/autg/ - Neurodiversity General

[Thricegreat]

Discuss about Autism, ADHD, Schizophrenia, &c.

[Deoster]

This is perhaps slightly tangential to the topic, but what do you all think about psychologists and psychology? I'd be curious to hear about any experiences and whether they've helped with things like depression, or whether it's been any help in living with things like autism or ADHD. Has anybody here had experiences with medication (positive or negative)? Any thoughts on theories of psychology (CBT, DBT, psychoanalysis, etc)?

I mostly ask because I don't have really any experience with psychologists, but I find the theory and idea of the profession pretty fascinating. I've been able to keep most of my mental stuff pretty manageable for most of my life, but I have to admit there's a part of me that's really drawn to the idea of seeing an old-timey psychoanalyst, and also I suppose a part of me that wants to try something like psychology as depressive episodes have been getting harder to manage with time, but a part of me is very afraid that it either won't do anything or will be like a bandaid that just makes me stupidly happy by habit in a way I didn't really earn, and I won't end up solving any problems I have. I'm very curious about other's experiences.

[Amlux]

I mostly ask because I don't have really any experience with psychologists, but I find the theory and idea of the profession pretty fascinating. I've been able to keep most of my mental stuff pretty manageable for most of my life, but I have to admit there's a part of me that's really drawn to the idea of seeing an old-timey psychoanalyst, and also I suppose a part of me that wants to try something like psychology as depressive episodes have been getting harder to manage with time, but a part of me is very afraid that it either won't do anything or will be like a bandaid that just makes me stupidly happy by habit in a way I didn't really earn, and I won't end up solving any problems I have. I'm very curious about other's experiences.

I've been to therapy and it is helpful for me at least. One thing about psychoanalysis which I think gets unfairly shafted is the importance of formative childhood experiences. There's a tendency in modern therapy to not care about childhood experiences as much because you can't change the past and it's not pragmatic to keep dwelling on them. Which is fair. But a lot of us have stories from our childhood bound up with what we keep telling ourselves, so for me at least I've always felt it most therapeutic to revisit it and do some "inner child" work.

[drummyfish]

This is perhaps slightly tangential to the topic, but what do you all think about psychologists and psychology? I'd be curious to hear about any experiences and whether they've helped with things like depression, or whether it's been any help in living with things like autism or ADHD. Has anybody here had experiences with medication (positive or negative)? Any thoughts on theories of psychology (CBT, DBT, psychoanalysis, etc)?

I mostly ask because I don't have really any experience with psychologists, but I find the theory and idea of the profession pretty fascinating. I've been able to keep most of my mental stuff pretty manageable for most of my life, but I have to admit there's a part of me that's really drawn to the idea of seeing an old-timey psychoanalyst, and also I suppose a part of me that wants to try something like psychology as depressive episodes have been getting harder to manage with time, but a part of me is very afraid that it either won't do anything or will be like a bandaid that just makes me stupidly happy by habit in a way I didn't really earn, and I won't end up solving any problems I have. I'm very curious about other's experiences.

I've met many psychologists and psychiatrists, I'm taking antidepressants, am visiting a psychiatrist regularly, have attended therapy for 7 years and was in a mental hospital. My main experience is this: it's pretty esoteric, kinda shamanism and depends a lot on what kind of people you meet. That is to say that it's worth giving it a shot and if you've had a bad experience, don't give up, not everyone is like that, you've got to find the right people. I understand it can be very discouraging to meet a bad psychologist/psychiatrist, but don't reject the entire field I guess. Some psychologists helped me very much. These "therapists" are ultimately nothing more than a modern replacement for priests or real life friends that we no longer have to provide some sympathy and another soul to talk to, and it's all simply about finding someone you trust and get along with well. There is some science revolving around psychology but the practice is entirely human.

[ccloverclub]

does anyone else struggle with maladaptive daydreaming? today i decided to block all of the instagram accounts that trigger my daydreams and i'm really proud of myself! it's easier to control myself when using instagram and youtube while on desktop because i use extensions (igplus and unhook respectively) but it's much harder when using my phone because i've grown so attached to it

i've gotten pretty tired of social media, even if it's long form content. i either use it as fuel for my daydreams or i immediately get bored of it, thinking "why don't i just do it myself instead of watching someone else do it?"

[Amlux]

does anyone else struggle with maladaptive daydreaming? today i decided to block all of the instagram accounts that trigger my daydreams and i'm really proud of myself! it's easier to control myself when using instagram and youtube while on desktop because i use extensions (igplus and unhook respectively) but it's much harder when using my phone because i've grown so attached to it

i've gotten pretty tired of social media, even if it's long form content. i either use it as fuel for my daydreams or i immediately get bored of it, thinking "why don't i just do it myself instead of watching someone else do it?"

I try to use YouTube via clients like FreeTube, which you can tune to have most of these advantages. I sometimes suffer from this daydreaming tendency too, but when it's induced by algorithmic platforms like this, I wonder how much you can really attribute it to an inherent neuodivergence versus the bad effects of technology.

[ccloverclub]

I try to use YouTube via clients like FreeTube, which you can tune to have most of these advantages. I sometimes suffer from this daydreaming tendency too, but when it's induced by algorithmic platforms like this, I wonder how much you can really attribute it to an inherent neuodivergence versus the bad effects of technology.

social media isn't my only trigger, it's just the one that's bothering me the most and i wanted to complain about it. most of the time it's just an unconscious habit that i don't even realize i'm falling into. when i realize what i'm doing, and tell myself i should do something better with my time, i get so uncomfortable i try my best to remove those thoughts from my head and get back to daydreaming (it's hard to explain). it's hard for me to snap out of it and force myself to go from "bad thing" to "good thing"

(also, sorry for misinterpreting this thread! i thought this was more about general mental health problems rather than inherent neurodivergence, even though maladaptive daydreaming is common in ocd)

[drummyfish]

I didn't even know what daydreaming meant exactly, had to look it up, never had a slightest problem with this. I don't use social media and don't have a smartphone, I suspect Amlux may be getting at something with the effects of technology.

[Amlux]

(also, sorry for misinterpreting this thread! i thought this was more about general mental health problems rather than inherent neurodivergence, even though maladaptive daydreaming is common in ocd)

No, I don't think you misinterpreted it at all! I think it's a fine thing to post about. I just do wonder sometimes about how we over-diagnose when it might be the effects of technology (do kids really have ADHD more these days or is it just because of smartphones?).

I didn't even know what daydreaming meant exactly, had to look it up, never had a slightest problem with this. I don't use social media and don't have a smartphone, I suspect Amlux may be getting at something with the effects of technology.

I've always been a strong daydreamer. But I've never seen it as "maladaptive." Sometimes I get too caught up in thoughts and forget what I'm working on in front of me, but that's all. When I listen to music I always have crazy music video levels of imagery in my head.