Deciding to See a Therapist/Psychologist

Recently there's been some threads about people having anxiety and them trying to cope with it. I'm sure the current climate definitely doesn't help. I also think that not having that many people to talk to on a consistent enough daily basis (in my case, have a shitty roommate that's thankfully moving out, the rent is so cheap that I won't need another one immediately) has made me have more existential thoughts and seriously affected my work performance. Here's some issues I've been thinking about lately:

  1. One of my parents was recently diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer and is projected to have a year to live, although their treatment has been a bit better recently. My other parent has been battling leukemia for about 10 years and it's been getting better, but could still become a problem at any time. This is the number 1 thing on my mind that's making me question life more existentially, but also whether I'm progressing as fast as I think I should be. I have a deep rooted fear that the parent is not proud of me, although I think that's more of my own perception than the actual case. There have been some other deaths in the family that I'm going to have to figure out what to do with the aftermath of (deciding how to help my parent with the family house not falling into disrepair, or into the hands of the self-serving other side of the family that I'm personally not familiar with). Both of my parents are immigrants and came to the US with no money and barely speaking English, and have done well for themselves. They're my heroes. I'd like to emulate them as best I can. Unfortunately, their marriage has had its problems, and I believe has only remained in tact for my sake, though it appears to have gotten better recently in light of recent events. Needless to say, this all has seriously affected my work output and I don't feel as engaged, making it hard to focus on tasks.

  2. I don't like my current job at all. My manager micromanages me excessively, and there's been a lot of turnover on my team before I joined from what I've heard. They're generally nice, but on a day to day basis it's getting to be too much. I've talked about this with them, and also disclosed my first point above (not sure whether I should have done that), and it seemed to be going well for a couple weeks but lately has picked up again. On top of that, they are incredibly condescending and belittle me constantly, so it is pretty demoralizing. I have not yet dealt with senior mgmt on a meaningful basis, but from what Glassdoor said and some other people whose opinion I respect have said they are very self-serving and generally not supportive. Beyond that, I do not care at all about my asset class and only took the current position about a potential opportunity the firm was considering but has since not closed a deal, and there's been recent talk of shutting down that strategy entirely. I'm afraid of getting pigeon-holed in my current asset class.

  3. I'm considering relocating to NYC, but I'm not sure about the current environment with the pandemic affecting logistics, the current job market's appetite, and the fact that I would be much further from my parents (currently only a ~3 hour drive). I have decided that I will ultimately move, but with everything up in the area, I have to get comfortable with the fact that it might not happen as fast as I'd like it to. I'm trying to exhaust all my opportunities for the industry I'd like to break into locally, and once that's done then I'll seriously consider how to make the move work.

  4. The general sense of anxiety caused by the above is bleeding into the rest of my life. My local gym has closed completely, and the one in the office remains closed, so I haven't had an opportunity to blow of steam. Like some recent posts, I've struggled with healthy eating recently, binge drinking, and intense mood swings. I'm not currently in a relationship, which is ok for my age, but a majority of everyone I know is in serious long term relationships, and I'd be lying if I said it wasn't something that I'd like to have. At the same time, I think it would be best to personally work on myself before throwing this all on someone else, that doesn't seem fair.

I've tried reading more recently and meditating as well, though I'm very inconsistent at both and actively working on both. I've also explored my religious heritage as well, something I never thought I would be doing. Not a Jesus freak or anything, but it's nice to have something to believe in and find some solace in every so often. There are no atheists in foxholes.

However, I've been lately feeling very disengaged and distant personally, though I think I do a very good job of masking it to my friends and acquaintances and thus bottle things up in an unhealthy manner. I'm scared of not being able to release it in a healthy way which could potentially lead to something bad happening (arguments, violence, depression, etc.). I understand that some of my issues are somewhat common and not the end of the world, that I should be happy that I still have a job (for the foreseeable future), and that I still have both of my parents alive, but at times it can feel like it's all too much.

I'm always amazed at the community on this site, it's been instrumental in helping me figure out what I want to do with my career and it's been equally inspiring to read the personal advice people give to others who have felt this way. I'm deciding whether seeing a professional is something I should look into, and what is the best way to find someone that would work best for who I am.

 

ZocDoc works wonders for me. You can filter out by insurance, and then you can pick the therapist with the best reviews.

It's very hard to find a therapist in NYC, so one hack that I discovered is when you find a therapist that has great reviews, I recommend calling their practice directly to make an appointment, as opposed to booking it with ZocDoc.

