wondering what to expect

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Blessd14sure	wondering what to expect	Lead	[-]
Posts: 14 (07/01/09 20:56:32) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	i did it!! i made an appointment with an addiction psychiatrist today. my appointment isnt until august 3 but i am on a waiting list so that if someone cancels i may be able to get in sooner. i am excited.. and apprehensive. i have never told ANYONE (save my dealer, my roommate, and a long-gone, ex-boyfriend) that i use. so here is my question.. can i just tell this doctor that i currently use meth? i mean, obviously, i guess that is why i made the appointment... to get help to quit. but... i dont know... what can i expect? has anyone else ever seen a shrink? what exactly happens? what can i say? what shouldnt i say? what questions should i ask? i have already checked her credentials, schools, resume, board of psychiatry comments, etc (lol) and she appears to be an excellent doctor. anyway, tell me your stories, please. so far, it seems i get a lot out of these posts and would like to hear what anyone has to say. woo hoo!! an appointment!!
hvnlykarma		#1	[-]
Posts: 32 (07/02/09 01:30:30) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	There's no need to worry about what to say and what not to say. Tell her everything. Trust me, there's NOTHING she hasn't heard. If you truely want help, complete honesty is the only way you'll ever get better. And good for you, by the way!! I've never been to an addiction psychiatrist - haven't even heard that term - but I've been to rehab, relapse prevention with a therapist and doctors. I see a psych nurse who takes care of my meds - monitoring & prescribing - but she doesn't really do anything other than that. It's not her job. The difference between a psyciatrist and a psychologist is that the former is an M.D. and can prescribe meds. Typically, they're not the best for listening and providing feedback because their forte is medicine, not therapy. I truely hope this works for you and am so proud that you're asking for help! What strength you have:) That's just what you'll need to get through this, and you have it in you whether you realize it or not. You may want to consider rehab. I don't know where you live, but some programs have scholarship programs. They designate a certain number of beds (spots) for people who can't afford rehab. There's usually a waiting list just like the one you mention in your post. If someone cancells, you move up in line... I can't remember what the program is called here in Idaho, but if there's help like that in your area, the psych. will know about, so ask about your options. I don't think I would be sober if I hadn't gone to rehab. Some are so expensive, though, that's it's not even an option for some. I strongly suggest The Walker Center in Idaho. I don't think you could do better for the money. It's between 8 -10k, which is extremely cheap, and the care is top notch. No celebraties and no "frills" like horseback riding and underwater basket weaving, but that's not what you would need anyway. I'm babbling...sorry. All I really wanted to say was: GOOD FOR YOU!! www.thenext24.blogspot.com
knownfear1		#2	[-]
Posts: 1138 (07/02/09 03:29:50) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I went to an addiction specialists for several years and the best advise I can give is to be completely honest with them. For what I've learned they can smell bullshyt a mile away and the more honest you are the better they can help.
snookerstar		#3	[-]
Posts: 178 (07/02/09 05:22:48) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	If you say that you are going to harm yourself or someone else, the psych is obliged to call the police (at least where I'm from that is the case). Apart from that, you can pretty much say anything. In my opinion, these sessions won't do you much good unless you have some clean time (at least 30 days). No medication will be effective if you are still using. And from my experience, any counseling will be largely ineffective until you stop using also. You can still get to 30 days clean before your appointment! Try to You MUST avoid people, places and things you associate with using, or else you're not gonna "get recovery", no matter how much counselling you get... And, last but not least... GOOD LUCK
knownfear1		#4	[-]
Posts: 1145 (07/02/09 05:30:29) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	^co-sign^ The specialists I went to won't see you if your still actively using. I had been clean for a year before I started going. He was a big big help / addition to my recovery program.
Loraura		#5	[-]
Posts: 8968 (07/02/09 06:07:20) Moderator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I cosign the be 100% honest sentiment.
lax2		#6	[-]
Posts: 4097 (07/02/09 08:13:30) Forum Friend Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I co-sign what Snookerstar said 100%. YOU CAN DO THIS... start today.
danimal55		#7	[-]
Posts: 9295 (07/02/09 08:30:42) Forum Star Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I'd be skeptical about seeing a shrink for the same reasons karma stated, that is unless you have an acute psychiatric "disorder" that needs to be "treated" with pharma. Chemical dependency counselors and therapists typically require an extended period of abstinence before they can accurately diagnose and treat a client with meds, which are considered a last resort. For most of us our primary "disorder" is/was meth addiction. In light of what you've shared in your post, this highly rated cognitive therapy program might suit you better than psychiatry and it's plethora of potentially harmful drugs.....again...the last resort. I worked this one on one with a therapist and can persoanlly vouch for it, core issue are addressed rather than treated with more chemicals. Have a look. And pat yourslef on the back....you're pro-active now! http://www.seekingsafety.org/ psyche meds... the rest of the story. http://breggin.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1 withdrawls suck, esp. when we don't understand the process. this will help. http://digital-dharma.net/addiction/post-acute-withdrawal-syndrome-why-we-dont-get-better-immediately/ another useful resource... "Welcome to the All Positive Options section on methamphetamine. Popularly considered the most accurate, current and comprehensive examination of methamphetamine available anywhere in the world." http://www.allpositiveoptions.com/APOMeth1.htm Last Edited By: danimal55 07/02/09 09:55:40. Edited 1 times.
smilewasmask		#8	[-]
Posts: 4078 (07/02/09 08:42:35) Forum Friend Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Well, GOOD for you. Yes, START NOW!! We will be Your Cheerleaders You will be SO Amazed at how Fine Life can feel without that poison. Like two different worlds.. I am very happy for you! Sometimes it will be just one MOMENT at a time...... And then one day, you will wake up and realize that you feel GREAT and WELL rested and Ready for the day.. And all of the agony that you are feeling now, will be like a fading nightmare. WELCOME to Here and Now ! For most of us our primary "disorder" is/was meth addiction. ^^^^ I have to agree with danimal here...^^^^ Quitting Meth is The PERFECT place to start. I was thinking that if you were honest with the addiction doc, then his actual only course of action would have to be re~hab, likely inpatient......seems logical to me. Maybe with such a referral, insurance might cover the treatment? ......just wondering out loud here....
knownfear1		#9	[-]
Posts: 1165 (07/02/09 08:50:35) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I don't think there is any way I could have quit without rehab! The whole idea of rehab sucked at first, but I grew to accept it and then actually like it.
Penel0pe		#10	[-]
Posts: 9225 (07/02/09 10:28:08) *Such A Supah Lady!* Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	The best way to stop doing something negative is to start doing something positive - give it a try. If it works - YAY! If this ends up being something that works a little, but you need something more - there's a lot of resources for recovery out there, lot's. There's only one way to mess that up, and the way to do that is by making the choice to return to the behavior that brought you here in the first place... so no matter what, never forget that you CAN stop using. It started right when you made the decision that you want to stop. The rest is footwork. As Roxi said, Quitting Meth is the perfect place to start - and we ALL know that it's a rough road. We've walked it and we'll walk it with you.

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