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Psychologists and their Assumptions

Posted: May 9th 2009

beck7422

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My insurance is forcing me to see a psychologist, because I got stuck with Conversion Disorder as a temporary diagnosis while they try to figure out what is wrong with me.  The one thing I don't understand is why Psychologists insist that you had to have had some kind of abuse in your past that you don't remember that is causing your physical problems.

I had no abuse in my life.  Absolutely none.  I don't know how rare that is.  I had a fantastic childhood (excluding 6th and 7th grades due to school kids being jerks).

All I know is my random bouts of weakness/paralysis have been happening for a very long time.  When they started it came out of the blue and for no obvious reason.  Now I have found all my triggers after over a decade of hard work.  This psychologist tells me that all that is meaningless and we have to dig to find the past abuse or traumatizing event that caused all this.

Argh...

Is it so hard for them to conceive that ONE person on this planet didn't get abused as a child?  My only traumas were from unexplained weakness and extreme slowness. 

Anyways, sometimes I just want to scream at them that Freud was a Fraud who took advantage of vulnerable people.  Probably give them all heart attacks.

I can hear your frustration.

Submitted by khawlah on Sun, 05/10/2009 - 10:52am.

I can hear your frustration. All you want to do is try to start feeling better and you are stuck down a useless path. I am not a psychologist but I would assume that 'IF' a person had aduse that they were repressing it would not be very sucessful to beat them over the head with it as well--perhaps this person is just not very good at her chosen profession. Can you find somebody else if you are stuck with this treatment for now? At least maybe you could find someone to blow off steam to and pass the time. I saw a psychologist for a while and she just let me talk about my day and vent. Not sure if it really helped but it certainly did not hurt. So sorry you have had this dumped on you on top of your actual physical problems. Take care.

Hi Beck, perhaps they are

Submitted by janice on Sun, 05/10/2009 - 1:49pm.

Hi Beck, perhaps they are just trying to rule it out. For 30 years, they told me my symptoms were all in my head, that these things can't happen! So I asked to see a psychologist, and as I had thought, they said it was medical, and not psychological. But still took many more years to get a diagnosis. When they can't find an answer...this is the route they seem to take. It is frustrating, but follow your heart, keep believing in yourself, and remember, you know your body better than anyone else!.........and you are entitled to more than one opinion. All the best.
beck7422's picture

There really isn't a point

Submitted by beck7422 on Mon, 05/11/2009 - 2:22am.

There really isn't a point in seeing a Psychologist. I don't get any value from my time with them and they are very expensive. I only go because my disability insurance would drop me if I didn't go. I haven't met a Psychologist yet that wasn't impressed and thought the world of Freud. The creater of the term "Hysterical Paralysis". Grumble... I couldn't be less freaked out when I paralyze or fall down weak as a kitten. It really is my fault, I agreed to let them label me with Conversion Disorder (although bullying was mildly involved) in order to start the Disability procedings. I hadn't been able to get out of bed in a year for more than a day or two a month, so I was kind of desparate financially. There really is no event in my past causing mental trauma. I just got weaker and weaker as I got older. I used to go to the gym for a three year period. After 3 years of going 3 times a week to the gym, I could lift 1/4 the amount of weights I could when I started, I was constantly falling off the equipment (especially the stationary bike), and I scared the gym so badly with my attacks that they told me never to come back. :( THAT was traumatizing. As far as talking off steam. The only thing I have to complain about in life is doctors and psychologists! So much easier to whine about that stuff with friends. The psychologist doesn't really want to give me suggestions on how to deal with day to day life difficulties like getting to and from the bathroom when full body paralyzed. So what use is she? Where do you get help for that kind of physical at home stuff anyways? For now my husband just comes home at lunch every day to make sure I have eaten and can make it to the bathroom.

In Canada (or at least B.C.)

Submitted by janice on Mon, 05/11/2009 - 10:25am.

In Canada (or at least B.C.) it is called home support. Ours is ran out of our hospital. I am sure your local hospital could put you in touch with the correct organization, for your area.