Are you in therapy too?

Ok-this is a bit of an issue for me.

I started seeing a T when I was really struggling with the depression and also needed to get my head around my dx and learn some coping skills. In the last few months, I have managed to find meds that keep me a lot more stable, and away from the dark place.
I sometimes feel I have nothing to talk about to my T. I guess at times I may be hypomanic. So, at one stage we decided to try only having sessions every other week. I panicked and told her I felt lost and abandoned, and we went back to every week.

I'm now at a place where I sometimes realise the day before therapy or even on the day, that I don't have anything concrete to discuss.

Who experiences similar-you don't feel ready to stop therapy, but do go through some tough patches or depression and then yearn for a T. You go through 'stable' times, where you feel therapy is a waste of time...

I mean-really! Where to bother starting...

Oh, btw-i have a T sessions shortly and have NO idea what I'm going to talk about for 60 minutes!

Hey Suga,

I know how you feel when I see my CPN every 2 weeks sometimes I am unsure of what to tell him and or I feel nothing has happened. However I am struggling as I am not seeing him for a month and I am kinda like "argh"

My 2nd last session with him I was completely quiet and he said I was a little withdrawn and "depressed" and I felt like I wasted my session. But then other times I too feel hypo manic sometimes.

I have no wise words of wisdom for you sorry!! Just thought you needed to know other people feel the same way

I rarely have anything to talk to T about when I go in. Usually we stumble onto something but not always. IMO it's OK just to need that connection and that time that is just for/about you.

Oh I am so there with ya. I hate going in there feeling like I have nothing to discuss. We always find something to talk about. Usually it ends up being something very pertinent to what I am going through at the moment and sometimes ends up being deep.
I don't want to end therapy, either because I need that connection, it's so important to me. I feel like I can go into therapy and just get whatever out I need to. Going to therapy is such a release. I can talk about whatever I want with her, things I can't talk to my H about.

One of my best sessions ever was when I just sat down and told my T I had nothing I needed to talk about and I asked him what he thought was important for me to talk about that I might not be thinking of.

Thank you all.
Well, guess it was going to come to a head, and T was going to bring it up sooner or later-tapering off.
So, in my typical fashion, I think I'm just going to stop. Then and there. Sever the relationship, take the hard stab once, and that's it. Easier

I haven't been a T in over a year. It got that way, I didn't have anything to talk about. So far I have done good without my T, not to say there are not times when I wish I had one to talk to. So I wish you the best of luck Sugahorse with severing it with your T. I would ask about if things get bad if you can call and set up an appt. No harm in asking.

i saw mine today and now not going back for a month - i never completely stop but I'll go once a month or every 2 months depending on how I'm doing. She is in the same group as my pdoc so it's nice and convenient - if I need to see her sooner i can call and get an appointment - there are times when we talk about tv shows and current events but we've known each other for 8 years now so i can talk to her about everyone in my life which will cover an hour - waiting the month will ensure I have things to talk about the next time.

I've never stopped going to my therapist all together but as long as your seeing your psychiatrist to regulate your meds and you have a good support network in place that can help you recognize if you're in trouble it makes sense. Just about a year ago I did hit a bump in the road with my therapist and also felt that I had nothing to talk about and had anxiety before the appointments about what I was going to talk about. I never had that issue before in all the years I have gone to therapy so it was disconcerting. She suggested we move from meeting twice a month to once a month which worked for me and relieved the anxiety I had about not talking to her and some financial concerns, but I figured she thought I was doing better. It turns out I was actually overmedicated and was having cognitive clouding and memory issues which I had to bring to her attention many times before she said maybe we need to change your meds, call your p-doc. I will always have to go to therapy because I have a child and it's part of my court ordered stipulation that I stay in therapy so I don't have the option of not doing therapy so I think it's great your doing so well and feel comfortable taking a break from therapy. Your therapist is just a phone call away and you know he/she will be there is you need them.

yes, i'm like that now. i feel like i don't need to go to therapy every week, because nothing that interesting happens to me anymore. maybe it's time to schedule every ten days, then every other week. you're just used to spending that weekly time with your T, even though it isn't really special to you. But it is good to have someone to check up on you every now and then, you know?

