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Anonymous


Unregistered

Posted Thu Sep 27th, 2007 4:08am Post subject: blah. (can't think of an appropriate title)
so....i don't know how to start this.

last fall, around this time of year, i started going to a counselor for depression and "bedroom problems" in the hope of fixing my relationship. my partner ended up leaving me, and after my partner left my counselor said that she "saw this coming", and then started touching me in ways i didn't like.

let me say, it wasn't abuse or anything like that. that's not what i mean. but i already had problems with being touched, that's why i went. i stopped going to appointments. she acted emotional when i cancelled and it made me uncomfortable. a friend i talked to who is a social worker said that it seemed obvious this woman had some unhealthy attachment or ideas that aren't part of a dr/patient relationship. i just knew i couldn't be there anymore. (a lot of difficult times came after that... let's skip them...)

anyways... the time of year reminds me that it's been a WHOLE YEAR. and i don't even like it when a friend rubs my back. the only time i went to a counselor after this there were cameras in the room, otherwise i wouldn't have gone. and anytime someone tries to get close to me, i want to say "i'm sorry, but i'm not capable of whatever it is your thinking, you should just let me burn up alone." i feel very lonely and alone, like i am at the bottom of the ocean.

do i have a question?

not really. i should think of one, though, maybe it will help me feel better to focus on something in particular. all i know is i've been thinking about it a lot, it hurts, i feel worthless, and i'm terrified of those little rooms that counselors use. oh, and the counselors.

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Anonymous


Unregistered

Posted Thu Sep 27th, 2007 9:12am Post subject: blah. (can't think of an appropriate title)
Deleted

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katysara


Moderator

Posted Thu Sep 27th, 2007 2:26pm Post subject: blah. (can't think of an appropriate title)
Hi Banjo,

I do know how you feel. I have great intimacy issues. I had them all my life. And to share more than I have with most people I know, the first time I had sex I was 27.

I did manage to get over my issues to some extent with Lisa because she just made me feel beautiful even though I have always had a great hatred of myself and my body in particular. She's been gone since Nov 2005 and I haven't been able to let anyone touch me since.

I'm sure you do have a question in you somewhere. You'll ask it when you are ready for an answer.

KSx

I am an administrator on this site.

"Having a great intellect is no path to being happy."
~ Stephen Fry

See my website: www.katysaraculling.com

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busy clippers


Member

Posted Thu Sep 27th, 2007 2:49pm Post subject: blah. (can't think of an appropriate title)
I love you all (don't worry, it's a pure, platonic love). X-D I understand, that's all I'm prepared to say at this juncture.

Now, about this counselor. I feel myself getting whipped into a frenzy... Sounds like she was having a bout of countertransference, at the very least. There are rules, regulations, ethics, all sorts of things that apply to persons in such positions and it seems clear that she violated them all and should be stripped of her rank. Had she been receiving adequate supervision this might not have happened, but you never know. This is far beyond simple malpractice/incompetence. I'm sorry if this sounds harsh, but she clearly does not belong in a position of trust. If a physician damaged someone physically, it would be easy to point to and say, "you were supposed to fix my arm but you made it worse, you bad doctor, you." If you didn't file a complaint, please at least think about doing so. It's normal to feel uncomfortable in such situations, but do not feel guilty. It's a year later and you're still upset about it, and it's impacting your ability to get help you feel you need. Therapy should be about the patient only, assisting the patient in reaching his or her goals. That is all.

I didn't swear, but I wanted to.

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Vespertine


Member

Posted Thu Sep 27th, 2007 6:58pm Post subject: blah. (can't think of an appropriate title)
Sorry to everyone that's had bad experiences with councellors.

Personally, I haven't. Talking therapy has never worked for me as I'm unable to open up to anyone. Someone asks me questions I will answer them but very basically and I certainly wont talk about my feelings surrounding it.

