I'm in long-term therapy. It is keeping me out of the hospital. Combined with meds, I can function at a very high level (university professor with a family). I have discussed stopping with this t and with previous t's, and with H, and no one says I should stop.

When thinking about short-term vs long-term, as others mentioned, one needs to assess what brought someone to therapy in the first case. I feel stigma with being in long-term therapy. But serious mental illness cannot be cured with several months therapy but it can be managed with long-term therapy.

Do I like that I have serious mental illness?? Hell no. Am I even comfortable with the term "mental illness" - NO way. But I am glad for the support.