It wasn’t a “quick fix”, Ilikecats. I was a total train wreck for three years and then one of the walking wounded for another two years. During that time, I worked with two different therapists. Unfortunately, the first therapist retired when I was crashing and I floundered for six to eight months until I found another therapist. I was hospitalized twice following the first therapist’s retirement and neither inpatient experience was helpful, in fact, they were quite harmful. Crazy, arrogant, and controlling psychiatrist, but that’s another story! What helped me, was having someone consistently available to listen to me, validate what I was feeling and being patient and compassionate when I got stuck and felt as though I couldn’t keep putting one foot in front of the other—what I didn’t need was someone to tell me to stop moaning and whining and get with the program!

I have a trauma history that I never dealt with earlier in life, but the good thing was that neither therapist tried to excise that wound while I was dealing with the depression. They both spent our session time giving me an outlet for the deep sadness and pain inside me, they helped me learn solid coping skills and then they assisted me in actually using those skills when I’d come in with an issue that was causing me difficulty. The second therapist encouraged and supported me in returning to work, and supported and nurtured me when I had to deal with the ramifications of people at work knowing how desperate I was at the beginning of my depression—a lot of shame and regret around that issue but she kept me focused and healing and I didn’t have any time to wallow. Work was important to me. It kept me engaged and living, even while I was limping along.

I’m not saying that everything is rainbows and ponies, but I’m better now than when I entered therapy . . . .better than I was before I entered the depression because I’ve learned a lot of coping skills. I’m working with my third therapist (I moved across the country and had to leave 2nd therapist) and I’m finally ready to work on the trauma issues. I’m entering this phase of my healing much stronger and confident than I was pre depression and during the depressive episode. Long explanation but I wanted to give your question a true reflection of how I feel. By the way, I love cats too! Thanks for listening.