I do not know for sure how the general population sees psychologists, but as someone who went to psychologists for more than a decade, I can confidently say that psychologists are not the same to the mind as medical professionals are to our bodies.
They might help us solve problems or better understand ourselves; however, if you want to be mentally stable, the solution is not to pay loads of cash to psychologists, but to DESTROY the ROOT of your problems instead.
During the time I lived in my previous apartment, I had a very terrible neighbor who would always scream when annoyed. Sometimes she would even wake me up while I was asleep.
Despite my countless efforts to make her understand that I am highly sensitive to noise, she did not care, and was convinced that I was trying to harass her, or worse, to physically harm her (which wasn't true at all).
Despite the fact that I discussed it with my psychologist back then, it did not help the problem one bit. As said in the previous paragraph, the solution to this problem was to simply live elsewhere, which I eventually did.
No matter how many meetings I had with that professional, psychological assistance did NOT help me to cope with my sensitivity to noise, in any shape or form.
That is also why I decided not to go to psychologists. It isn't that they are not good at their jobs; it's just that they offer advice and don't necessarily heal you like medical professionals do.
They merely help you find possible solutions to your problems; it does not mean that these solutions would be effective, no matter how much you talk with them about said issues.
You basically pay a lot of cash just to speak with someone for around an hour. You could do so with anyone else who wants to talk with you. It isn't to say that psychologists are disposable; they're, in theory, just problem solvers on the personal/intimate scale.
There is no guarantee that the money you will invest in their services will eventually pay off. Therefore, it is sort of a gamble, with the only price being your time and money.
I am, in a way, glad that I don't go to psychologists anymore. I have realized that, if I take action and eliminate the roots of my problems, their functionality in my life would no longer be necessary.
Why choose to suffer when you can eliminate the source of suffering? Why should I allow comments on toxic platforms such as Quora, and pay much money to psychologists to calm me down, when I can simply disable commenting, and eliminate the need for this service as well?
It is both practical and cost-efficient, a resourceful philosophy.
The thing about psychology is that it cannot cure you of mental disorders like doctors can cure you of diseases.
Many people don't realize that, once you have a mental disorder, the only way to go is forward, not backwards. In other words, there are no cures for mental illnesses, and the pills you may take are merely delayers, not medicine to heal your wounds.
This is why the consumption of therapy would burn a hole in your pocket UNLESS you actually solved the root of your problems yourself (or with help, I guess).
In my case, it won't matter how much I speak with the professional I used to visit; I will forever be sensitive to noise because it is a part of my autism, and that service will not make the neighbor stop tormenting me.
Thus, the only practical solution would be to move somewhere quieter. Now I can tell you that, two years of living somewhere completely different has been a far, far more practical solution than going to a psychologist for years on end.
Now that I am aware that I will have these disorders for the rest of my life, unless there is an actual cure for them, I'll just have to live with them, even if it means compromising my life.
For people like me, it is unfortunate to say that compromising is sometimes the best solution, if not a complete escape.
There are no rules in my country that forbid people from screaming during the appropriate hours; I just had to find somewhere else to live where people would be more tolerant of my unwanted sensitivity.
I sure hope that I will not have to see a psychologist ever again. It's not that I hate psychologists, which I don't; there are just better alternatives to solving issues than just talking about them and hoping for the best.
It was my decision to move elsewhere, and who knows how much money I saved by doing so; money that would otherwise go to weekly sessions.
Psychologists are a form of modern-day sages, but that does not mean that they will cure you of your disorders or solve the difficulties created by having said disorders.
When are psychologists at their best? It's when you're suicidal, highly depressed, or in any kind of state that requires short-term consultation in a state of distress. They can be there to calm you, listen to your thoughts, and even cheer you up.
Ultimately, they are people you hire to listen to you and provide feedback that MIGHT help you. Their ultimate contribution comes when they prevent a suicide attempt or make you more mentally stable, even if the illnesses of your mentality are still there.
