h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

while counselling/therapy does help many people, it also damages a small but significant proportion of its clients. as a profession it has no way of dealing with this. which seems very hipocritical.

i agree with Fishy. its common for people's process not to fit into an hour and to be left in a worse or more vulnerable state. (don't get me started on the 50 minute hour)


i also wonder about a society where you have to pay to be listened to and given attention. in a way therapy is anti-community. i'm not saying get rid of it, because the way we are working now its definitley needed. i think its important to look at why we need it .


i like the intention of the original post. " 'Pat on the back/kind word of support' page"

this seems to happen alot on h2 anyway. it might be nice to have a page where people can go if they want some TLC (or if they have some TLC to share)

pheloxi* does seem to be the person to ask what is already here.

I've always been interested in the way some people assume they would make a good counsellor/therapist because they are "good listeners". An important skill in counselling is to realise that you have to be a bad listener too. If you keep churning out sympathy you may end up reinforcing someone's misconceptions.

Furthermore, I read in a TA book about the correct way to handle a child scared of 'bogeymen' at night: it's incorrect to look under the bed, let them sleep in your bed, or leave a light on, because this reinforces the belief that there MIGHT be a bogeyman under the bed. The correct approach is "There is no such thing as bogeymen.....go back to bed".

Alternatively, let them watch Monsters Inc.

Our 3 year old has watched it about 30 times (I could recite it almost word for word). She is most definitely not scared of monsters.

BTW The best bit IMO is where Sully and Mike are fighting in the snow and suddenly stop and look frightened. Pan to the Abominable Snowman who then says "WELCOME to the Himalayas!!" - outstanding!

As a sufferer of depression and agorophobia, I can say that yes Monsters Inc does help!! It always puts a smile on my face even in the most terible of circumstances! It should be available on perscription

How do you know when you're *actually* suffering from depression though? Unless a doctor tells you, but you feel like a bit of a twit going to a doctor saying "I'm sad", and half the time, realising that you have to pay money to see somebody just to be able to get things off your chest, is just as depressing!

Q

Persistant sadness and low mood for more than two weeks is the WHO definition, I believe.

And the NHS provides us with lovely psychiatric care people for free. Which is nice.

I didnt realise how depressed I was till I felt better.

Depression is a bit of a curious one. It can often be totally disabling for the sufferer but still isn't really taken seriously.

It's not unusual for a certain tone to creep into people's voices when they talk about people in work being off with depression.

I think you can know you are suffering from depression by a few simple ticks, are you suicidal? do you want to cut yourself? etc etc, its quite simple sometimes.

Not everyone who gets depressed wants to self-mutilate. The symptoms are aften much more suttle.
Unable to sleep, or waking several times during the night.
Loss of appetite or over eating.
Being lethargic.
Not wanting to go out of the house.
Having lots of colds and minor illnesses. (due to immune system being affected)
Are just a few of them.

Subtle symptoms?

You have just described me to a 'T' and I don't consider myself depressed!



turvy

I've found when I've been depressed in the past that I sleep more than usual - afternoon naps too.

Did anyone set up a councelling page/group..I have a friend in need of some threapy..'a visitor to planet earth'..@ U190761 He's got this obsession with buses..bras..underwear..vibrators..&..where ladies shave....I think a tour of a station..&..a cold shower would benefit him..anyone got any other suggestions?..



Emmily

I noticed that too!

Q

If the above therapy fails..he could get on a and come visit me for a weekend



Emmily