Question:
When you see your psychotherapist, or your doctor, do you experience him/her in the same way as a significant figure from your past? And does he/she generate the same feelings you have/had about that past figure? If so, how do you explain it?
My doctor does not generate any of the same feelings I’ve had about a past figure. After 10 years, she’s more like a friend who is a good listener and who I confide in. Mary — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
When you see your psychotherapist, or your doctor, do you experience him/her in the same way as a significant figure from your past? And does he/she generate the same feelings you have/had about that past figure?
I haven’t seen my psychiatrist in several years, but I was aware of trying to please him or impress him. (I tried to please my parents). I think I saw my psychiatrist as a nurturing parental type figure who wanted to help me. (and make alot of money doing it 
:::::::AMBIVALENCE:::: And I had to please him (to a certain extent) in order to get the help. My father didn’t pay much attention to me. Or when he did give me attention it was usually negative, like kicking me in the shins for "being lazy". Also he yawned during a few sessions and I felt like I wasn’t keeping him interested enuff or entertained enuff. He may have yawned cause he was up all night. Or maybe my monologue wasn’t interesting enuff. Sometimes I get angrey that he didn’t do more psychotherpy with me. But then again I wasn’t there for psychotherapy, and originally went to him in 1985 to get on Xanax for panic disorder. Most of the early visits were used discussing Xanax and it’s effect of blocking panic attacks. Plus at that time I thought psychotherapy was a bunch of BS. And still do to a certain extent. It looks like I’m ambivalent about alot of things. Which may be more healthy than seeing someone as all good or all bad. I don’t know what all the above is supposed to mean, if anything. But I thought I’d write it down anyway, to see where it leads, if anywhere. (more ambivalence Chip — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Also he yawned during a few sessions and I felt like I wasn’t keeping him interested enuff or entertained enuff. He may have yawned cause he was up all night. Or maybe my monologue wasn’t interesting enuff. Bit of a coincidence, the psychiatrist I’ve been seeing brought up yawning when we were discussing some of my symptoms: I’d said yawning without feeling anxious and he said it was more likely migraine activity since he often had yawning "attacks" before a migraine without feeling tired. I’ve had migraines since I was young so must have had thousands by now and thats a new one on me. It was on me too but after looking it up I’ve sen other references to it. My migraines changed from being classic to weird sometime around the period my panic got bad so all new symptoms were checked in together… now this Pdoc says other things like the extreme confusion, aphasia, balance problem etc could be migrainous in origin. I have read that some people with migraines can have certain symptoms that are not vision problems but maybe confusion (haven’t heard of balance problem though), but if you have the confusion and balance problem right before you have a migraine, it could be possible the symptoms are migrainous. Those symptoms are not very common, but I have read there are some people who have them.
These thigs can occur before a migraine, after a migraine or sometimes on their own after having been in bright light… maybe they *are* the migraine? I have had migraines since my 20’s but in my mid 40’s I developed a heart murmur which turned out to be a narrowing of the aortic heart valve, which led to open heart surgery and artificial valve replacement in my 50’s. After the operation, I started to have far more frequent migraines with more intense auras, that were never there before. I saw several neurologists in the next few years after. Nothing showed up becuase its something you can’t see. A neurosurgeon and cardiologist said they have heard of this happening with a few patients, but they have not identified the cause – maybe a change of blood flow, maybe something during the operation.
That really sucks! I hate that "no known cause" thing. 
My first migraine was when I was 10 or 11 but I didn’t dare to tell anyone about the visual aura, being afraid they’d say I was going crazy.<sigh! I then had a few years break before they came regularly and then a few changes in frequency but nothing too weird. I too have a balance problem but I know for sure, its nothing to do with a migraine. I had an inner ear problem 18 years ago or so,and had extensive tests done and it showed I have a lesion in the inner ear. Whether that caused my problem I don’t know, but I do know that the balance problem became a phobia. It seems to be partly physical and partly phobic. I have had a lot of weird things that are not common.
