A person’s state of mind directly affects the quality of his life. The human psyche, just like the physical body, is susceptible to various diseases. If any organ of the body becomes ill, a person knows which doctor to contact in order to receive qualified treatment.
And when psychological problems arise, many people are lost, not knowing who to turn to for help. Psychologist, psychiatrist, psychotherapist, psychoanalyst... The variety of specialties confuses many. Let's figure out what each of the listed specialists is and what type of activity they do.
Who is a psychologist?
A psychologist is a specialist who studies the characteristics of the human psyche. He does not have a medical education, but only a humanitarian one. A psychologist differs from a psychotherapist in that he does not diagnose and treat mental disorders, but works only with healthy people who find themselves in a difficult life situation and do not know how to get out of it.
A psychologist cannot make diagnoses or prescribe medications. In his work, he uses verbal methods of influence, conducts testing, helps a person understand his problems, establish the cause of their occurrence and find a way out.
The profession of a psychologist brings great benefits to society. A specialist of this kind provides assistance in resolving personal and social conflicts, overcoming age-related, marital, and family crises, raising and educating children, finding one’s place in life, etc. Any person who finds himself in a difficult situation or is confused in his life can turn to a psychologist. problems.
Features of the work of a psychologist
There are a large number of areas in psychology, and each specialist chooses a specific area. There are general, family, children's, medical, sports, criminal, social psychologists, psychologists working with the elderly or disabled, psychologists specializing in the field of management and industrial relations and other specialists. Such a variety of activities makes it possible to provide psychological assistance to people of different ages and professions.
The work of a psychologist in children's educational and educational institutions is especially important. Specialists working with children assess their development, level of intelligence, identify abilities, help adapt to new living conditions, overcome childhood and adolescent crises, and also assist parents in raising children.
In her work, the psychologist uses various psychological methods and techniques to help identify the root of the client’s problem and find the optimal solution. He uses special tests, questionnaires, methods for diagnosing character and personality traits, psychological characteristics of a person, as well as elements of psychotherapy.
One of the areas of psychology is medical psychology. A specialist practicing in this field has a medical education and works in a hospital or specialized clinic. General psychologists are often engaged in scientific or research activities or teach psychology in educational institutions. A practical psychologist can work not only in an enterprise, but also in private practice.
"The Anxiety Gene"
Another existing reason is the so-called “anxiety gene.” Psychogenetics claims that if your mother is an anxious person, she will definitely unconsciously transmit this to you.
If a mother is afraid of going crazy, then she will convey her feelings to her daughter. Like radio waves. And the daughter will worry about what she doesn’t know. And this is even worse than having a certain fear. Or if the mother was an alcoholic, then the daughter will always worry about this, afraid to follow in her footsteps.
Here, in order to overcome your family scenario, you need to expand your consciousness so much in order to see parental patterns of behavior and become aware of them. Then you will have a choice, do as your ancestors did or live your own life.
Who is a psychiatrist?
A psychiatrist is a doctor who has received a diploma of higher medical education in the specialty of psychiatry. A specialist of this kind understands the organic and biochemical structure of the human psyche, knows the causes and mechanisms of development of certain mental illnesses, and can distinguish normality from pathology.
A psychiatrist can consult both healthy people and patients suffering from mental disorders of varying severity, ranging from mild depression, neuroses to serious diseases such as schizophrenia, psychosis, dementia, etc.
A psychiatrist is qualified to make diagnoses and prescribe medication. He can also conduct a medical examination and give an appropriate opinion.
Features of the work of a psychiatrist
The main treatment method used by a psychiatrist is medication. In order to successfully treat patients, he must have a good understanding not only of the structure of the human psyche and the causes of mental disorders, but also of the properties of various medications that are used in psychiatry.
Since psychiatrists prescribe potent antidepressants, tranquilizers, antipsychotics and other psychotropic drugs to their patients, the doctor’s qualifications are of great importance. Only a specialist with deep knowledge in the field of psychiatry can help the patient and not harm him. Also in his work, a psychiatrist uses such treatment methods as psychotherapy and various physical procedures.
