Your stock psychiatric advice
As someone who frequently likes to give advice out to others, be it in real life or over the web, I find that there are some common themes amongst much of my advice. So here are a couple of pearls of advice I like to give out.

• Don't allow yourself to fall into a downward spiral of negativity. Your perception of the world is shaped by your thoughts. If you believe this, you will start thinking more positively and adopt a more positive attitude to life.
• Have faith in your personal goals.
• If you find you're too aggressive, take up a martial art to relieve the tension in a positive and controlled way.
• Be yourself.

So what's your stock psychiatric advice?

[EDIT: It seems I've confused psychiatrist with counsellor. I was just asking what pieces of advice you give to people in need - I wasn't trying to trivialise psychiatry. Apologies to anyone I may have offended]

[EDIT2: I've made yet another semantic blunder. Apologies if this came across as trivialising the work of mental or emotional healthcare professionals. All I wanted to do was ask other people for the advice that they often give out]
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Wed 29 Apr 2009, 9:23, 30 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

Man the fuck up!
1st
( girlinthehole, Wed 29 Apr 2009, 9:25, Reply)

I always find
"Drink yourself to an early grave" works well.
( Cawl, Wed 29 Apr 2009, 9:27, Reply)

I have no stock advice
as everyone is different.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Wed 29 Apr 2009, 9:30, Reply)

Usually...
Have a wank
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Wed 29 Apr 2009, 9:30, Reply)

hmmmm
- don't get angry over little things. If you're going to be annoyed about it in 5 years time, then sure, get angry. Get it out of yourself. Otherwise - don't sweat it.
- don't be deliberately self destructive. It doesn't help and it certainly doesn't make you feel better in the long run.
- try to look at things from every possible perspective.
- let people in. you won't feel any better holding everything inside and letting it fester.

I know it's a bit hypocritical of me - considering I have done the exact opposite of every one of those points. But I guess that's why I say it. I know how it's affected me. I don't want other people to get affected by it.
(Poppet some assembly required., Wed 29 Apr 2009, 9:30, Reply)

Getting enraged at half-arsed psychiatric advice usually does it for me

(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Wed 29 Apr 2009, 9:30, Reply)

Don't worry.
Since I became my laid-back self, I've not had an issue.
(Ethelred is watching cheese grow, Wed 29 Apr 2009, 9:34, Reply)

I hate to say it
but I'm with AA on this one. Cracking one off seems to make all of life's little problems disappear.
(Bert's other profile wants to wear your balls on a necklace, Wed 29 Apr 2009, 9:36, Reply)

I'm with No3l
Everybody is different, and every situation is different as well. There is no point in just giving stock advice, everything has to be specific for the situation.
(Herr Doktor Lemminge Is bored, so cheer me up!, Wed 29 Apr 2009, 9:42, Reply)

You can't keep blaming yourself
Blame yourself once and get over it.

EDIT: ok, that's borrowed from Homer Simspon

I suffer from the Dark Pits too... when I'm at the bottom nothing anybody says gets through, no matter how pithy. But the rest of the time... the best advice (for me) is to see the humour, lighten up... Which is why Homer was the first thing that came into my head - That wasn't advice, that was Homer berating Marge for beating herself up instead of going to bed to have sexytiem. It was funny. But what an excellent way to think...
( warmfuzzies Isn't here, Wed 29 Apr 2009, 9:55, Reply)

"Be yourself"...what a crock of shit
But in answer to your question, I often advise depressed friends to get some exercise and fresh air (cycling is great).

They never do, they just sit on thier fat arses moaning that life is shit and blame everyone but themselves.
( Colonel Dracula Two manky hookers and a racist dwarf, Wed 29 Apr 2009, 10:02, Reply)

This is bollocks. Sorry, but I find it a tad offensive.
Those of us who sometimes play grudging host to the Black Dog don't do so because it's a laugh. The thought of having to rely on meds with unfortunate side effects and deal with people's ignorance is rage inducing enough without the realisation that your own body is letting you down.

If you must know I find one thing helps a lot. Exercise. Lots of cardiovascular exercise. During particularly bad bouts, I've been known to run three miles in under nineteen minutes.
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Wed 29 Apr 2009, 10:18, Reply)

Exercise! As previous people have said, you really need to be doing something absolutely exhausting at some stage. (Even long walks)

Because by the time you get home, you feel knackered, refreshed, satisfied and after getting rehydrated you just want to sink into bed and enjoy feeling the pain seep from your body.

Not getting enough exercise myself though lately. Lazy cunt
( whenanimalsattackhumans clad in global hypercolour, Wed 29 Apr 2009, 10:32, Reply)

Don't sweat the petty things
But DO pet the sweaty things.
( The Light in Chains don't touch the Pope's boner, Wed 29 Apr 2009, 11:03, Reply)

Well, that's that all sorted then.
Off you go, Mr Paedophile. If all else fails, remember Number Four on Spak's list.
( thealternativefact, Wed 29 Apr 2009, 11:21, Reply)

Break the habit, yeah -
change - do something you like doing instead of torturing yourself.

Takes cojones though so some manning up may be required.
(bazmorningstar efil4nat3b, Wed 29 Apr 2009, 11:23, Reply)

My advice would be:
"go and see a medical professional who knows what they're talking about rather than listen to some dumb shit advice from someone on the fucking Interweb"
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Wed 29 Apr 2009, 11:24, Reply)

Drugs...
It's all about the shiny happy pills!!
(Psyche finishes work at the end of June! Yay!!!, Wed 29 Apr 2009, 11:40, Reply)

My two
Accept what you cannot change,

also,

One day it won't matter.
(b3tamax Mate, you're fat and I'll throw you in the river, Wed 29 Apr 2009, 11:46, Reply)

dumb shit advice on the interweb...
Yes, and NO.