Snap! I’ve "always" (for as long as I can recall) had a slight list to the left but not enough to make me bump into walls until these attacks of falling to the left. I’ve never actually had my migraines properly assessed or treated (med-phobia rules :-/) so the Pdoc wants me to see another neurologist. Only trigger I’ve found is bright light, even after eliminating common triggers fro my diet. But then if the migraines have changed, maybe the triggers have too. (I want to keep my coffee and chocolate!) Mine is bright light and can even be sunlight, and can sometimes be the computer so I keep it a lot dimmer than other people.
Bright light of any kind… what kind of monitor do you have? Now I’ve got a TFT monitor it’s a lot easier on the eyes. Sometimes computer games which I love, can do it.
Or tv programmes with flash photography or thingummy- strobe like effect. I love chocolate. I don’t think it causes me to have migraines because even when I don’t have any for a couple of weeks without chocolate, I still get migraines.
Me too, so I’m hopeful that won’t be a problem food if any are. Having a psychiatrist yawn at me would make me wonder if I was wasting both our time though. If it was only one yawn maybe he was up late, so you could maybe overlook it, but if it was every time you saw him, then he’s too sleepy to see anybody and should go to bed <g Or just lie down on his couch and lock the door! And cancel his appointments for the rest of the day (or week) depending on how much sleep he needs. He could put a sign outside his door saying "Too tired – come back another day".
A sign saying: "Group session for all patients this morning, I’ll be monitoring your progress from my office and next session we’ll review the group session". One camera set up and the guy is ready for a nice long nap. 
— The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Also he yawned during a few sessions and I felt like I wasn’t keeping him interested enuff or entertained enuff. He may have yawned cause he was up all night. Or maybe my monologue wasn’t interesting enuff. Bit of a coincidence, the psychiatrist I’ve been seeing brought up yawning when we were discussing some of my symptoms: I’d said yawning without feeling anxious and he said it was more likely migraine activity since he often had yawning "attacks" before a migraine without feeling tired. I’ve had migraines since I was young so must have had thousands by now and thats a new one on me. It was on me too but after looking it up I’ve sen other references to it. My migraines changed from being classic to weird sometime around the period my panic got bad so all new symptoms were checked in together… now this Pdoc says other things like the extreme confusion, aphasia, balance problem etc could be migrainous in origin.
I have read that some people with migraines can have certain symptoms that are not vision problems but maybe confusion (haven’t heard of balance problem though), but if you have the confusion and balance problem right before you have a migraine, it could be possible the symptoms are migrainous. Those symptoms are not very common, but I have read there are some people who have them. I have had migraines since my 20’s but in my mid 40’s I developed a heart murmur which turned out to be a narrowing of the aortic heart valve, which led to open heart surgery and artificial valve replacement in my 50’s. After the operation, I started to have far more frequent migraines with more intense auras, that were never there before. I saw several neurologists in the next few years after. Nothing showed up becuase its something you can’t see. A neurosurgeon and cardiologist said they have heard of this happening with a few patients, but they have not identified the cause – maybe a change of blood flow, maybe something during the operation. I too have a balance problem but I know for sure, its nothing to do with a migraine. I had an inner ear problem 18 years ago or so,and had extensive tests done and it showed I have a lesion in the inner ear. Whether that caused my problem I don’t know, but I do know that the balance problem became a phobia. It seems to be partly physical and partly phobic. I have had a lot of weird things that are not common. I’ve never actually had my migraines properly assessed or treated (med-phobia rules :-/) so the Pdoc wants me to see another neurologist. Only trigger I’ve found is bright light, even after eliminating common triggers fro my diet. But then if the migraines have changed, maybe the triggers have too. (I want to keep my coffee and chocolate!)
Mine is bright light and can even be sunlight, and can sometimes be the computer so I keep it a lot dimmer than other people. Sometimes computer games which I love, can do it. I love chocolate. I don’t think it causes me to have migraines because even when I don’t have any for a couple of weeks without chocolate, I still get migraines. Having a psychiatrist yawn at me would make me wonder if I was wasting both our time though. If it was only one yawn maybe he was up late, so you could maybe overlook it, but if it was every time you saw him, then he’s too sleepy to see anybody and should go to bed <g Or just lie down on his couch and lock the door!
