I'm putting this here because I'm interested in how therapy is affected by chronic illness or disability.

I'm seeing a therapist for depression, life issues, and attachment issues. I have always dealt with these in one way or another. The difference now is that after trying hard for years, and experiencing few successes, I feel like I'm at my limit. I don't know what else to do, and have a hard time finding reason to hope things will get better. It's not just a feeling. I didn't always see things like this. its because year after year I've gotten nowhere, and things have only become worse. Part of it is that I have some very real, objective, challenges that that are impossible for other people to understand. You can't see anything is wroang with me, so people can't imagine how difficult things are for me. I have a brain disorder that puts all kinds of roadblocks in my way.

If my therapist says something about things working out, or that I might be too pessimistic, etc., I can't believe her because I know she can't understand. It's not a failing in her, and it's not her fault. It's simply the nature of the illness. I can't pretend like it's not there, and that I'm just like everyone else. I know that we all have our own challenges, but mine is somewhat different. It's not necessarily worse, but it is hard to understand just how problematic it can be.

Maybe part of what I'm asking is how can someone who can't relate to your situation help you deal with it? Is there something I can do or say to make things clearer to her? I feel like we have to establish what the reality is before we can work on coping with it.