I am struggling to understand some things and hope that maybe others can help me out. I noticed on these boards that many people have been in therapy for many many years sometimes with the same therapist and yet continue to have extreme symptoms of whatever their problem is. I guess I wonder a few things.

1. How long do you expect or want to stay in therapy?
2. Do you think you've actually improved after spending so long with your therapist?
3. At what point do you think maybe you should switch therapists or end therapy if you haven't made any improvements?
4. For those that continue on for years and years and don't see any Improvement what is the point especially with the financial burden?

I guess I'm just trying to understand other people's purposes and desires with therapy. I am dealing with over 20 years of all kinds of abuse and I have had severe major depression for most of my life I've seen some therapist in the past but never for more than a couple months. this last time I've been in therapy for a little over 7 months now which started only because of difficulty driving after a car major accident. Since starting therapy this time I finally realized for the first time ever what I have is called severe major depressive disorder I've always known about my suicidal tendencies that's no surprise I've learned that I also have PTSD from childhood and early adult abuse and I have DID. if I'm being honest with myself and per my discussion with my therapist it's going to take years for me to fully recover. My personal goal is to be done with therapy within 3 years tops but I would end it at the end of this year if I could. My therapist is a trauma specialist and I trust his skills immensely. We get along great and he is helping me. Although I would love to get better to the point of no longer having flashbacks and horrible thoughts and living a normal life being able to find a significant other who cares for me so I can spend the rest of my life with them I just can't see financially spending all of that money to be in therapy as long as I probably would need. So I'm just curious that's the other's thoughts on their own journey through healing.