And cancel his appointments for the rest of the day (or week) depending on how much sleep he needs. He could put a sign outside his door saying "Too tired – come back another day". Mary — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
i havent experienced that chip. i was lucky to have a therapist i really connected with, felt comfortable with, and trusted. i just stopped therapy a month ago because he moved….which is a really big bummer for me. its really hard to find great people like that. i hope you get positive results from your therapy chip.
I’m not in therapy, Russ. if your therapist keeps yawning, go find another one. also one that you dont feel you need to impress (that might be coming from you though).
That was coming from me, Russ. Not the psychiatrist. Chip — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – i havent experienced that chip. i was lucky to have a therapist i really connected with, felt comfortable with, and trusted. i just stopped therapy a month ago because he moved….which is a really big bummer for me. its really hard to find great people like that. i hope you get positive results from your therapy chip. I’m not in therapy, Russ. if your therapist keeps yawning, go find another one. also one that you dont feel you need to impress (that might be coming from you though). That was coming from me, Russ. Not the psychiatrist. Chip — The charter is available at:http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
oh, now i see. i should read more carefully. slightly embarrassed am i — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
Also he yawned during a few sessions and I felt like I wasn’t keeping him interested enuff or entertained enuff. He may have yawned cause he was up all night. Or maybe my monologue wasn’t interesting enuff.
Bit of a coincidence, the psychiatrist I’ve been seeing brought up yawning when we were discussing some of my symptoms: I’d said yawning without feeling anxious and he said it was more likely migraine activity since he often had yawning "attacks" before a migraine without feeling tired. Having a psychiatrist yawn at me would make me wonder if I was wasting both our time though. — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
Also he yawned during a few sessions and I felt like I wasn’t keeping him interested enuff or entertained enuff. He may have yawned cause he was up all night. Or maybe my monologue wasn’t interesting enuff. Bit of a coincidence, the psychiatrist I’ve been seeing brought up yawning when we were discussing some of my symptoms: I’d said yawning without feeling anxious and he said it was more likely migraine activity since he often had yawning "attacks" before a migraine without feeling tired.
I’ve had migraines since I was young so must have had thousands by now and thats a new one on me. Having a psychiatrist yawn at me would make me wonder if I was wasting both our time though.
If it was only one yawn maybe he was up late, so you could maybe overlook it, but if it was every time you saw him, then he’s too sleepy to see anybody and should go to bed Mary — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Also he yawned during a few sessions and I felt like I wasn’t keeping him interested enuff or entertained enuff. He may have yawned cause he was up all night. Or maybe my monologue wasn’t interesting enuff. Bit of a coincidence, the psychiatrist I’ve been seeing brought up yawning when we were discussing some of my symptoms: I’d said yawning without feeling anxious and he said it was more likely migraine activity since he often had yawning "attacks" before a migraine without feeling tired. I’ve had migraines since I was young so must have had thousands by now and thats a new one on me.
