In need of therapy

LegacyUser

Dunno if this is the right section but wanted to post anonymously so
basically I’ve suffered from depression for most of my life and it’s
finally got to the point where I can’t fight it on my own anymore.

Rather than go into details, I would rather seek professional help in
the form of therapy but am unclear as to how the process works in
Ireland. So I’m looking for guidance from people on this forum (and
I’m sure there are a few) who have been through the system here.

In other countries (especially the US), you just find a shrink who’s
free, make an appointment and off you go.

However, while http://www.psychotherapy-ireland.com/find/ helps you
find a therapist easily enough, I have heard from a GP relation that
you can’t go to a therapist directly, you have to be referred to one
(by your GP, hospital, sometimes the courts)

If this is the case I can see why people are reluctant to seek help.
I mean, who wants to go to their family GP and tell them they’re
severely depressed. And if most GP’s are anything like my relation
(who says depressed people are his worst patients because they take
too much of his time talking), that is also really offputting.

Can anyone confirm for me how the process works? Did you find it helpful/ was it expensive?

Apologies for the length of this post but I could really do with some
help here and I’m sure others would benefit too. If this has been
done already, please provide the link to the thread below.

Thanks.

RossFixxxed

It's your health and life man, go to the GP it's their JOB! Everyone has bits of their job they don't like and grumble about but that's just one person. You are more important than that worry and you WILL feel better for going to the GP and talking about it.

There are some great doctors out there too, go to it and get the help, don't let the little niggles get in the way of the bigger picture here!

LegacyUser

Hi Anon, there is no requirement for you to get a referral from your GP, you can go straight to a therapist. I just took out the golden pages and had a look for places nearby to me. First guy I went to it didn't feel quite right, so I took few weeks out and went to someone else. The difference I feel is incredible, I could kick myself for not doin it sooner!

Please don't be put off by your doctor, as with any profeesion, there'll always be some who are useless and don't be put off if you don't feel comfortable with a therapist, try someone else til you find someone you're completely comfortable with.

Prices vary quite considerably, and there are free options available tho there is usually a waiting list, but whomever you decide to go with, don't waste any more time, once you get started you'll wonder why you waited so long!

Best of luck

LegacyUser

Thanks for the reply lads! Reading them I already feel much better and more confident about what I'm doing. I've gotten a list of therapists close to where I work and will go to one of them though I'd have to check what the hours are like in them. Do most operate normal working hours?

I'd rather go to a therapist who is specialising in depression rather than going to a GP who is basically a jack of all trades and having to deal with a whole lot of problems both physical and mental.

To anyone else thinking of going to a therapist, that web link I gave seems to be very good, at least in locating one near you.

Thanks again!