I should state that there's a difference between Therapist/Psychologist/Psychiatrist. A therapist can't prescribe you medication if deemed necessary, a psychologist can only prescribe you meds if they have a doctorate, a psychiatrist can prescribe you meds. Ideally, you want to find a practice that has a nurse/psychiatrist/person that can prescribe meds if necessary.

The best therapy practices will be those that try to help you with your problems, as opposed to just feeding you meds and calling it a day. A good therapist will help guide you through your issues, past and present ones, including issues that you've never thought about before, which should help your mental problems tremendously. Remember that your progression will be entirely on you. Thinking about what is talked about in your sessions, adapting a new mindset and working hard not to fall back on a way of thinking that you've trained yourself to do your whole life will be tough, but hopefully rewarding.

Good Luck

 

Well said. Just one thing to point out - Most states don't allow a psychologist to prescribe medications. In the few that do, they are limited to a small handful of medications. This is because Psychologists have a PhD and don't have the requisite medical training and Medical Degree that comes with being a Psychyatrist.

 

Go for a psychiatrist if you can — they are MDs with 8+ years of strong education and training whereas most therapists or psychologists will not be able to relate to your situation and are also just not very smart (2.5 minimum GPAs and no GRE required, even for some PsyD programs).

Psychiatrists can also prescribe meds if needed and there is no shame in taking them if they could help. You wouldn’t ignore medical treatment or a broken leg or an immune disorder, so you shouldn’t ignore if there is physiological issue with your brain that could benefit from meds

 

Can going to a therapist or psychologist end up hurting you some day? For example in some legal case or political situation, cant someone find out and be like, this dude got depression or is mentally unstable

This is why Im scared to visit one of these people and have it on my record

 
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Incoming Analyst in IB - Gen:
Can going to a therapist or psychologist end up hurting you some day? For example in some legal case or political situation, cant someone find out and be like, this dude got depression or is mentally unstable

This is why Im scared to visit one of these people and have it on my record

This is a stigma of seeking help. Always remember that you will be judged by your actions or inactions in life.

So, seeing a psychiatrist could help you get on the right track to have proper actions. If you need help and don’t receive help to make yourself better, your actions in life could suffer. Some people only need behavioral treatment; others need chemical and behavioral treatment.

High performing individuals actively seek out help to be finely tuned instruments. Everyone doesn’t need a psychiatrist, but everyone needs a support system of some sort and a way to cope with stress in a healthy manner. A psychiatrist is trained to analyze all of these factors to help you be the best ‘you’ as possible (the best version of yourself).

The only way to get dinged technically is if seeking psychiatric help and going on meds and then trying to go into the military - this is at times a DQ (for some diagnosed disorders).

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

This is something I’ve worried about a lot as well and was part of the reason why I haven’t sought professional help yet. I have a couple friends that see people and they’ve all said it’s helped them a lot. I’ve also had some friends look into the military and some of them were not able to get through because of the reason you’ve said.

 

I cannot upvote this enough. I thought exactly the same as OP re the stigma of seeking help for my mental health. I have always been an anxious person but working in IB/PE it just got worse and worse over time. I was still performing very well at my job, but the mental strain of keeping my anxiety in-check at work meant I was too emotionally exhausted to invest myself in anything else outside work (relationships, friends etc).

When I finally sought medical help, I told the doctor how I nearly didn't come because of the embarrassment/social stigma. Dr said something like "well you wouldn't believe how many high-powered bankers and lawyers I get in here seeking treatment for their mental health" and that mental health accounted for maybe half of his appointments. Also he said that if you have a physical ailment you would naturally seek help for it immediately, so why should a mental health issue be any different? Sounds simple but hearing that from a medical professional was pretty eye-opening for me.

Anyway I got prescribed Zoloft - can't tell you how much it helped me, at a low dosage the side-effects are minimal and it practically eliminates my anxiety. Of course I still worry about stuff, but like any person would naturally - the overwhelming anxiety is gone now though.

He also recommended I get therapy - that was something I wish I'd done at the time, but kept putting it off until Covid made things much more difficult. But the Zoloft still works wonders - so the only regret I have is that I didn't seek help sooner.

Also I think I read somewhere that 10% of the US population are either on anti-depressants/anti-anxiety medication and/or getting therapy. I'm sure in Finance the proportion must be materially higher. So you can rest assured that whilst it is still something no-one talks about (sadly the stigma remains) - I seriously doubt you will be alone in your office if you work in finance in NYC.