It was on me too but after looking it up I’ve sen other references to it. My migraines changed from being classic to weird sometime around the period my panic got bad so all new symptoms were checked in together… now this Pdoc says other things like the extreme confusion, aphasia, balance problem etc could be migrainous in origin. I’ve never actually had my migraines properly assessed or treated (med-phobia rules :-/) so the Pdoc wants me to see another neurologist. Only trigger I’ve found is bright light, even after eliminating common triggers fro my diet. But then if the migraines have changed, maybe the triggers have too. (I want to keep my coffee and chocolate!) Having a psychiatrist yawn at me would make me wonder if I was wasting both our time though. If it was only one yawn maybe he was up late, so you could maybe overlook it, but if it was every time you saw him, then he’s too sleepy to see anybody and should go to bed
<g Or just lie down on his couch and lock the door! — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – There are psychiatrists and there are psychiatrists same as any other professionals. Its very hard to find a good one. I gave up looking after a few years and did much better with my GP who is not a therapist but has some training in it and is a good listener and gives me her take on things and is better than the psychiatrists I went to. I’ve read the type of relationship one has with the therapist (or GP) is more important than the type of therapy. I tend to agree that this is the case many times, but I suppose you could say that if your problem was very serious, a professional who is experienced and compassionate may be needed. But for me, whoever it is, they have to be compassionate, supportive and good listeners – probably most important is that you "click" with them or you mightr as well not bother wasting your time and theirs. Anyway, these are the things I need in a doctor/psythiatrist and are what I find in my GP. She is female and has strong interests in female issues which I like. She takes time from her regular practice to counsel women half a day a week. I like though I have nothing against male GP’s. I went to one for 25 years. I liked him very much, though he was more the type – interested in your medical problems only. He retired. I’ve had my present GP for 15 years. She is a good doctor for medical issues as well. I am quite ambivalent about some things too Chip. Its not something I worry about.. I don’t worry about it either, Mary. But it occured to me that I was ambivalent about some things as I wrote my post yesterday. Sometimes when you write something, or think something, it can make you more aware of certain traits you have but never thought much about before. I have known I was ambivalent about various things for a long time. You could also say it was being "indecisive" but only about certain things where positive and negative thoughts collide and neither side wins, so ambivalence steps in to settle the issue Mary — The charter is available at:http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
i havent experienced that chip. i was lucky to have a therapist i really connected with, felt comfortable with, and trusted. i just stopped therapy a month ago because he moved….which is a really big bummer for me. its really hard to find great people like that. i hope you get positive results from your therapy chip. if your therapist keeps yawning, go find another one. also one that you dont feel you need to impress (that might be coming from you though). best wishes, russ — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
There are psychiatrists and there are psychiatrists same as any other professionals. Its very hard to find a good one. I gave up looking after a few years and did much better with my GP who is not a therapist but has some training in it and is a good listener and gives me her take on things and is better than the psychiatrists I went to. I’ve read the type of relationship one has with the therapist (or GP) is more important than the type of therapy.
I tend to agree that this is the case many times, but I suppose you could say that if your problem was very serious, a professional who is experienced and compassionate may be needed. But for me, whoever it is, they have to be compassionate, supportive and good listeners – probably most important is that you "click" with them or you mightr as well not bother wasting your time and theirs. Anyway, these are the things I need in a doctor/psythiatrist and are what I find in my GP. She is female and has strong interests in female issues which I like. She takes time from her regular practice to counsel women half a day a week. I like though I have nothing against male GP’s. I went to one for 25 years. I liked him very much, though he was more the type – interested in your medical problems only. He retired. I’ve had my present GP for 15 years. She is a good doctor for medical issues as well. I am quite ambivalent about some things too Chip. Its not something I worry about.. I don’t worry about it either, Mary. But it occured to me that I was ambivalent about some things as I wrote my post yesterday.
Sometimes when you write something, or think something, it can make you more aware of certain traits you have but never thought much about before. I have known I was ambivalent about various things for a long time. You could also say it was being "indecisive" but only about certain things where positive and negative thoughts collide and neither side wins, so ambivalence steps in to settle the issue Mary — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
When you see your psychotherapist, or your doctor, do you experience him/her in the same way as a significant figure from your past? And does he/she generate the same feelings you have/had about that past figure? If so, how do you explain it? Chip
No?? Not in any way I can even fathom. The thought never occurred to me, but since you asked.. no. Sally — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
There are psychiatrists and there are psychiatrists same as any other professionals. Its very hard to find a good one. I gave up looking after a few years and did much better with my GP who is not a therapist but has some training in it and is a good listener and gives me her take on things and is better than the psychiatrists I went to.
I’ve read the type of relationship one has with the therapist (or GP) is more important than the type of therapy. I am quite ambivalent about some things too Chip. Its not something I worry about..
