't really help me. I felt like I just chatted to someone who was telling me things I already knew. But I think for some who can afford it it "may" help if you do the video-chat, I only messaged my therapist.

Is there any therapist located within your school? Surely you are a student, right? Usually schools in USA have a nurse and counsellor. Can you try there?

 

[Caleb22]

This probably won’t be the most Christian advice out there but have you tried rationalizing the whole thing?
Besides prayer, sit down close your eyes and tell yourself “this was Hollywood. It was acting. It was special effects. It’s not real. The monsters in it are not real. The people and the location are real but they were just playing a role. This whole thing was just a portrayal of the inside of some director’s sick mind. No one was actually killed.” If you remind yourself of that enough, you start to picture the whole thing as broken down into its parts ... the actors, the special effects, the Hollywood set... and you can place those parts in a box in your mind and seal them in there and throw the box away.

I used to get disturbed my movies when I was a teen. “The grudge” came out when I was 17 and my boyfriend at the time wanted us to go see it on the big screen. Big mistake, I couldn’t sleep alone for weeks, had to sleep in my moms bed and I was 17 lol. Gradually by rationalizing the whole thing, I stopped being afraid of it and when I was 23 and my now husband was watching it at home I just laughed at how stupid it all was and the rediculous special effects.

I have tried that, but so many things have happened to me like sleep problems and panic attacks and way more that have scarred me and I have an anxiety condition now through this. Or like OCD where I get an intrusive thought, or I get and urge to do stupid things.

 

[Caleb22]

Hey. I relate to you because when I was 15 I watched a scary and disturbing "Christian movie" about hell and it literally scarred me. I remember crying in panic to my mom because the images stuck in my mind. I totally understand how you feel about what you saw. It's almost like PTSD isn't it? I've had a few episodes in my life, thru different events in my life.

I wish I could help you get help. I know there's online therapy, I tried it this month. BetterHelp.com I think? It costs $45 a week to keep your subscription so you can "talk" to a therapist. I don't have much money and live paycheck to paycheck so after grocery day I don't have hardly a dime to my name. They cancelled my subscription because I wasn't paying for it. Honestly, it didn't really help me. I felt like I just chatted to someone who was telling me things I already knew. But I think for some who can afford it it "may" help if you do the video-chat, I only messaged my therapist.

Is there any therapist located within your school? Surely you are a student, right? Usually schools in USA have a nurse and counsellor. Can you try there?

I could try there. Would they give me healthy tips on recovering an OCD? Will they know if what I’m going through is OCD?

 

[pinkjess]

I could try there. Would they give me healthy tips on recovering an OCD? Will they know if what I’m going through is OCD?

I think they should, yes. They will help point you in the right direction if not. It's a start. I would do it!

 

[Caleb22]

I think they should, yes. They will help point you in the right direction if not. It's a start. I would do it!

Ok, I’ll email my principal about it.

 

[Angeldove97]

Hi Caleb,
Please remember that if your Dad won't let you talk to a professional -

But remember:

As a teacher, a normal high schooler should walk his butt into his school and speak to:
1) Guidance counselor
2) Student dean
3) Vice principal
4) Principal

We can get you services.

 

[pinkjess]

Ok, I’ll email my principal about it.

Please do. It will be alright. Keep talking to God about it, tell Him how uncomfortable you are. It helps somewhat. At least for me. In the meantime try doing things that fill your mind with joy. I like riding my bike when I'm troubled with something. Plus working out helps release happy endorphins.

 

[Angeldove97]

Ok, I’ll email my principal about it.

I'm very happy to hear that you're going to do this!

 

[ladodgers6]

Yes

In highschool

Just had a sleepless night...

Yea, if you are under age, then you will parent consent, obviously. Here's just a idea. Reach out to your Pastor, and talk with him. Give him/her a chance to help you. If that doesn't help you. Ask the Pastor to help talk to your parents in seeking professional help. Its worth a try.

You also have this forum to let out what you are feeling. If you want? The posts you have receive seem very positive and supportive. Just saying.

