Evaluate your symptoms, make a diagnosis(s), and prescribe a course of treatment for you.
That sounds simplistic, I know, but as I am NOT a shrink, I can't really tell you all that goes into the above. I can just tell you, as a person in her own severe pain, at one time, I cannot fathom, now, NOT having seen someone that had the background and training to help me.
We are all great armchair shrinks... and some pretty smart people, to boot, around here. We are not practicing psychologists. And even practicing psychologists need treatment from other shrinks, at times.
Seeing a shrink does NOT mean you are on the verge of a melt-down, or that you are 'crazy,' or even any indication that you cannot handle life on your own.
It all goes back to how bad to you want to stop the pain, and start living an enjoyable life. I can't haul your azz in there, buddy. I'm telling you out of care, concern, and personal experience, that seeing a shrink can heal you much faster than you can do on your own, or even here with us. IMHO.
