How do I get my daughter to see a psychiatrist?

I'm convinced emotional stress is a key factor in my daughter's lyme flare ups. I also believe it is impacting her ability to get better.

She believes the best way to deal with the emotional stress is to be positive about everything. I can't even discuss the pros/cons of treatment options.

I want her to talk with a psychiatrist as she has deep seated anger and needs help with stress management, but she refuses.

She felt it was a waste of time a few years ago, doesn't agree with my assessment, and doesn't want to confront past pains.

I'd appreciate suggestions on getting her to go or maybe alternatives? Do you think this is important or should I just be a cheerleader for her?

Hi ArtAngel - welcome to our community.

Does your son have Lyme disease?

I would be very careful-just my experience most shinks just try to drug you up till
you stop am complaining. Once this happens finding your physical cure becomes an even bigger challenge. My take is that they treat physical issues with phych meds.
Just my take put curing the physical usually help the emotional.

I would have to agree with Magoo2. Addressing your daughter's infections will go a long way to alleviating the psychiatric symptoms you are seeing.

Bartonella is notorious for causing anger/rage and low tolerance for frustration. I know - I dealt with this for years with my own daughter, and in myself as well. Discussion of proper reactions by a psychiatrist will likely not be beneficial; we know how to behave but the brain inflammation caused by the infections simply will not allow it.

K attended bi- and tri-weekly ABA therapy sessions for several years. Even as a young child she could give me the correct answers when queried about behavioural responses. Her ability to actually respond in the proper manner to a stimulus was something completely different, and didn't improve until her bartonella was treated properly.

I do agree that you must be very careful with choosing a counselor or psychiatrist. If you wish to get your daughter into some type of counseling though, I would really encourage you to only go to a Lyme literate counselor or psychiatrist. There are some out there.

I don't know her story, but if she's thinking that those good thoughts will heal her, I hope you do push her to get into treatment. If those good thoughts are just an attempt to control the anger and such, it takes more than that, but I made it through without seeing a counselor.

I had to learn what it felt like coming on - and Lyme/Bart rages come on quickly!!! But I would just put things down and walk outside - in the rain, snow or whatever. I had to get outside where I could do something very physical (split firewood, beat on a tree with a big branch, something) and "work it out". Then I was just fine to come back inside and pick up with whatever else I was doing.