Therapy agreement. Is this logical?

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  • This topic has 34 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 3 months ago by KA.
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  • July 22, 2024 at 5:35 am #1129859

    I have multiple health conditions I really struggle getting medicine for. I just can’t. I start taking the medication couple days, then I give up and stop. Months pass by unmedicated. And aaaall over again.

    I started therapy for that. Therapist went angry, said that if I don’t start taking everything correctly as I should, she won’t accept working with me.

    She said she doesn’t even trust me I will take the medication. So what’s the point? I don’t want to lie because then there’s no point again either.

    Isn’t the point of therapy? To help me gradually start? Why do this?

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    July 22, 2024 at 12:32 pm #1129863

    It’s hard to really evaluate without knowing some more specifics of your situation.

    But I don’t think it’s uncommon for a therapist to say “If you aren’t meeting these specific requirements, I won’t see you” particularly if we’re talking about medications like anti-psychotics or bi-polar medications.

    What is the root cause for you to only take new medications for a couple of days? Is it forgetfulness or do you just not want to?

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    LisforLeslie
    July 23, 2024 at 8:20 am #1129866

    It is absolutely logical for your therapist to define a boundary that requires you to make an effort to get well.

    Why are you not taking your medicine? Is it causing a reaction? If so, talk to your prescribing doctor about side effects and whether there are other similar medications or if your dosage can be adjusted? Or do you just not want to get better? Sometimes people really prefer if their problems can’t be solved because then they don’t have to be responsible. If you’re falling into that category, then yes, I can see why a therapist would not want to deal with a patient who doesn’t really want to get better.

    Think of your illnesses like a house that needs repair. You want to focus on why the house needs repair. Your therapist is saying that in parallel you have to actually make sure the house is live-able. Your therapist is asking you to make sure that each day you are ensuring the basics are all still working properly, electric, heating/cooling, plumbing, phone. The therapist is not asking you to rip up the flooring and install new tile every day, just to make sure the lights are still working.

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    July 23, 2024 at 12:27 pm #1129873

    I also wish you’d provided more details about the medication you are taking as well as why you are not taking it. Why do you start but give up? I do think it’s valid for a therapist to have boundaries around who they treat.

    FWIW, several months ago I decided to go on an anti-depressant. The first thing my dr. prescribed did not work well for me at all. The adverse side effects started right away and even at the lowest dose, I was struggling. He had me go off of it, wait a few weeks for my body to go back to normal, and we tried something new, again at the lowest dose possible. So far so good. We’re upping the dose starting tomorrow. Please talk to your prescribing doctor if a medication isn’t working for you. They can tweak dosage or probably offer you something else.

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    July 24, 2024 at 7:32 am #1129875

    I have multiple sclerosis, diabetes and epilepsy none of which I do something for.

    I started taking an antipsychotic, an antidepressant and anxiolytics, around a month ago. They make me far too dysfunctional. But psychiatrist said to continue. He also gave me a Xanax prescription that I’m not going to go get because the last thing I need is an addiction.

    I don’t like my life as it is, and often I want to harm myself.

    I would like help to stop though, but I find it cruel that she doesn’t help me start together and instead expects me to do it alone.

    I haven’t been able to follow through meds for my physical conditions for over 9 years.

    How does she expect I do it alone. Of course she doesn’t trust me. Because she knows I can’t do it alone.

    I am about to give up on the psych meds, too. Few last ones of the first box remain.

    They are not the answer.

    My life situations are not what I want them to be. And no chemical is changing that.

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    July 24, 2024 at 7:35 am #1129876

    I managed to lose weight after years. For what? Those meds will put it all back triple. And make diabetes much worse. They don’t care psych meds make diabetes and weight worse. They don’t care.

    I have no energy for trial and error with meds and side effects. I am far too exhausted for this.

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    July 24, 2024 at 7:38 am #1129877

    I want to be well and happy but this seems like it’s just not for me. My illnesses will never ever go away. People have managed to treat depression, but MS? Diabetes? Epilepsy?

    They will aaaall be there for all my life. It’s not a mental problem. It’s, my body is permanently destroyed.

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    July 24, 2024 at 7:38 am #1129878

    I’d like to be killed

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    Annonymousse
    July 24, 2024 at 8:39 am #1129880

    Wow, this thread is alarming. This is entirely inappropriate. It sounds like you could do with an inpatient program.

    Y

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    Annonymousse
    July 24, 2024 at 8:45 am #1129881

    Your doctors are trying to get to a modicum of health for you- a baseline.

    Sure none of those hints lol get better if you ignore them, but that’s what you want to do?

    Epilepsy is often handled with medicine, ditto depression, diabetes and probably everything else you are being a big baby about.

    Get help for someone in person, call 911 if you must.

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    July 24, 2024 at 9:58 am #1129883

    Your issues are well beyond the scope of the type of help a forum can provide. I think you should consider in-patient treatment if you have thoughts of self-harm and suicide and need someone to help you take your medications.

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    July 24, 2024 at 10:56 am #1129884

    Unfortunately inpatient is not a choice. I have two pets to take care of and even though I really struggle taking care of them, I need to stay home for them.

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Therapy agreement. Is this logical?

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