Psychiatrists for RA | Arthritis Information

I am due for my regular two-month check the end of the month (man, eight weeks is so long these days). I am going to be asking for a referral to a hand/wrist specialist for ulnar drift splints and being set up ahead of time with a surgeon as I know I will be needing finger surgeries as this takes over my hands further. Four years ago I was joking I was developing "mouse hand" from the computer as my right thumb and first and second fingers were changing into weird positions. It was RA.

So, I have it tucked away that at some point I might need a psychiatrist because of the mental problems attached to RA, and would use it when it got bad enough.

So yesterday at work, a customer I knew to be a doctor came in for some help, and I addressed him as Dr. ___________. He was flabbergasted and wanted to know how I knew this (it was in their application papers LOL). He wanted to just be called Jim, not Dr. _____________. I asked him what type of MD and he said he was a psychiatrist, specializing in memory disorders. I got all his information and am going to ask for this referral too. He said he lectures nationally and has developed some techniques to help with memory.

The end, it was just a great coincidence.

Sounds good. Should be helpful.

Jan

He walked in at that moment for more than one reason. I think it is worth a try at least.

My hubby has been bugging me a little to go talk with someone for sometime now. He said with all the crap I'm going through, he can't imagine how I am dealing with it all. What do you all think, how many see a therapist because of ra, etc.

I will admit that I started seeing my therapist long before fibro and RA. Ten years ago, I sought her out for relationship problems and chronic depression, continued seeing her all this time, and of course now I have my other chronic illnesses. I find therapy with the right therapist to be very useful and I don't plan on stopping. I saw a quote in an article where someone said therapy is like "going to the gym" for your mind (as well as heart and soul). Very true. Just keep in mind that therapists are like every other profession...there are good ones and bad ones and ones that click with you and ones that don't. So if the first one isn't right, don't be afraid to try again.

JSNM, it sounds like this gentleman has the right attitude and I hope it works out for you.

Serendipity~ owie - I am on my fourth, and hopefully last therapist. First one was not bad, second a disaster, third good, but it wasn't the right fit for me, then my current therapist. I found her about 90 days after my 2006 diagnosis.

I have always found therapy to work, and now I am glad I have had my past experiences because if you have RA and don't seek mental help, well, you are depriving yourself of a great, anonymous place to unload the stuff you can't tell anyone else.

If you cannot afford therapy, there are all kinds of Survivor of Fill in the disease here, which is useful and a buck a group meeting. Or nothing if you just cannot afford it. Even open 12-step meetings on any kind of disease or disorder can be translated into how we learn to cope. And learn to recognize your current denial and work through it.

Happy 4th of July and take care everybody ~~ Cathy

I went to a shrink some years ago. At the same time I saw a counselor. The latter was infinitely preferable and more productive--doctors are better at dispensing medicine than anything else.

I have been to a couple of psychiatrists over my lifetime and some are definitely med-oriented (some even to the point of doing no psychotherapy) while others are on the opposite end of the spectrum. My current therapist is a Licensed Professional Counselor (accepted licensing in my state) and obviously does not dispense meds, but works with a psychiatrist that she can refer people to if needed.

Also wanted to add that in many places there are government (state/county/city), religious, or charity-run organizations that provide counseling for a sliding-scale fee or even at no cost. Many family services organizations offer this, so no one should have to go without because they cannot afford it.