Bad experience with therapist
I've been having depressive/burnout symptoms for a very long time, but I have always told myself that I am exaggerating or imagining it and never actually went to look for help. A few months ago, I finally convinced myself that it is bad enough and that it is actually ok if I look for help, so I went to a psychologist. I had some bad experiences with psychologists before, when I was a teenager I was being diagnosed with autism and it's never been a pleasant experience, mostly because it was forced upon me though I guess, so I'm already a bit more sensitive when it comes to psychologists. Anyway, I addressed to my psychologist that I am always feeling exhausted, that everything is too much energy, I can't get myself to do even basic tasks like personal hygiene and keeping the house clean, eating healthy food, I just block. But the past year I've also been cutting out things that were previously fun to do, they just started draining my energy instead of giving more, and were no longer enjoyable. In the first session, I also mentioned that I was autistic, and I could feel she immediately dismissed it, asking me if I think that diagnose is correct, I told her it is, and in her way of asking and her tone I felt like she didn't believe I was autistic. I became very good at masking though, and especially when I see someone the first time, I could imagine she didn't "get the vibes from me" but I would imagine a therapist should know this is a thing? Anyway, it was not my main concern so I let it pass. I went to several sessions and as we progressed I could feel her not really understanding my issues but I tried to explain things as clear as possible. She somehow decided that my issue was "not daring to be who I am" and that I don't have enough interesting things in my life or something (I used to have so many interesting hobbies, I've always joined so many associations, but couldn't keep them because of energy levels?), not sure how, I tried to explain to her it is that I am just too drained. In the last session, I told her that some small things give me insane levels of stress, and she literally told me "but I don't understand what the problem is, everyone has stress"; and she also told me that it's weird that I feel so tired while I don't have kids to take care of, that so many people have so much more to do and worry about. So I finished the session and decided not to go back. But now I just feel very drained from it all because it is not easy for me to open up, I'm doubting myself again if I'm just making everything up, and I need help but am very discouraged to find another therapist.
Not sure what I want to get from this post. I guess I just needed to vent in the first place, and maybe some people have had similar experiences and found ways to deal with it? Or some sort of recognition that I can still feel exhausted even if I don't have kids, or that I don't need to doubt my symptoms... I don't know, I just feel very shaken by it all.
@Shinewellv
That's tough going through a phase like that. I can relate.
It's getting the ball rolling that is so hard when you have a mountain of things to do and you feel behind. And never, ever compare yourself to other people, the therepist was wrong, camparisons are what make people depressed to begin with, thinking that other people have a better life, which isn't true. You think about your life today!
My best breakout plan from phases like you're describing is #1 make sure I get 15 minutes of full sunlight as soon as I wake up. Get up, get outside, walk for 15 minutes if you can, or just sit outside and face the sun for 15 minutes if you can't walk.
Then, let your mind pick ONE goal for today, not a big list, ONE goal. Give me a list of 50 things and I will get done none of them. Give me one small, achievable goal, just for today, and I will finish it!! And I will build on my success and maybe my goal for tomorrow will be a little bigger, but ALWAYS ONE achievable goal every day, just showering day 1 maybe, write down your goal on a piece of paper!! No goals on your phone, or goals in your head, write it down, trust me, it's different!!
Amazingly you will be up to sunshine and 3 goals per day in a couple weeks. Don't forget the sunshine, first thing every morning. Don't let anything stop you from your 1 goal tomorrow!!!
I know you can do it......💪✌️💪