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Originally Posted by whimsygirl
Thanks so much for your message. The sharing of your story and your compassion are very much appreciated. I am so sorry about what you have been ~are going through with your friend....it's such a mystery to me how people can treat others the way they sometimes do, and of course the fact that they can do it to people who they at one time cherished. So sad. I sometimes wonder what people think about while they are being so unkind....oh well but I'll never know. Otherwise, thanks for your advice and encouragement regarding therapy. Unfortunately, partly as a result of living where there is not a huge lot to choose from, I have in the past made the mistake of sticking with someone who just didn't "feel right", and personally I believe that just made me feel worse than ever....like I couldn't even get that right! I learned my lesson though, and will not repeat that. As you are ~were(?) a psychologist, it is interesting hearing about this from your point of view. Thanks again for the kindness and good wishes....and I wish the same for you. I hope we will talk again sometime.....  |
Yeah...people and the way the treat others is something that I will never understand. I used to work in a facility in NY that would be equivalent to the California Youth Authority...Juvenile delniquents and juvenile offenders who really treated people poorly. I thought that I could make some inroads with them, and I think I did. As a result of that, I'm still genuinely hopeful for humanity, espeically with friendships.
Anyway, I'm digressing...if you decide to start therapy again, tell the clinician what you need, and if something is not working out to your liking, tell them. When I was in graduate school I had to have mandatory therapy as a requirement for graduation. The therapist I saw was always about 15 minutes behind schedule with me (unlike psychiatrists, psychologists usually run right on time). Well, I was upset during each session, but I never told that guy...that is, until I had a conversation with a school friend who I have remained in contact with. My school friend said, "tell him that you don't appreciate waiting, and tell him that you feel your time is just as valuable as anyone else's". I did that, and the therapy greatly improved after that.
Oh, and don't fall into the belief that only a psychologist can be of assistance. The degreee doesn't matter; it is your belief in the therapist, no matter what their credentials.
Good luck, and thanks for your reply!