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alittlelikemusic
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Confused Dec 09, 2019 at 12:53 AM
  #1
So, the last time I ever saw a psychiatrist (or even a therapist) is back in 2016. I was in some sort of rehabilitation program for mental health, but I was terminated because I skipped too many appointments with my therapist and didn't keep in contact with my case manager (and therefore wasn't allowed to see my psychiatrist).

However, now that I've graduated from college, I need a job, but I'm realizing that I'm running into the same old problems I had before, which is being able to hold on to a job without having a breakdown or losing motivation due to a depressive episode.

The only thing I'm doing right now is meditating (and not consistently) and using a therapy app (I go back and forth between Youper and Wysa).

What's holding me back from seeking help is that I'm afraid my mother and, especially, my sister will judge me for it. My mother has always judged me for seeking help in the past and my sister is judgemental about everything (although she won't admit it). I live with them by the way. So, I have two roommates.

What should I do? The answer is probably obvious, but there's so much pressure on me to deliver after graduating. I'm going to have to pay back student loans very soon. I just hate the thought of them being nosey and wondering where I'm heading off to or (in my sister's case) hoping to tag along, thinking I'm going somewhere fun.

I don't have a single family member who isn't judgemental when it comes to the whole mental health thing. In the past when I brought it up I would get the eye roll or the head shake or the look of disappointment.

Should I just not care and just go for it? I mean, I feel I won't be able to progress otherwise.
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Default Dec 09, 2019 at 02:47 AM
  #2
It's important to remember that you are an adult. You can get any kind of healthcare you need and you have no obligation to tell them. It's not about keeping secrets, it's about you having privacy. Your mental health struggles are private. You can decide who to tell or not tell. If one person you want to tell is a psychiatrist, you can do that. He isn't going to tell anybody. You're privacy is protected. I guess my one question would be are you on your parents insurance? If you are maybe there's a way to keep the billing source private as well. Ask your psychiatrist.
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Default Dec 09, 2019 at 08:02 AM
  #3
Quote:
Originally Posted by sheltiemom2007 View Post
It's important to remember that you are an adult. You can get any kind of healthcare you need and you have no obligation to tell them. It's not about keeping secrets, it's about you having privacy. Your mental health struggles are private. You can decide who to tell or not tell. If one person you want to tell is a psychiatrist, you can do that. He isn't going to tell anybody. You're privacy is protected. I guess my one question would be are you on your parents insurance? If you are maybe there's a way to keep the billing source private as well. Ask your psychiatrist.

I agree with this. Even if you are on your mother's insurance, it might be that she's unable to see details of your visits. I'm on my husband's insurance, and there's some information that's visible only to me, like if he goes to the account online. And paper statements about my care are addressed just to me. The thing is, a psychiatrist is a medical doctor, and you're treating a medical condition. You could tell them you're going to the doctor and it's personal, or something like that. Though maybe they'd still pry.

Once you do have a job, maybe you could go to appointments during or just before/after work so that they wouldn't know you were going out someplace.

Also, do you have a primary care doctor? If so, this is not ideal, but maybe you could ask him/her if they could try prescribing something for depression? Same with a gynecologist, you could ask. I say not ideal because they won't have the expertise that a psychiatrist would, but maybe it would be something to get you started. And I see you're in the US--some mediation that's available in generic form, you can get at certain pharmacies for like $4, no insurance involved, so it wouldn't show up on insurance.
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Default Dec 09, 2019 at 07:47 PM
  #4
Quote:
Originally Posted by sheltiemom2007 View Post
It's important to remember that you are an adult. You can get any kind of healthcare you need and you have no obligation to tell them. It's not about keeping secrets, it's about you having privacy. Your mental health struggles are private. You can decide who to tell or not tell. If one person you want to tell is a psychiatrist, you can do that. He isn't going to tell anybody. You're privacy is protected. I guess my one question would be are you on your parents insurance? If you are maybe there's a way to keep the billing source private as well. Ask your psychiatrist.
Thank you, Sheltie.

No, I have my own insurance. I'm using Maryland Medicaid. I just don't like the thought of suddenly being treated differently just because I'm returning to therapy to do something good for my health. My family members don't understand any of that stuff and are always quick to associate the mentally ill with psychos or people who are on drugs.
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Default Dec 09, 2019 at 07:50 PM
  #5
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Originally Posted by LonesomeTonight View Post
I agree with this. Even if you are on your mother's insurance, it might be that she's unable to see details of your visits. I'm on my husband's insurance, and there's some information that's visible only to me, like if he goes to the account online. And paper statements about my care are addressed just to me. The thing is, a psychiatrist is a medical doctor, and you're treating a medical condition. You could tell them you're going to the doctor and it's personal, or something like that. Though maybe they'd still pry.

Once you do have a job, maybe you could go to appointments during or just before/after work so that they wouldn't know you were going out someplace.

Also, do you have a primary care doctor? If so, this is not ideal, but maybe you could ask him/her if they could try prescribing something for depression? Same with a gynecologist, you could ask. I say not ideal because they won't have the expertise that a psychiatrist would, but maybe it would be something to get you started. And I see you're in the US--some mediation that's available in generic form, you can get at certain pharmacies for like $4, no insurance involved, so it wouldn't show up on insurance.
Lonesome,

Thank you for your reply! I never thought about asking a doctor whether they could prescribe something for me. I'll try that and see if it works. I also like the thought of seeing a doctor before or after work. That could work too. In the end, I may just have to suck it up and just do what I have to do.
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