I am interested in this. Also psychiatric experience, medication etc. I was once on 20mg Paxil for PTSD that I got from an earthquake where I saw many people dead etc. Then also nowadays I'm doing schematherapy once a month from my own money to talk about my romantic relationships.
Post yours here if you care
I've been through treatment a few times. First was maybe 9 years ago, I was depressed and paranoid. I got 7 benzos that I took like candy and wasn't allowed any more. Was also given Celexa and Trazodone for sleep. I took both for about 2 months and felt better. Probably because it was summer break. I seen a therapist twice, but her constantly asking me "how does that make you feel?" in this cloying tone of sympathy bothered me.
A couple years later I got an ADHD diagnosis and some ADHD meds. I took those for about 6 months. 2 months Straterra, 4 months Vyvanse. I was also given a depression Dx and they gave me some Paxil that I took for a month or two.
I've been seeing the same psychiatrist now for a few years. I'm on Prozac for major depressive disorder and panic disorder and propranolol for panic attacks. I started seeing a therapist at the same place for dealing with hypochondria. She gives good advice. Right now we're mainly discussing motivation and stress management.
Do you notice any difference since starting Paxil?
but her constantly asking me "how does that make you feel?" in this cloying tone of sympathy bothered me.
is this behaviour generally pervasive amongst psychotherapists?
TPG said:is this behaviour generally pervasive amongst psychotherapists?
They do have to know how you're feeling about things in order to ascertain where your mind's at. The first therapist I seen acted overly sympathetic when I talked about my early life, which was off-putting. I also was still in the habit of lying about how I feel and giving "normal responses."
The therapist I see now is more matter of fact in her approach and sets me up with resources or contact information for people who can get me ahead. Sometimes it's difficult to answer "how do you feel about that?" with "well, I really don't," but at this point I'm putting faith in her training and experience.
Why even lie to a therapist other than to not report suicidal or murderous thoughts?
I think it was a combination of second-nature at that time, plus the person was scheduled for me on intake. I was really just interested in medications.
Why even lie to a therapist other than to not report suicidal or murderous thoughts?
To answer your question. This happens often. A common motivating factor is fear and shame. It is too shameful to talk or admit something etc. Sometimes it happens that after 1 or two years they share the whole truth or reveal some false information they had given at one time. It is because thetherapeutic alliance has not been strong enough before. Then also it is very common with all pd (except maybe fearful-avoidant), where it is never really about what is being said or a solution, but more about the dynamic and the interpersonal reactions they try to get from you. An obvious example is histrionic personality disorder, but all pd's usually lie or 'play' with the therapist as part of their disorder.
Why even lie to a therapist other than to not report suicidal or murderous thoughts?
To answer your question. This happens often. A common motivating factor is fear and shame. It is too shameful to talk or admit something etc. Sometimes it happens that after 1 or two years they share the whole truth or reveal some false information they had given at one time. It is because thetherapeutic alliance has not been strong enough before. Then also it is very common with all pd (except maybe fearful-avoidant), where it is never really about what is being said or a solution, but more about the dynamic and the interpersonal reactions they try to get from you. An obvious example is histrionic personality disorder, but all pd's usually lie or 'play' with the therapist as part of their disorder.
I mean yeah that's the external reasoning you can cobble together by averaging people's deeper needs, but when handled one-by-one there's variation in their answers.
A lot lie to them from feeling threatened, but what exactly was threatened varies. For some it's as simple as not liking that their therapist has the more powerful position in the conversation without more depth than merely that, while others might have complexes about "bigger systems".
Of course a third very common thing that is kind of lieing is 'aggravation'. Almost everyone says they are feeling worse than they actually are etc. There is much research on this. They may want to be heard, taken seriously, try to get benefits from you, feel special etc. This is very very common. Maybe 80%, but it is often not conscious. You could argue it is not really a lie then, but I feel like in a way they know what they say is not true. Just they do not consciously think 'now I will lie' etc.
You could argue it is not really a lie then, but I feel like in a way they know what they say is not true. Just they do not consciously think 'now I will lie' etc.
Brain's layered, it could have for it's subconscious needs decided to bend the story towards something more preferable... but that preference shows variations for how much it can skew a story, such as how far narcissists can stretch a narrative.
Lying to themselves is still lying, especially when it comes to self-omission in the form of willful ignorance, it just isn't insidious.
