Dating People in Mental Health Fields

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Kjas
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17 Jun 2012, 3:46 am

DogsWithoutHorses wrote:
Anyone have any experience dating someone who deals with autism/aspergers/pdd-nos in their line of work/study?
Did it have an effect on the relationship? Did you start to feel like a "patient" instead of a partner?
Did you have ideological differences about curbieism/disability/neurodiversity?

Has anyone experienced anxiety about having a relationship with someone because they work with our disorder?
Does anyone consciously exclude/avoid professionals/students who work with autism from their dating pool?


I have never dated anyone like that, but I work in psych myself, but not specializing in autism, in another field.
I'm planning on changing careers, but for right now it's still my job.

I would never date another psychologist.

It really depends on why they get into the field in the first place (as others have already said). Having said that, it also depends on their personality and attitude.

As far as personality, those who tend to be controlling, would probably use their own knowledge in psych in order to get you to do what they want, probably even if it was only subconsciously. Those who are accepting, would probably be an excellent match. Most of us won't put our psychologist hats on outside of work unless you specifically ask us to, or unless it is relevant to the situation.

As far as attitude goes, most of my colleagues have terrible attitudes towards autism and in fact know very little about it, so much so that I have not disclosed my DX. But all of the psychs at the clinic where I was diagnosed (which is a specialist clinic for autism), had wonderful attitudes towards autism, probably because they do specialize in this and know their way around it well.

That doesn't necessarily mean they would be ideal to date even though they would have a much thorough understanding of it, often it is much better not to mix your work and your personal life to that extent. I have seen people specializing in a field, but also having a partner or children who are in that same category, and in my experience the person can get overwhelmed at times, because they simply have no "break" to speak of, because they are dealing with it 24/7. It gets exhausting for them. Everyone needs a break, and that is why it is a good idea to keep your professional and personal life separate, which is why in my opinion, it would not be a good idea to date someone who works in that field if you happen to have a condition in it.


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The_Face_of_Boo
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17 Jun 2012, 5:53 am

Aspie1 wrote:
The_Face_of_Boo wrote:
The whole psychiatry is a messed up profession and industry.
The Scientologists are messed up themselves but they're right on that one.

I disagree. Psychiatry is just another medical field, except it's for mental health, rather than physical health. If a patient is having problems with constant bad moods, etc., psychiatry is a way to provide appropriate medication to make someone feel happy, calm them down, etc. Of course, if mood-altering medications were sold over the counter, there wouldn't be a need for psychiatry. People would just buy what they need themselves. But since the US Congress wants to make sure that hospitals and big pharma keep making profits, they will never make that possible. So psychiatry is the next-best alternative.

Psychology is the field that's messed up. You still have to talk about your feelings, only you don't get any medication in the end. I see absolutely nothing beneficial in retraumatizing yourself by "talking about feelings", and get zilch at the end; i.e. no pills, nothing. With psychiatry, you still have to "talk about feelings", but you get some nice mood-elevators at the end. With psychology, you don't; it's just wasting your time with the feelings talk.


No, you are confusing neurology with psychiatry, psychiatry is a pseudo medical field par excellence.

In my opinion, I think psychology is better because it inspects the root of the problem instead of masking the problem with some drug.

Psychiatry is still full of bull, but this is for another thread.



aautismgirl
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18 Jun 2012, 1:04 am

How to date someone with Asperger’s Syndrome:

http://www.autism-world.com/index.php/2 ... -syndrome/



0_equals_true
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18 Jun 2012, 8:25 am

OliveOilMom wrote:
I also used to know a psychiatrist that was a junkie. A literal shoot-up-heroin-junkie. He was all Mr Conservative and a tight-a** while at work but away from work he was completely different. You would have never guessed how much of a redneck that guy was from seeing him and interacting with him at work. He got "Freebird" tattoed on his thigh when he was almost 40. Now thats redneck.


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OliveOilMom
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19 Jun 2012, 11:54 am

HisDivineMajesty wrote:
OliveOilMom wrote:
I also used to know a psychiatrist that was a junkie. A literal shoot-up-heroin-junkie. He was all Mr Conservative and a tight-a** while at work but away from work he was completely different. You would have never guessed how much of a redneck that guy was from seeing him and interacting with him at work. He got "Freebird" tattoed on his thigh when he was almost 40. Now thats redneck.


What's wrong with Freebird? It's an acceptable song even in this dictatorship of the politically correct. And it's a pretty good song, too. It's not a deadly sin to have that tattooed. If he had a Nicki Minaj song tattooed on his forehead, on the other hand, he would have been the one on the couch. That's just plain idiocy.

As for the original question, yes. If I had the choice, I would - the young women working in mental health I've met so far were very friendly, and never really annoyed me. They were slightly odd, but that's alright - I'm full-out insane compared to almost anyone I've ever met.


I like the song, but getting "Freebird" or a rebel flag tattooed anywhere on your body is really, really redneck. It's not crazy by any means, but it is redneck.


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