Something I should do.../am doing

[thestarsfall]

I am working on writing up an email to send to my abnormal psych prof about the symptoms and stuff that I have been facing for a couple years now of severe mood swings and all around craziness and such (haha...) but I dont know where to begin...

Now I realize that I cannot tell her my entire life's story in an email, and that I should probably not load everything into it at once...but I dont know where to start...

If you have any experience with therapy or whatever what sort of things should I talk about and what sort of things should I limit my email too since I dont want it to be all over the place and difficult to read..

I have started going on about my anxiety and next I think I will talk about mood swings and then go on to how my headaches cause frustration and somewhat depression....

I dunno what I am asking really...just advice...

sorry if this is confusing haha

 

[Raerae]

Are you a student to this Prof?

Might not be the best idea to get involved spilling out all your emotional baggage on someone thats likeley to talk about it to people you'll bump into heh...

Most campus's typically have a therapist you can talk too.

 

[kaliraksha]

I had an awesome professor who was totally cool with students coming to her about their problems. She was a psych professor as well. I agree to use caution before emailing, if they seem like the type of person that is open to it or has explicitly talked about a time before... or if you two are close then I would do it. Realize a lot of people in the psychology field don't like performing their work for free and email is one of those cases...

It may be easier to go to psychologist from your school... or email her with your symptoms,feelings and see if he or she will suggest good therapist friends etc. Or at the very least, do it in person?

Honestly, the problem is psychologist ask probing questions... and it's hard to ask these questions and read a person in email... I wouldn't spill my guts to someone to not be able to get real usable advice...

 

[Beauty Mark]

I would first email your prof to see if she is receptive to students discussing their possible psych issues. If she is, schedule an appointment and just say whatever you think will help her understand. She'll ask questions.

If she isn't (some psych profs are not), I would schedule an appointment with a therapist in health services at your school.

 

[thestarsfall]

She is one of the therapists at the school as well, but to get to her if you are not in her classes (she said on the like 2nd day that everyone would feel a little bit of them in the symptoms but if its more than i little bit or whatever to please talk to her and then she gave her office hours and said to email her if needed) you would need to go through the other therapists and I was advised not to go to them because they talk to student life about whats going on and student life will then call parents or whatever (...or put messages in the student newspaper for prayers...it's happened before)...I was indirectly advised that my prof was the only one who keeps the confidentiality rule and she is really nice.

I am in her class, I don't speak up much but I think she knows that I am in the class....anyways...

That's whats hard about writing the email for me...is that I could pour my heart into it because I dont have to actually talk face to face yet...(My brain works faster than my mouth so I stumble and blank out a lot and forget what I was talking about when I am talking...but on email I can look what I wrote and see if it actually means what I want it to mean...)

Yeah...I dunno...

I dont think she would do full counselling for free but I think she might be able to help at least a bit...

It would be my first time telling anyone in a power position of my problems..

 

[Beauty Mark]

I would go to her office hours or schedule an appointment with her, letting her know in advance.

Is that legal what your school does? My college wouldn't allow a student's issues to be published, and it would only inform the necessary parties if you were a harm to yourself (like suicidal.) It's a violation of patient-doctor confidentiality, and I didn't think Canadian laws would be that different.

 

[thestarsfall]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beauty Mark I would go to her office hours or schedule an appointment with her, letting her know in advance. Is that legal what your school does? My college wouldn't allow a student's issues to be published, and it would only inform the necessary parties if you were a harm to yourself (like suicidal.) It's a violation of patient-doctor confidentiality, and I didn't think Canadian laws would be that different.

I dont know if they actually do but my school has some issues...and just generally they dont have good counselling cuz its a small school...

they have like a religious counsellor and then like general "oh i am so stressed blah blah blah" type counsellor....

I feel more comfortable making the first contact without actually having to face her....I am quite anxious over face to face interactions and I would probably not go at all if i made an appointment...but if I sent an email then I could at least know she has a bit of background so then she can ask questions if we do get together in an appointment setting...

 

[Beauty Mark]

If you think the email is best, I would say that the issues you're having you think are related to x (let's say family interference) or happen when y happens (like anxiety when you're in a huge group.)

Since this prof is a trained therapist, she's probably seen it all and heard it presented in a lot of ways. There's no right or wrong way to talk to a therapist, IMO

 

[thestarsfall]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beauty Mark If you think the email is best, I would say that the issues you're having you think are related to x (let's say family interference) or happen when y happens (like anxiety when you're in a huge group.) Since this prof is a trained therapist, she's probably seen it all and heard it presented in a lot of ways. There's no right or wrong way to talk to a therapist, IMO

Thank you....seriously...that, for some reason, has given me some comfort.

I dont know what I am doing really and I am still considering not even sending her an email.

 

[prinzessin784]

My fiancee did the same thing when he was going through a similar situation (turns out he has bi-polar disorder) and he talked to his professor and got a recommendation for a local doctor who has really helped him out. It's definitely worth a shot!

I would just quickly and not in too much detail describe the symptoms you're having, how long you've been experiencing them, and what usually triggers them. She's probably not going to want to know TOO much since she is a professor and would likely prefer to suggest someone good for you to talk to, which would be a great step!

Whatever happens good luck to you! I hope you feel better and get the attention you need!

 

[Beauty Mark]

Quote:

Originally Posted by thestarsfall Thank you....seriously...that, for some reason, has given me some comfort. I dont know what I am doing really and I am still considering not even sending her an email.

You're welcome. If you think you need help, GET IT. Don't delay talking to someone. Not knowing what your problem are, I think it's better to be safe than sorry about whatever they are. Being a student, if you don't take care of yourself, it can ruin your semester.