 

I'm pretty sure it can't especially because the medical provider-patient confidentiality that limits them from releasing any information about what you are seeing them for unless you like murdered someone. Look up HIPAA. My dad deals with this stuff everyday in his job and it's pretty involved. If he was caught releasing client health info to even like me, he will be strictly disciplined. The worst that could happen is your employer might find out through the sponsored health insurance but I think you can limit that.

Array
 

Some misinformation here. You generally see a PhD psychologist as your therapist and a psychiatrist for prescribing/managing medication you're taking. They are supposed to coordinate with each other. Some psychiatrists do both but most mainly do medication management and will have you go to a PhD psychologist for therapy sessions.

Array
 

There are psychiatrists in NYC that offer therapy also. No difference when it comes to insurance copay so why wouldn’t you take advantage of that?

My psychiatrist was a straight up Ivy League gunner (my friend’s psych even went to Stern lol) and is MANY fold more effective than the multiple illogical loser therapists I saw who just didn’t get it and would tell me to just quit and travel the world. I swear that a lot of therapists have mental disorders of their own and a lot of research led me to the fact that there are very few barriers to entry for becoming a therapist, which is pretty fucking crazy, so tread carefully my man

 
Associate 3 in IB - Ind:
There are psychiatrists in NYC that offer therapy also. No difference when it comes to insurance copay so why wouldn’t you take advantage of that?

Yeah agreed. I’d recommend just having a psychiatrist. I think it’s better for 1 smart doctor to know you very well versus being split up. I think psychiatrists are better at behavioral therapy anyway. They see all the pieces involved.

Finding a really good psychiatrist is highly beneficial.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

Some therapists are helpful! Agree that some just don't get it though and that you have to be really careful finding one. You can find reviews online (Yelp is surprisingly helpful) or get recommendations from your doctor/insurance. Definitely look into degrees and what their specialty is. Problem is that a lot of good therapists may be at full capacity which really sucks when you're looking for help. I ended up finding a really good one at an anxiety center who really helped me though. Good luck OP! Also, recommend reading Feeling Good by David Burns!

 

Sorry to read of your troubles OP and regardless of the route to recovery you decide to take I hope you can see that you are dealing with exceptionally difficult and trying circumstances. Anyone would struggle with what you have been dealing with. Everyone would need support, even if that comes in the form of formal help, and there is no shame in it. In the meantime do whatever you can to uplift your spirits and keep you from ruminating. Watch loads of light hearted comedies / movies, go for walks and photograph landmarks nature etc , learn how to cook gourmet grade food via YouTube etc, upload some tiktok challenges .... have some fun. All the best.

 

Go for it man I hope you become tiktok famous!All the best to you and your parents. you guys deserve a lucky break and happiness. Keep us posted with how things progress.

 
Works at <span class=keyword_link><a href=/company/citigroup>Citigroup</a></span>:
yeah, I don't exactly see the point of living either. It's just a miserable shitshow

Even if we don't feel like living, we are here to serve others. Nearly all major religions teach love and service to others. Overall, it matters less how we feel about life and more about what we do in life. Even people like Mother Teresa felt a large empty void in her life, but she chose to serve others.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

I decided to see one too but I cant find any that work after 5 and I don't get out before 5... How do you all deal with this? I can't ask to eave early to see a therapist...

 

How do you see therapist when they only work until 5 and you don't get out until 5? Am i SOL?

 

I know you are in the States but I used to volunteer for a listening service/ emotional support line here in the UK , the Samaritans,  & I wonder if you have something similar in the States? People often think these support lines are just there for those who are suicidal but that is incorrect. It is in fact  for anyone going through difficult times and needs to talk about anything. They are open 24/7, non-judgemental and do not give advice, will only listen and support you. You can phone whenever you want, as many times as you need. The number will not show up on your phone bill. Genuinely, best of luck with everything. 

 

As an addition to the above comments, I can highly recommend the book "The Happiness Trap" by Russ Harris. Some practitioners apply Acceptance and Commitment Theory (ACT) which is discussed in this book, and the concepts can be very helpful in dealing with tough situations. Above all, try to find a method of dealing with these issues that works for you - everyone is different and there are no quick fixes! Best of luck

 

my wife talked me into talking to a guy for the first time the other week. he spent half the time talking about his classic car collection and the rest reading some generic powerpoint type shit about anxiety. lol what a joke.

my main issue though is that if your job is to talk about feelings, i can't take you seriously as a human. and you're supposed to have the answers. what do you even squat to be talking all this shit?

heister: Look at all these wannabe richies hating on an expensive salad. https://arthuxtable.com/
 

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