Banjo - I have never been in your position but I can definately say that this woman was wrong to become emotionally involved with you. I would definately suggest that it could have been a mistake on her part, after all, she's human. But it is entirely possible that she has become emotionally involved with patients in the past.
I'm sorry you feel so low, and I admit I don't like people hugging me or touching me either. I have big problems with people touching me intimately but I have no problem doing it myself. I don't mind sex, that doesn't bother me, as long as my partner doesn't look at anything 'private'. Which I know will fustrate a lot of people because its a part of intimacy that most people like. I don't dislike sex though. I enjoy sex because it releases a lot of hormones which make the mind feel happy, but I don't like anyone looking at me. It embarasses me a lot, so I can understand that part.

I really hope you can sort this out without too much upset, and I would definately consider gussie's advice and file a complaint.

Take care, Doll. We're all here for you.

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katysara


Moderator

Posted Thu Sep 27th, 2007 8:43pm Post subject: blah. (can't think of an appropriate title)
See Banjo, people are saying some pretty personal stuff to try and help you - I hope that makes you know how important you are to us all.

KSx

I am an administrator on this site.

"Having a great intellect is no path to being happy."
~ Stephen Fry

See my website: www.katysaraculling.com

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Anonymous


Unregistered

Posted Fri Sep 28th, 2007 3:02am Post subject: blah. (can't think of an appropriate title)
thanks so much for all the comments today.

i tried telling to "therapy referral service" that sent me to her about two weeks after i quit going. at the time, it took a long time for me to type it all out and when i got a reply, it said something like "i'm not the person who can do anything about this" i know i could have pressed further, but i was in a wierd state of mind. i assumed this meant that what had happened wasn't wrong. my head was busy trying to stay safe and remember to eat and things like that.

i do wonder if there is any sort of time limit on reporting things. i didn't think i wanted to, but i wonder if it would help me feel better. would it? i'm not sure it would help me and where i'm at now.

i know i sound low now, and i have my upset times, but it is nothing compared to the winter that followed all of that. and maybe that's part of how i feel... that winter i was so depressed i was disoriented. i sometimes have to ask other people what happened and what month was that and so on...now that i'm feeling pretty good.

by pretty good i mean i eat and sleep and try to paint and trust myself with the meat slicer at work. beyond that it's either total bliss or the bottom of the ocean depending on the day. but not disoriented, not for quite a while.

ok, so here is my question
when you get out of a really bad state, how do you start moving forward again? i spent a lot of time living hour to hour, and lost sight of any of my goals in life.
i feel like i am always afraid of this storm or some person coming back to get me.

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katysara


Moderator

Posted Fri Sep 28th, 2007 2:10pm Post subject: blah. (can't think of an appropriate title)
ok, so here is my question
when you get out of a really bad state, how do you start moving forward again? i spent a lot of time living hour to hour, and lost sight of any of my goals in life.
i feel like i am always afraid of this storm or some person coming back to get me.

You do it slowly. You live hour to hour and then eventually day to day, and then one day you realise you are just living. You stop bad thoughts from being considered before they even have time to grab your attention. You do things you enjoy. And you are able to enjoy. You rethink goals. You might have to let some goals go... I have. You might even make new goals... I did. There is no easy way forward, it's a hard slog. But it's usually worth it.

KSx

I am an administrator on this site.

"Having a great intellect is no path to being happy."
~ Stephen Fry

See my website: www.katysaraculling.com

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Anonymous


Unregistered

Posted Fri Sep 28th, 2007 10:52pm Post subject: blah. (can't think of an appropriate title)
thanks katysara.
i guess i shouldn't be too hard on myself.
as soon as i start to feel better, i want to be off like an f-14.

thanks gussie, vespertine, and pete. you guys make me feel less alone, and like this is something i can do something about.

and gussie you crack me up with your sincere attempts at trying not to cuss.
since i do it on this forum with regularity... it's sweet.

