Posted by shellie on July 23, 2000, at 10:44:12
In reply to Medication combos -- feeling scared and dreary, posted by Lin on July 22, 2000, at 19:50:05
< I work in the mental health field, so I feel like I have to keep all of this totally secret and as I see patients, I feel like I could be (and am) sitting on their side of the table.
Lynn, most therapists keep most things secret from their clients (boundaries, et al). I guess you need to ask yourself these two questions:
(1) are you are still able to help your clients. If you can offer them compassion and insight, and help lead them in the direction of their goals, then it doesn't matter that you sit on both sides of the table--lots of therapists do.
(2) if, in spite of it not getting in the way of doing therapy, being a mental health provider is putting too much pressure on you. For instance, if you feel that you need to keep your struggles secret from your clinical supervisor(s), and your clinical peers, I think that would be a very lonely experience, and exasperate bad feelings about yourself.
Remember, you are in treatment, that is a good thing. You were misdiagnosed, that was not your fault, so you are catching up. There will be light at the end of the tunnel, and it may not be that far off. I don't know if you have the type of position that you can take time off from until your meds are straightened out. And I do understand about not liking to put all these things in your body, but I agree with Janice and Shar, it is better than the alternative. And I know depression takes a huge toll on the body, so either way, we didn't luck out on in that we have these illnesses, but we are fortunate that we have them at a time that there is treatment for them.
Try (I know it's hard) to be patient and to go easy on yourself. Shellie
poster:shellie
thread:41197
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000717/msgs/41238.html