Posts by driftinggull21

Kyle Lee7 said:It’s about time someone else on this forum finally spoke up and agreed with me on this.

My apologies to the mods for jumping back in after being offline, but I have more to add.
It doesn't mean non-medical professionals can't perform high-quality psychotherapy once they complete the necessary education and meet all requirements. They are doing it right now, though they cannot officially call themselves psychotherapists; instead, they label it "counseling," even when it is effectively psychotherapy. I was referring to Rebecca Scott3's point, which is correct—any number of people claim to practice "psychotherapy." That is precisely why this field requires strict legal regulation, so there is a clear distinction regarding who is authorized to practice. I am speaking specifically about officially recognized psychological disciplines, not some fringe "XYZ" therapies.

...perhaps it would be more appropriate to ask... should you be required to disclose everything when bringing a child to a pediatrician if that doctor is abusive toward kids—hitting crying children just to quiet them because he believes physical punishment is acceptable... or if he happens to be a pedophile...
...is it not enough to simply turn around and walk out to find another pediatrician?

Whether my child's pediatrician hits his own children at home is something I don't know, nor can I ever know. However, if he strikes my child during an exam, there are three consequences: first, the Department of Justice would launch an investigation; second, I would file a private lawsuit; and third, disciplinary proceedings would follow. Therefore, I doubt any pediatrician would dare hit a child while on duty. As for being a pedophile, that isn't written on their forehead or displayed on the office door.
In short, if I am dissatisfied with a pediatrician, I would switch doctors immediately. I would notice any issues long before a tenth visit.

A psychotherapist provides a service, much like a hairstylist, and the pricing is comparable.😁 That is why I drew that comparison. Psychotherapists are human beings entitled to their own opinions, personal struggles, and problems, provided they know how to leave them at the office door. Naturally, the reverse applies: once the session is over, the therapist must leave the work at the workplace.
A psychotherapist needs to know a client's private information to provide effective help, just as a client might ask their therapist something personal; the level of detail in the response will depend entirely on the individual therapist.
For instance, in my own home, I don't keep a single photo of my family, my house... anything that could compromise my privacy or intimacy. I don't even have a Facebook profile for that exact reason.
Furthermore, it is unthinkable to me that I should have to answer questions regarding my sexual orientation, my voting preferences, or whether I am homophobic...

Individuals who claim to be psychotherapists but lack psychiatric degrees and formal psychotherapy training are committing the crime of practicing medicine without a license under current laws.

No one is forced to see a therapist or pay for their sessions. No one is required to dine at a restaurant.
If someone wants to, and can afford to, they are free to do either.

Quincy Jones:

....so here is a woman going through a divorce.... she has a small baby.... and she was physically and mentally abused by her husband... in front of the baby... she sought therapy to get help..... and her GP sent her to a specific therapist because he (or the clinic?) has some kind of arrangement to refer patients there.....

If that wasn't working for her, she could have simply thanked them for their time and found a different therapist if she felt she needed one.
It’s quite straightforward: if I pay a hairstylist $133 and I'm unhappy with the result, I just go to a different salon until I find someone I like. The same goes for a restaurant. The same goes for a therapist. Whether the stylist, the chef, or the therapist is a member of the Republican Party or the Democrats, straight or gay, Catholic or Buddhist, is none of my business.

Rebecca Scott3 said:....morning everyone.....you all were busy typing while I was catching some Z's.......the world keeps spinning, doesn't it?....

...most people just assume that a therapist should be this perfectly open-minded vessel where their own personal beliefs don't bleed into the session.....but honestly.....from what I've seen in my own life.....that isn't always the reality. Not everyone walking into a clinic is a saint with an unbiased mind. No matter how hard someone tries to shove their personal biases, their little paranoias, or their deep-seated fears into a box under the bed.....it’s impossible. You can try to suppress it, sure.....but eventually, those things are going to float right back to the surface....

...so, I actually think it would be incredibly helpful if clients had the right to know even the most basic stuff about their therapist beforehand.....things like....did they go to a religious college or a seminary? (like a Catholic or Jewish institution)....
....do they hold really traditional, patriarchal views on family and roles?....
....are they registered members of a specific political party?....
....have they ever been in therapy themselves, and if so, what was it for? (honestly, that could be a huge asset or a major red flag, depending on the person)....
....are they actually comfortable discussing topics like homosexuality?....
......and what kind of client profile do they actually gravitate toward? (Are they specialists in depression, PTSD, anxiety, social skills, etc.)?....
.....
....at the end of the day....don't you think a person has every right to know who the individual is that they're supposed to trust with their mental health?....

Yeah, right.🤣 As if we should just hand over our Social Security numbers too.🙄
A psychotherapist is entitled to their own personal views and opinions, but within the office, they must remain professional and objective. Anyone dissatisfied with their therapist is free to find another.

30 Days of Night franchise.

In my opinion, the 30 Days of Night franchise contains one of the better horror films out there. I watched it a few years ago, so I cannot recall every specific detail, but those vampires are definitely the type you wouldn't want to encounter; they are fast, bloodthirsty, and terrifying to look at.
Why do you use the word "sloppy"?

Justin Fisher said:No, no, I’m not saying he’s actually gonna kill himself 😲 I just mean I don't want him to spiral into this whole obsession if there's a way to prevent it

So, what, am I supposed to like, distance myself from him or something?