I don’t worry about it either, Mary. But it occured to me that I was ambivalent about some things as I wrote my post yesterday. Chip — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
When you see your psychotherapist, or your doctor, do you experience him/her in the same way as a significant figure from your past? And does he/she generate the same feelings you have/had about that past figure? I haven’t seen my psychiatrist in several years, but I was aware of trying to please him or impress him. (I tried to please my parents).
I’ve seen several psychiatrists but not for at least 15 years and at that time it was mostly about depression which is still more predominant in my life to me than anxiety. I only started to have anxiety symptoms 4.5 years ago. I had years of severe anxiety when I was married and in a subsequent relationship, but didn’t have dizziness or lightheadness at those times, like I sometimes have now, but my nervousness and anxiety before was more inward. I think I saw my psychiatrist as a nurturing parental type figure who wanted to help me. (and make alot of money doing it :::::::AMBIVALENCE:::: And I had to please him (to a certain extent) in order to get the help. My father didn’t pay much attention to me. Or when he did give me attention it was usually negative, like kicking me in the shins for "being lazy".
You didn’t have a very good male model. Also he yawned during a few sessions and I felt like I wasn’t keeping him interested enuff or entertained enuff. He may have yawned cause he was up all night. Or maybe my monologue wasn’t interesting enuff.
I used to go to a pshychatrist who had a small clock which he would check once in a while, so I felt he was not paying attention to what I was saying. He might or might not have been up all night, but if he was like that every time you saw him, he was probably just bored, not just with you, but with everybody. Maybe bored with hearing similar problems over and over,but whatever the case, if he is not helping after a few visits, its time to move on. There are psychiatrists and there are psychiatrists same as any other professionals. Its very hard to find a good one. I gave up looking after a few years and did much better with my GP who is not a therapist but has some training in it and is a good listener and gives me her take on things and is better than the psychiatrists I went to. Sometimes I get angrey that he didn’t do more psychotherpy with me. But then again I wasn’t there for psychotherapy, and originally went to him in 1985 to get on Xanax for panic disorder. Most of the early visits were used discussing Xanax and it’s effect of blocking panic attacks. Plus at that time I thought psychotherapy was a bunch of BS. And still do to a certain extent.
I think it depends on finding a good psychotherapist who will listen to your needs, gives you feedback about your problems. Someone in tune with you. I am sure there are lots of good psychiatrists and therapists around, but finding them is the problem. With the public medicare system in Canada where I am, the best therapists are booked up for long periods of time, and the others move to the US to make more money Anyway, I have no interest in looking for one. I have my GP who gives me a lot of support and that is very important to me. It looks like I’m ambivalent about alot of things. Which may be more healthy than seeing someone as all good or all bad. I don’t know what all the above is supposed to mean, if anything. But I thought I’d write it down anyway, to see where it leads, if anywhere. (more ambivalence
I am quite ambivalent about some things too Chip. Its not something I worry about.. I don’t know what it means, but I understand what you mean Mary — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
When you see your psychotherapist, or your doctor, do you experience him/her in the same way as a significant figure from your past?
Er, no. Should they? For the first few visits I wouldn’t even recognise their faces. — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
When you see your psychotherapist, or your doctor, do you experience him/her in the same way as a significant figure from your past? And does he/she generate the same feelings you have/had about that past figure? If so, how do you explain it?
Not sure what you mean exactly Chip but I’ll answer the best way I can. When I first met with my psychiatrist the experience was overwhelming as it was the first time anyone could explain to me what I was going through. They didn’t represent anything other than a professional relationship I have with any other professional. As I stayed with this pdoc for 15 years I guess they did become more like a trusted friend. However I have not seen them for 3 years now. Vanessa — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
When you see your psychotherapist, or your doctor, do you experience him/her in the same way as a significant figure from your past? And does he/she generate the same feelings you have/had about that past figure? If so, how do you explain it? Chip — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
When you see your psychotherapist, or your doctor, do you experience him/her in the same way as a significant figure from your past?
No. More like someone that was missing from my past. Tony — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
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