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Originally Posted by gmku

I would suggest seeing a medical doctor first, who then can determine if you should see a "shrink." Often the problem is rooted in something physical--hormone imbalance, etc.--as well as having mental or environmental causes. Or sometimes it is just physical.

well ive never met anyone who has a hormone imbalance but i know plenty of people who judge themselves according to impossible standards, and hate & hurt themselves.

i've spent plenty of time reading synth's posts and i know there are things from his past etc. so i'm pretty sure he could use some therapy. plus the coming out issue which is not easy...

HOWEVER: a medical checkup is a GREAT idea. my original post here dealt mostly with health issues and maybe a physician can help identify problems. on the other hand, many american doctors are trained to be insensitive jackasses... the order a battery of tests and talk to you through nurses and put you on a pill-popping schedule.

psychiatrists are a little better at prescribing-- i used to have a very funny one, he got me samples cos he knew i was broke. great guy. but for them too it's a trial an error process.

the first time he got me on lithium i sat on my bed all day listening to some fucking radio station doing nothing. i picked up the phone & said "hey dude im quitting these pills, im sitting here doing nothing, i have to go to work, and i have classes to attend, and i can't be sitting here all day contemplating my navel". he said "oh, stop taking them now". & that was that for the lithium.

my point? learn to be an educated consumer & shop around &listen to your body & if you know something is wrong with you dont take one person's opinion as gospel, even if they have a degree.