A specialist such as a psychiatrist-narcologist treats alcoholics and drug addicts. If a patient suffering from mental disorders is socially dangerous, a psychiatrist has the right to send him for compulsory treatment. Representatives of some professions are required to undergo regular medical examinations by a psychiatrist.
When anxiety becomes a habit...
You yourself no longer notice how the attitude: “something bad is bound to happen” sounds in the constant background in your head. You replay the worst-case scenario in your head. You continuously explore social networks, check your phone, email, watch news programs: “What if there was a fire, and we didn’t know.” You should be aware of all the behind-the-scenes games in your office, daycare or school your children attend.
When talking with your boss, you habitually press your head into your shoulders. This happens when meeting a new customer, friends or parents who ask awkward questions. Therefore, your shoulder muscles and trapezius muscles are often tight, leading to headaches. The corners of the lips are lowered, and fear is reflected in the eyes.
You don’t notice how you yourself are already shaping events where anxiety is a common emotion. You accidentally forget about an important meeting, get stuck in traffic at the most inconvenient moment, lose documents, miss loan repayment deadlines, and don’t have your wallet with you at the right time. One woman said about herself: “I cannot be trusted with keys, money and documents.”
You imperceptibly say to yourself: “This is grief... Trouble... Complete problems... Wherever you go, there are problems everywhere... Chagrin... Horror...”, which is often completely out of place. As you talk about your events, keep the listener in suspense. The words: “Suddenly... unexpectedly... as if from underground... out of nowhere...” just pour out of my mouth, although we are talking about the most ordinary episodes. This happens not because you need a lot of attention, but because your life itself passes in constant anticipation.
Who is a psychotherapist?
A psychotherapist is a specialist who has a medical education and has undergone appropriate training in the field of psychotherapy. He can be called a kind of middle link between a psychologist and a psychiatrist. A psychotherapist and psychiatrist, unlike a psychologist, have a medical education.
A psychotherapist, like a psychologist, helps people find causes and solutions to problems, but his scope of activity is broader. He can diagnose and treat mild to moderate emotional and personality disorders, depressive and neurotic diseases, and phobias. The psychotherapist also works with patients with borderline mental states. Treatment of patients with severe mental disorders is not within the scope of activity of a psychotherapist (this is the responsibility of a psychiatrist).
Often, psychotherapists become psychiatrists who have gained practical experience in the field of psychiatry and then undergone special training and retraining.
Features of the work of a psychotherapist
Thanks to his knowledge of both medicine and psychology, a psychotherapist has ample opportunities for work. The difference between a psychologist and a psychotherapist is that the latter can provide more serious help to the patient.
The main method that a specialist of this kind uses in his work is verbal therapy and various psychotherapeutic techniques, which often give very good results. In addition, a psychotherapist can prescribe medications (antidepressants, tranquilizers) to his patients to relieve anxiety, remove fears, and stabilize mood.
Psychotherapy in combination with well-chosen medications gives the best results. Some psychotherapists are proficient in hypnosis and use it to help patients. To treat psychological problems, a specialist can use techniques from one or more types of psychotherapy: Gestalt therapy, art therapy, behavioral therapy, psychodrama, psychoanalysis and much more.
A psychotherapist, like a psychologist, can conduct individual consultations or group therapy sessions. The specialist’s place of work is hospitals, clinics, dispensaries, psychological assistance centers.
The usual is bad
Or in your childhood memories everything was bad - you lived poorly, your father and mother fought, you were humiliated - different options are bad, you understand what I mean now. You made a promise to yourself that you would never repeat the mistakes of your parents in your life. And everything seems to be fine, but anxiety does not allow you to experience the thrill of what you have achieved. After all, you remember how it was, and this state is more familiar to you.
You have the feeling that you are living someone else’s life, taking someone else’s place. You are like an impostor who is waiting to be overthrown, and this anxiety does not leave you day or night.
Who is a psychoanalyst?