Mine told me from the start that it would be a limited time, that eventually I would have the tools I need to cope. It's primarily cognitive behavioral, so it's mostly assignments then report back in how I did with it. What I like is that every session she has me fill out a questionnaire which includes how the last session went. Did I feel it was productive? Do I feel like the therapist understands me? That kind of thing. Plus, there are direct mood/behavior questions which she uses to get the ball rolling.

Mine does psychodynamic analysis or something similar.

For my Bipolar I probably don't need to be in therapy, but it is a comfort for me. Also, when things get rocky, I know there's someone there for me

Yup. First therapist very much was this -- when I was very very alone and in a very bad place. Though I'd always be nervous going there, I was grateful that there was someone (anyone!) to talk to, even if it was only one hour a week. Had no choice on frequency or duration (it was an insurance thing - actually had insurance then!), but it was long enough (months) to get me through the worst of that particular spell.

Current one, though I very much like her, is less that to me, but it is only because I am more stable now. Even with the (relative) stability, upon moving, I was really scrambling to find a new one -- to have someone in place for the rocky parts, because once those set in in earnest, I couldn't mentally do the finding part, and knew myself well enough to know this.

Yeah, sometimes I don't know what to talk about either. What's worse is the worse I'm doing, the less I talk. This is not good, I know, but it is utterly my nature. How frustrating that must be for them(!)

Suga, on Friday you said about severing the relationship, kind of kaput-like. Hope I misunderstood that (and I probably did, as your post today seems to indicate), as I agree with vj that it's good to keep it open-ended for the future. Just like you say, good to know someone's there.

I have only been in therapy since last September. I started out going once a week but since becoming stabilized I am going once a month. I also found myself not having much to discuss and after I left I would remember something I meant to bring up so I bought a small notebook and write down anything that comes up that I might want to discuss on my next session.

Inner-yes, I'd rather sever then and there. As in-not go to my next session and leave it there.
I texted her this, and she says it's important I go back to work through these new feelings. Not sure what they are, but I know this idea of 'letting go' has been a big one for me in life in general.

I guess I'll eventually go down to once a month or so, but I almost feel like that's a waste. I have a feeling she is looking to close her private practice too. I don't believe she'll ever leave me stranded as such.
But I guess when we terminate, that'll be the end. She can close up, and won't be available in emergencies. I'd have to find a new T. This is an educated assumption.

What happens when the wheels fall off? Hello, this is Bipolar-there will ALWAYS be cycles. We will relapse.

Oh well- what will be, will be

Roxie- therapy always makes me think. And it's after the session I do my main work. I am allowed to compile one mail with my thoughts and feelings for T. I won't get a reply, but it's the direction my T will guide the session.
I haven't done this for a good few weeks now. I have been too tired and busy. And when I start being introspective, I run myself down. And that's not something to discuss with T - I feel down... So, guess I have nothing else to add

I have changed therapists when I felt I wasn't progressing w/one anymore. No hard feelings--just the time had passed w/that one. I also take notes every day about things & then I take an index card in w/me each week w/topics to discuss...

Also, therapist has a treatment plan that includes EMDR & other topics she wants to pursue...

I go on an on needed basis. My pdoc does some therapy with me and I go about once a month, though I am seeing another pdoc at the moment for hyponotherapy so it averages to about twice a month.

Thanks Merlin. Didn't go last Friday due to being sick, and now need to find a time to make it up.
Guess I'm also scared she's closing her private practice, and that there won't be the opportunity to schedule ad hoc sessions.
But I'm doing ok. Wish I didn't have to go back-from a therapy point of view, I've been told it would be counter-productive

just hang in there!

Thanks
It's strange; on weekends i don't have too much time to myself, not too much time to run myself in circles, and i cope much better.
Supposed to see my T tomorrow. Guess i'll try go to once a month, with the option of emergency appointments...if possible :-(

Between T atm because of moving but can have emergency appt with old T if necessary