Is that normal?
Recently a psychiatrist and a psychologist have been visiting me in my home. The psychologist is doing the things I would expect a psychologist to do; she's drawing up care plans, writing down goals, asking questions ect, but the psychiatrist is freaking me out. She brings cross stitch over for me to do, makes a cup of tea and talks about soaps and other trivial things.

What is the psychiatrist doing? Is she trying to make me drop my guard so I accidentally spill everything?

I'm SO guarded with these people. I don't tell them anything. I just give one word answers or say 'mmhmm' or 'i dunno'. They haven't got a clue.

They are tricking me aren't they?
She's going to subtlety drop hard questions into the light friendly chat isn't she? To find out more about me?
I think I am being conned. And cross stitch? I haven't heard of a psychiatrist making a 'patient' do cross stitch before. Why is she doing this? We're making reindeer christmas cards. WTF?

I can't even ask her because I'll make myself sound like a loon. They're always twisting everything I say to make it seem like I have more problems than I actually do have.

WHAT IS GOING ON?

Occupational therapy?

****, psychiatrists are the looniest people.
Apparently, I've already racked up 7 disorders in my life.

You should try to distance yourself.

Listen,

These people are your friends. They will help you with many aspects of your life if you let them in. Sure, they enjoy playing psychiatrist and making up diagnosises for you, to give you feedback into what they are thinking about you. Everything counts in your actions.

Provided you aren't undergoing this psycho-analysis against your will, it shouldn't matter whether they trick you or not as long as they get results. You should accept their trickery with gratitude if it's for your own good.

Your psychiatrist's behavior is rather transparent. She's attempting to build up the level of trust between ye both by presenting herself as a normal, down-to-earth person. This is to distract you from the fact that she is a psychiatrist and is trying to get to know you. By engaging in innocent things together, ye develop a bond of sorts. When you co-operate with her in stitching and conversation, you feel more inclined to co-operate with her in her psycho-analysis. Stitching can be a very relaxing/therapeutic activity. It is to put you at ease so you feel more relaxed with her. I don't think she is going to attempt to catch you off-guard by suddenly asking you something relevant. That would endanger your trust.

As Silvine suggested, it's up to you whether you let her in or not. Consider what you perceive her to be - a threat or a help? Letting her intrude isn't necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes it's necessary to intrude.