Schizophrenia isn't spread through social contact...😁 so, if you don't like the person, avoid them; if you do, hang out with them. If they become acutely psychotic, they won't be able to maintain quality relationships with anyone anyway. At that point, step back and let the family handle it.

The later an illness manifests, the more favorable the prognosis tends to be, and vice versa.

Alex Thomas27 said:

So, she's either delusional or experiencing psychosis. Pseudocyesis—phantom pregnancies—isn't exactly common in psychiatry, but it does happen.

I don't think you quite caught my drift. The woman actually *is* pregnant, but she’s exhibiting symptoms way too early. My question is: how do you even begin to treat someone in that situation? And more importantly, how do you go about diagnosing psychosis in the first place?

I see.
In that case, medical clearance should be the priority to rule out physical pathology first. If her mental state continues to deteriorate, then a psychiatrist must step in to provide an actual diagnosis and treatment plan.
There are numerous variables at play here. It is essential to consider her baseline functioning prior to pregnancy; I assume there were existing psychological deviations... therefore, external clinical data is vital.

Alex Thomas27 said:Fair enough, but what if she's actually experiencing symptoms prematurely? Let me clarify: let's say this hypothetical woman *is* pregnant, but she's feeling symptoms way too early—before any physical signs should realistically be showing up.

That implies she is delusional or psychotic. While not an everyday occurrence in psychiatry, cases of pseudocyesis—phantom pregnancy—do exist.
Imagining sensations and having a distorted perception of reality falls under the umbrella of psychotic disorders.
(If someone is experiencing visual, auditory, or tactile hallucinations, they can also experience cenesthetic hallucinations; in this specific case, they might feel fetal movement that isn't actually happening because there is no fetus.)

Pregnancy is clinically confirmed via ultrasound; no competent physician would ever diagnose it any other way.

This is typically a matter of delusional thinking—or perhaps even a genuine psychotic episode—coupled with the simulation of pregnancy symptoms.
The preferred treatment: antipsychotics.

dustyranger64 said:It’s really about our advanced social and cultural setups. Biologically speaking, the gap is tiny—almost nothing.

I recall seeing data suggesting we share roughly 98% of our genetic makeup with bonobos—maybe even more.

vividsailor7 said:Low GGT doesn't mean anything on its own. It all depends on how much it has dropped or risen.

I am aware, but that little asterisk on every lab report is irritating.
Lower is certainly better than higher.😬

My blood work is constantly fluctuating as well. Alkaline phosphatase and GGT are low, while my total Bilirubin and Iron levels are elevated. 🙂
My results were at their absolute best during my pregnancy.😁

Matthew Jones16 said:I honestly can't even recall the names of my medications, nor do I have the slightest clue what my doctor's actual job title is, or even what they specialize in

I suppose they're some kind of neuropsychiatrist, though I'm mostly just guessing because she keeps giving me grief about how little I seem to know regarding her profession

But then again, I don't really find it all that interesting. My only real concern is the dosage, and I did happen to glance at that little printed insert that comes with the prescription just to see what on earth the stuff is actually for

You should at least have a medical report or a private prescription on hand. Wouldn't both of those list the medication name and the prescribing physician?☕

Some pink pills my psychologist (or was it a neuropsychiatrist?) prescribed.

"Pink pills" could be anything. You should at least know the name of the medication, shouldn't you?😕
In the US, a psychologist doesn't have the authority to prescribe medication; that is strictly a psychiatrist's role.

And what medications are you currently taking?

Benjamin King2 said:Cover it in fridge magnets; if there isn't a degauss button, it might just ruin the screen enough to get you a brand-new monitor. 😁

I don't believe there is one. I will try that. Thanks.😉

I am not looking to start a new thread, but I could use some advice.
My office is still using one of those prehistoric monitors—not an LCD, but one of those heavy CRT units that weighs 20 pounds. It takes up half my desk, and my eyes start aching after just a little bit of typing.
The IT guys told me I won't be getting a modern flat screen until this thing finally dies and becomes total junk.
So, my question is: how can I make that happen without making it obvious that I'm doing it on purpose? I have a small radio that I leave running at a whisper right next to the monitor. I've noticed the screen flickers slightly when it's near, but it just won't die.
Is there a faster way to go about this?
🙈

Freddy Krueger possesses a striking sense of humor.😁
I concur that the remake was an entirely unnecessary move.

That said, I find Alien to be far superior. (The first and second installments, obviously.) It remains the finest horror film in my eyes, regardless of its age. (Though some argue it belongs in the sci-fi genre rather than horror, I believe it contains significant horror elements, particularly the original.)

silverwalker27 said:The only real distinction here is the scale and how the data is organized. Just as an employer maintains a database of their employees, the government can maintain a database of its citizens. There is no fundamental or ethical difference between the two. If one is acceptable, the other must be too—in fact, the latter should come first (since the government is ultimately us, the people).

The specific workplace I mentioned definitely matters. In this day and age, if you fail a psych test, you're barred from certain professions. That effectively strips you of your rights—your constitutional rights. You could be the most innocent person on earth, yet still be forbidden from doing your job. To me, that is the perfect example of "burning the witch" before they catch us. It's just a very efficient, widely accepted, and "justified" way to do it.

Of course an alcoholic cannot work air traffic control, yet someone with a personality disorder might.

Job testing is technically optional; in reality, it’s just a way to ensure you don't get hired.