Humor will not be tolerated!! -Portia

Giovanni Schwartz wrote:

Whistler wrote:confession: I once went to a therapist at BYU's medical center in hopes of helping to treat my IBS.

I hope beyond hope that there is something else that IBS stands for besides Irritable Bowel Syndrome, because 1) that would mean I know way more about Whistler than I ever wanted to, and 2) I would wonder what kind of counselors they have up at BYU.

Whistler wrote:

Giovanni Schwartz wrote:

Whistler wrote:confession: I once went to a therapist at BYU's medical center in hopes of helping to treat my IBS.

I hope beyond hope that there is something else that IBS stands for besides Irritable Bowel Syndrome, because 1) that would mean I know way more about Whistler than I ever wanted to, and 2) I would wonder what kind of counselors they have up at BYU.

nope, it stands for irritable bowl syndrome! Some studies have shown therapy to somewhat alleviate IBS symptoms. For some people anxiety comes out in the way they digest things, is that so hard to believe?

Giovanni Schwartz wrote:Aaaaaand now therapy discussion has turned into discussion of bowel movements...

Portia wrote:

Whistler wrote:confession: I once went to a therapist at BYU's medical center in hopes of helping to treat my IBS. The therapist asked me some questions and diagnosed me with generalized anxiety disorder. I cried and never went back. I was a psychology major who worked in BYU's counseling center and I didn't want to be one of "them." As much as I gave lip service to "oh yeah we shouldn't stigmatize mental health," that doesn't mean I actually believed it about myself. Looking back, I wish that therapist hadn't been so eager to give me a diagnosis (although I understand that it was probably necessary for insurance purposes). I know that I internalize most of my anxiety and it gives me health problems, but it has taken a lot of medical tests for me to accept that (and sometimes my medical problems aren't anxiety-caused, which just makes it more complicated).

I feel like I can manage my anxiety pretty well, but these are skills I've learned, many of them through my psychologist mentor of my undergraduate years. I can understand your reluctance about therapy. I think it would do you good, but research shows that bibliotherapy can also be helpful. Rather than becoming overwhelmed with self-help books, it works best if you choose one and go gung-ho on it. I'm a fan of Albert Ellis's work, so I'd recommend A Guide to Rational Living, but the research shows that the particular book doesn't matter as much as you putting some trust in its advice. One of my favorite parts of Ellis's philosophy is that he believes that everyone is a little neurotic, which I find helps relieve me of some of the stigma I have against seeing myself as having a mental illness.

Well, considering my personality and symptoms, many of the great women in literature displayed a lot of the same symptoms and either (A) committed suicide or (B) drove their partners to suicide. WOOO.

TheBlackSheep wrote:Why is he still on his mission?

Portia wrote:

TheBlackSheep wrote:Why is he still on his mission?

Without going into too great of detail, he can't deal with our home life. He believes that staying will keep him from descending into a life of dissipation.

Katya wrote:

Portia wrote:

TheBlackSheep wrote:Why is he still on his mission?

Without going into too great of detail, he can't deal with our home life. He believes that staying will keep him from descending into a life of dissipation.

:( Poor guy.

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