Pees me off a bit when people trash things that - no matter what their intent, may be useful to some people.

Yesterday I had a SHITE day, today I fell much better, but the half-arsed pqchiatric advice I got on THIS VERY BOARD from these non-professionals, helped me more than I can thank you all for without sounding like a moron.


Don't underestimate the power of people listening to your problems and attempting to help you with them, whether their advice is shit or not, it's the fact that people are putting themselves out for you that matters.


*grumblegrumblegrumble*
(Psyche finishes work at the end of June! Yay!!!, Wed 29 Apr 2009, 11:47, Reply)

altho apparently I've lost the ability
to spekl
(Psyche finishes work at the end of June! Yay!!!, Wed 29 Apr 2009, 11:48, Reply)

@Psyche
There's feeling shite and there's needing psychiatric advice. They differ somewhat.
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Wed 29 Apr 2009, 11:49, Reply)

yep...
But often people don't recognise the need to see a psychiatrist, and (speaking from my own experience) often psychiatrists cannot be there in the instant that you could do with a shoulder to cry on, or just an ear to listen.

And by the time you see them, those raw, dreadful feelings have been hazed over by your body's own self-defence mechanisms.

Not that psychiatric help is not useful, but sometimes, this sort of help and advice can do just as well.

And different people find different things helpful to different extents. For some, the idea of seeing a psychiatrist is just not an option. But a rant on a forum, where your identity is only revealed to the extent you wish it to be, can be amazingly cathartic.
(Psyche finishes work at the end of June! Yay!!!, Wed 29 Apr 2009, 12:04, Reply)

This ^
Well put CHCB.
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Wed 29 Apr 2009, 12:08, Reply)

stock advice
and also mottoes of mine.

Don't be a pussy - if something needs doing then do it

similarly:

There's no point fucking about - do something, even if it's the wrong thing, at least it is something.

Don't take yourself or life too seriously - I don't, and I am a shining beacon of good mental health, happiness and well-being.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 29 Apr 2009, 17:02, Reply)

There is a difference
between emotional health and mental health. Obviously they are closely linked, but they are totally different.

A psychiatrist is for mental health. Conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, etc. Advice - no matter how good - won't make a jot of difference to you if you suffer from mental health problems. Getting the balance of chemicals right, however, will.

If it's emotional problems you've got, then you need a counsellor. Someone who is paid to listen to you talking about your feelings and how life is affecting you, and who can empathise, validate your feelings, and make suggestions which you can take on board, and ultimately help you take responsibility for your emotions. This is "advice".

It seems to me that the spikiness in this topic has appeared in response to the misuse of the word "psychiatric".

(And yes, I have generalised a bit too broadly perhaps... but I've seen both so I do know a little of which I speak)...
( warmfuzzies Isn't here, Wed 29 Apr 2009, 18:39, Reply)

Oh dear
It seems I've confused psychiatry with counselling. Fuzzy's post above does a pretty good job of explaining the difference. Apologies to anyone I may have offended. But despite this, some people have replied with the sort of answers I had in mind. Some of these are really good advice! I like helping out others by sharing whatever pearls of wisdom I have that may help them out or just cheer them up.

I agree that every person and every situation is different, but I find in practice that some of the things I say get said in many different situations and contexts, and I was just collecting together the things that have become a theme in much of my advice - be it to strangers on the fucking Interweb or friends I've known more than 20 years.
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Wed 29 Apr 2009, 23:01, Reply)

Counsellors are not people who give advice.
That is not what a counsellor should do. You'll also find they are able to counsel people with more issues than someone who just needs a cup of fucking tea.
( thealternativefact, Thu 30 Apr 2009, 10:46, Reply)

Er...
... did I accidentally step into a "Whose got the worst problems?" competition?

Fair enough. Everyone feels that their problems should be recognised. And they should - we all need our feelings validated. We all feel that we deserve a medal for going through what we go through, and that everyone else just needs to man the fuck up.

But actually, my problems ARE worse than anyone else's. AND I need a cup of fucking tea. Which makes them even worse still, so there :)

Mista - sorry if that post sounded patronising, I just read it back and wasn't sure how it came over to others... I read the topic in one go quite quickly and answered fairly quickly and tried to keep it concise, but I realise I sounded like I was lecturing.

Clendrix - I know professional counsellors shouldn't give advice. Obviously I shouldn't have used the word in that context... It's kinda beside the point I was making anyway, which was just that mental and emotional health are different things. Not more or less important either, just different things with different needs.

One final bit of advice (for you, Mista, if no-one else)... the world's a mirror, people are mirrors. If you get annoyed by something or someone, it should tell you something about you, not about them. People might press your buttons, but they're YOUR buttons... But I think you already know that since you're one of the most chilled out people I've ever met :)
( warmfuzzies Isn't here, Thu 30 Apr 2009, 22:45, Reply)

Well said Fuzzy
@clendrix:
I've made yet another semantic blunder. Apologies if this came across as trivialising the work of mental or emotional healthcare professionals. All I wanted to do was ask other people for the advice that they often give out.

@Fuzzy:
That's a pretty insightful piece of advice you've given. I've not thought of things this way before (although I may have thought of them like that subconsciously). You win the thread!
BTW: You do deserve a medal for what you've been through.
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Thu 7 May 2009, 1:27, Reply)