I was looking back today and realized it has been over two years since I left "the church". I was remembering the things that led me to that choice and I recalled the bishop sending me to see a shrink ( church approved of course) because I hated being in church so much. The man ONLY wanted to discuss why I didnt feel comfortable in church and what he could do to fix that. If something came up that didnt seem related we wouldnt discuss it. Yeah, I went 3 times and quit...shame on me for even going once.

No, Imbadash. The shame lies entirely on the compromised "psychiatrist"

When I dropped out of BYU and refused to go on a mission my mom wanted me to see a psychiatrist. After all you have to be nuts to leave TSCC right?

Fortunately there were no psychiatrists in our area then. May not be any now for all I know. Mom eventually got over it.

Unfortunately, Mormons are not the only ones that do that. I know all too well. Not me, but someone else- fundamentalist Christian. Can't be anything wrong with God, has to be the kid so off to therapy they go and a diagnosis follows them.
Bishops, ministers, parents get so frustrated and can't figure out what to do, can't be them, has to be the kid that needs therapy. The real answer - they don't know how to live their own religion and think it can be forced on someone.
ICK. Sickening!
I'm so sorry you were put through that.

I complianed about being depressed before my mission and they made me see a therapist before going into the MTC. When I answered the question about having suicidal thoughts honestly the therapist flipped out and tried to shut my mission down. I had to go to a real therapist and get a note that I wasn't a danger to myself or others before I could go into the MTC.

I started into counseling while I was still a member. My therapist was not LDS (nor religious) but she received referrals from the bishop. I had no intention of leaving the Church, but as I got to know myself better and see what I was about, Mormonism became increasingly intolerable for me. When I left the church, she joked "The Mormon Church is going to quit sending me referrals because every Mormon that sees me who is questioning their church, leaves." We laughed.The bishop did quit sending her referrals, which was fine with her, because she was plenty busy.

Not many psychiatrists are good counselors, in my experience, because they focus primarily on medication and don't spend much time with patients. In any case, psychiatrists, psychologists, and various types of counselors need to be on-board with your goals to be of help and refer you to someone else if they cannot. You weren't at fault for going, and you were smart for not continuing to go. The psychiatrist was working for the bishop, not you. Bad deal.

robertb Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

>
> Not many psychiatrists are good counselors, in my
> experience, because they focus primarily on
> medication and don't spend much time with
> patients. In any case, psychiatrists,
> psychologists, and various types of counselors
> need to be on-board with your goals to be of help
> and refer you to someone else if they cannot. You
> weren't at fault for going, and you were smart for
> not continuing to go. The psychiatrist was working
> for the bishop, not you. Bad deal.

You really hit the nail on the head with my experience and observations also.
Too much medication use, not enough working with the patient with their own needs and goals! EXACTLY!!!!

SusieQ#1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> You really hit the nail on the head with my
> experience and observations also.
> Too much medication use, not enough working with
> the patient with their own needs and goals!
> EXACTLY!!!!

I'm not criticizing psychiatrists. They are specialists and most of them don't do a great deal of training in counseling, from what I am told. It was not always that way. Medication, when needed and when it is a good match for the patient, can make a world of difference. I agree, though, that many severe problems we medicate would be better treated by living life differently--not easy in itself, especially when society itself is pathological.

Psychologists help more...they can't prescribe drugs...they help you deal with what's going on NOW...without 2 years of finding out what happened to cause it...not everyone has that kind of time...nor money.

stormy

...go to someone who isn't a psychiatrist. Psychiatrists are MD's and can prescribe drugs. Psychologists, therapists, counselors, etc. aren't MD's, so they can't resort to medication. I saw a psychologist for three years and drugs were never mentioned. I worked through my problems with a clear head.

LDSSS should be shut down for malpractice. Their interest lie solely with LDS Inc. and "treatment" revolves around that interest and not on what's best for the patient. So much damage has been done to innocent people seeking help. It's dangerous and unethical.

LDSSS is a travesty to legit counseling and psychiatry.

Bishop gave her the names/ph#s of a few counselors he refers to. I assume they're LDS, but I don't know.
This came after I resigned my teaching and priesthood callings.
And I mean it. They went ahead and ordained my 12 year-old without me.

It's ASSUMED that I'm sick for having "problems" with the church.

She even suggested I "sit down" with some experienced high priest in the ward who can answer my concerns...

...wait, I'M AN EXPERIENCED HIGH PRIEST!! She means the kind who don't see the problem.

I just posted in the thread about suing the church that I think the church is ready to be sued for this.

Did you sign something that gives your bishop access to your records? I did.

That is, PR spokesmen suggest that critics of the church have some kind of psychological or emotional problem behind their criticism. It irritates the hell out of me. Although not Church PR, "Shaken Faith Syndrome" is one of these attempts. How about "I'm-tired-of-your-lying-and-self-serving-church Syndrome"?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/27/2010 11:28AM by robertb.