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busy clippers


Member

Posted Fri Sep 28th, 2007 10:53pm Post subject: blah. (can't think of an appropriate title)
thanks so much for all the comments today.

i tried telling to "therapy referral service" that sent me to her about two weeks after i quit going. at the time, it took a long time for me to type it all out and when i got a reply, it said something like "i'm not the person who can do anything about this" i know i could have pressed further, but i was in a wierd state of mind. i assumed this meant that what had happened wasn't wrong. my head was busy trying to stay safe and remember to eat and things like that.

i do wonder if there is any sort of time limit on reporting things. i didn't think i wanted to, but i wonder if it would help me feel better. would it? i'm not sure it would help me and where i'm at now.

i know i sound low now, and i have my upset times, but it is nothing compared to the winter that followed all of that. and maybe that's part of how i feel... that winter i was so depressed i was disoriented. i sometimes have to ask other people what happened and what month was that and so on...now that i'm feeling pretty good.

by pretty good i mean i eat and sleep and try to paint and trust myself with the meat slicer at work. beyond that it's either total bliss or the bottom of the ocean depending on the day. but not disoriented, not for quite a while.

ok, so here is my question
when you get out of a really bad state, how do you start moving forward again? i spent a lot of time living hour to hour, and lost sight of any of my goals in life.
i feel like i am always afraid of this storm or some person coming back to get me.

Hi Banjo,

If she was licensed you should complain to the licensing board, they're probably the best people to act on something like this. You could also mention it to whomever paid for the care - your insurance carrier or however you did it. Good luck.

BTW, I also get disoriented, it's like being underwater all of the time and you eventually surface to find all sorts of time has passed and you didn't do much more than go through the motions for months. Lots of staring out the window goes on. Then I suddenly notice that the house is a mess, my affairs are in disarray, and my friends aren't talking to me anymore because I didn't return calls, attend weddings, etc. I'm a totally different person when not depressed, so I dunno, I just "be" who I am at the time. Does any of this make sense??? I've never tried meds because I don't do well with medication of any kind, so I just sort of soldier on.

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Anonymous


Unregistered

Posted Fri Sep 28th, 2007 11:05pm Post subject: blah. (can't think of an appropriate title)
gussie- that makes LOADS of sense...staring out the window and so on. and it is a totally different part of me that no one expects... when my partner and i started having problems, i was getting depressed and she noticed. and said i wasn't the person she originally met.:( but i am...
(why does it REALLY always feel like being underwater? lots of people say that.)

i'm just about to start looking up my old counselor's info... curious to see if she's even still around!
thanks for the info.

p.s. my cat is chasing and attacking her own tail...:)

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Vespertine


Member

Posted Sat Sep 29th, 2007 1:46am Post subject: blah. (can't think of an appropriate title)
thanks katysara.
i guess i shouldn't be too hard on myself.
as soon as i start to feel better, i want to be off like an f-14.

thanks gussie, vespertine, and pete. you guys make me feel less alone, and like this is something i can do something about.

and gussie you crack me up with your sincere attempts at trying not to cuss.
since i do it on this forum with regularity... it's sweet.

I'd really appreciate it if you called me Randi :-//

Vespertine was a name I used to prevent people knowing who I was from other forums, but I don't have to worry about that now.

My name is Randi. Full name - Miranda. Nickname - Noodles.


Any of them is fine, Vespertine is my art company name

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Anonymous


Unregistered

Posted Sat Sep 29th, 2007 5:59am Post subject: blah. (can't think of an appropriate title)
NOODLES!!!!

that's awesome, Randi. thanks for speaking up about that!

i like going by aliases as i don't always like my given name right now. i've tried over and over to get coworkers and such to use my last name, but it never sticks.

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katysara


Moderator

Posted Sat Sep 29th, 2007 1:21pm Post subject: blah. (can't think of an appropriate title)
Noodles? NOODLES? I suppose that is better than my nickname (Cobs). Only Northern Brits will even know what a cob is!

Randi it is from now on.

KSx

I am an administrator on this site.

"Having a great intellect is no path to being happy."
~ Stephen Fry

See my website: www.katysaraculling.com

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Vespertine


Member

Posted Sat Sep 29th, 2007 1:45pm Post subject: blah. (can't think of an appropriate title)
X-D The reason I'm called Noodles is from 'noodling' on the guitar.

Ks, I'm northen brit and I have no idea what a cob is

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