Another specialist who may be mentioned is a psychoanalyst. What does a representative of this profession do? A psychoanalyst is the same psychotherapist, only specializing in such an area as psychoanalysis. Sigmund Freud is considered the founder of psychoanalysis, and all specialists trained to work according to the method of Freud and his followers are called psychoanalysts.
The profession of psychoanalyst is widespread in the West, but in our country such a specialty does not officially exist. However, many psychologists and psychotherapists use elements of psychoanalysis in their practice (analysis of problems, interpretation of dreams, drawings, method of associations, etc.).
In order to become a real psychoanalyst, a psychotherapist must undergo theoretical training and practice under the guidance of an experienced mentor, as well as special psychoanalytic training with personal participation as a patient. Training is lengthy, complex and expensive. But only after passing it can you gain the right to be called a psychoanalyst.
Features of the work of a psychoanalyst
Psychoanalysis is one of the longest-lasting therapeutic methods. For effective treatment, the patient must attend psychotherapy sessions several times a week for several years. The duration of treatment is due to the fact that psychoanalysis involves working with a person’s subconscious, his hidden motives, feelings and emotions that cannot be identified in a short time.
Another form of constant anxiety is control.
Or you don’t have any of the above, but you always control everything: children, husband, colleagues, phone, things, an open door. You double-check yourself a hundred times to see if the iron or stove is turned off, if the door is locked, if your wallet is in place, if you bought a ticket for the right date.
At times you break down, and total control is replaced by lack of control. Either you save desperately, or you unexpectedly make purchases that you absolutely do not need. Either you don’t allow yourself a single cube of sugar, or you eat fast food for weeks. Either you strictly follow the rules, or you zealously deny them.
Your life credo: “everything must be kept under control.” And thoughts too! In your heart you think about breakfast, and while having breakfast you conduct an internal dialogue with your boss: “He’s for me, I’m for him.” Every minute is planned. You consider it the biggest failure if something didn’t go according to plan. And there is no freedom and spontaneity in your life, because they bring confusion into your life. And there is no life itself. This behavior is also about anxiety.
When is anxiety useful?
The child, in order not to lose his mother’s love, suppresses his feelings, pushing them to the margins of his soul. At this moment he denies an important part of himself. But this does not mean at all that the forgotten has died. It constantly makes itself felt. In a way that is already familiar to us - obsessive anxiety.
In adulthood, this type of anxiety indicates that a person experiences a strong fear of rejection. Again a corpse from the unconscious. Somewhere in the depths of his soul, such a person is sure that if they find out about him for what he really is, they will definitely turn away. This has already happened to him. And the scenario repeats itself. Therefore, he does a lot to please others, literally serving his family, pushing himself into the tenth plane. Where can there not be anxiety! And here anxiety, oddly enough, is constructive; it indicates that it is time to turn to oneself.
In this case, it is very appropriate to recall the statement of R. May, who states: “The ability to be yourself depends on the ability to face your anxiety and move forward despite the anxiety.”
If you have been experiencing severe anxiety lately, know that something is very persistently demanding your awareness. It’s as if someone invisible is pressing your doorbell button over and over again. You come up, look through the peephole, and there’s no one there. You open the door, it’s empty. “Strange...” you think. And you are left with a nagging feeling inside.
Let's imagine that this whirlwind continues for a whole day, a month, or even years: the bell rings - they look out - no one, the bell rings again... Undoubtedly, these mind games are destructive.
And, by the way, you know who this invisible person is (who else would know, if not you!), but you don’t want to see him. You brush off your anxiety with the help of Novopassit, wine, earplugs, or fall into the illusion that it seemed to you, but the call is becoming sharper and more persistent.
Sarah Diamond said very well about this condition: “It happens that anxiety prevents you from concentrating on business. But it also happens the other way around: you are ready to do anything to take your mind off this anxiety.” But what is the quality of the work done in this way?
Let me note that when there is wave after wave in the soul, there is no talk of any achievements. A person does not use even a third of his potential.