 

[BisonBubbles]

Ok. So sorry for being gone for so long. My plan is to talk with my Dad first (not tonight though because it is his birthday and I don't want to stress him out) (I know right it sucks that I'm panicking on his birthday... :\ ) and see if we can agree on something. I could first talk with a pastor, and while that is going on I want to look for a psychiatrist that fits what I like: knows what I'm going through, does things that I'm ok with and that doesn't harm me. When break for school ends maybe ask my counselor for help. During all of this... live a healthy lifestyle and go outside, exercise and spend time with my best friends before they move and I'll never be able hang out with in real life again. And I'll post how I feel and what's going on here. If there is anything I should add just post it!
But before I leave...
Is there any way that I can search for a person that can help me, that fits all the criteria that I like. Or is it a trial and error searching for them?
Have a good night!

I think if you pray and have faith you will be led to the right one. When I was in desperate need for a solution to a weird situation, I went to a doctor who couldn’t see me so I saw her nurse practitioner, who turned out to be Christian and referred me to a fantastic psychiatric nurse practitioner for ADHD, but I ended up discussing some of my anxiety and it helped me as much as anything else did. It was all very unplanned. Unfortunately there isn’t really a way to be sure you will like someone, but if you go to a big church maybe you can ask around for a psychiatrist there.

 

[Caleb22]

Please do. It will be alright. Keep talking to God about it, tell Him how uncomfortable you are. It helps somewhat. At least for me. In the meantime try doing things that fill your mind with joy. I like riding my bike when I'm troubled with something. Plus working out helps release happy endorphins.

I love biking! And playing volleyball! I wish I could go outside and just have fun but it’s cold and rainy...

I'm very happy to hear that you're going to do this!

I just realized that the person I emailed was a counselor not a principal

Yea, if you are under age, then you will parent consent, obviously. Here's just a idea. Reach out to your Pastor, and talk with him. Give him/her a chance to help you. If that doesn't help you. Ask the Pastor to help talk to your parents in seeking professional help. Its worth a try.

You also have this forum to let out what you are feeling. If you want? The posts you have receive seem very positive and supportive. Just saying.

That is something me and my Dad agreed on and we are going to message our pastor to see if I can meet with him.

I think if you pray and have faith you will be led to the right one. When I was in desperate need for a solution to a weird situation, I went to a doctor who couldn’t see me so I saw her nurse practitioner, who turned out to be Christian and referred me to a fantastic psychiatric nurse practitioner for ADHD, but I ended up discussing some of my anxiety and it helped me as much as anything else did. It was all very unplanned. Unfortunately there isn’t really a way to be sure you will like someone, but if you go to a big church maybe you can ask around for a psychiatrist there.

I’ve thought about this... maybe someone in my church can also help me.

 

[Caleb22]

.

 

[Caleb22]

One of the things I think I fear is, how this anxiety isn't going away. I feel like after a year this should be gone. Any thoughts?

 

[Angeldove97]

One of the things I think I fear is, how this anxiety isn't going away. I feel like after a year this should be gone. Any thoughts?

This isn't how anxiety "works". If you have it, you can learn coping mechanisms to lessen it and to work through it, but it is not something that is going to go away. Medication can help lessen it too, but if you stop taking the medication it may come back.

I've been dealing with anxiety since I was a baby. I don't like having this but learning how to cope with it and work through it has been a huge help.

 

[Angeldove97]

I just realized that the person I emailed was a counselor not a principal

That will work too!

 

[Caleb22]

Yea, if you are under age, then you will parent consent, obviously. Here's just a idea. Reach out to your Pastor, and talk with him. Give him/her a chance to help you. If that doesn't help you. Ask the Pastor to help talk to your parents in seeking professional help. Its worth a try.

You also have this forum to let out what you are feeling. If you want? The posts you have receive seem very positive and supportive. Just saying.

So just talked to my pastor about this. And let me tell you that this helped a lot, he gave me many ways to cope with my anxiety and overall give me hope about this.