[jacky8807]

Hi all been a while!
So I am at a place now where to see the pdoc you must have therapy too. Since I wentered back on meds as of now I have nothing to say to the therapist! I have no past trauma...and although I'm not against it yoga and all that stuff never ever helped. The meds have zapped my depression anxiety malfunctioning thought patterns and I am not feeling hypo/manic (and if I was I wouldn't tell them because thy would take it away) I just don't see the point

[cashart10]

Personally, I don't think it does. I see a therapist when I am extremely depressed as I need the vent but otherwise, it does nothing for me. I don't have any "issues" other than my bipolar, no trauma other than previous psychotic episodes which I have already worked through and I think it is a waste of my money (when I am well, I feel like it's only small talk) as it comes out of my pocket. I have learned coping skills, which sometimes help, after years of therapy and that is perhaps important but there are only so many times you can hear the same things.

[raspberrytorte]

I think it depends on the person.

Right now I don't have anything to talk about. I've kind of been there and done that with therapy and coping skills and stuff, so it's always stuff I've already learned. Of course sometimes it's stuff that's hard to utilize when you're depressed or psychotic, but I think I'm doing okay right now on my own.

[Blue_Bird]

I personally think it does help. I have to see my therapist at least once every three months since I'm prescribed meds from the pdoc there. I think it's a way to check in with you between pdoc appointments and help explore issues you may face in life that may or may not have to do specifically with bipolar. I'm stable so we just do a quick check in with how things are going in my life and that's about it. but if I needed more I could get more

[Victoria'smom]

My old therapist helped a lot. This one not as much.

[~Christina]

Therapy has been a life saver for me . Meds can only do so much in general. Learning how to enjoy your life while Bipolar is along side you is beyond important.

I will say this.. If Therapy isn't tough then I think its not being done right.

My Therapy is very goal orientated, I don't just go to shoot the shyt.

My First Therapist was not helpful at all, I gave her 3 sessions and then I found my current T and been with him for almost 4 years now. So finding a T that is a good fit is much like trying to find the right med(s) to help you, takes patience.

[HALLIEBETH87]

Meds are only part of the solution. I think therapy is helpful if you find the right one for you and you have goals set. Going and just chit chatting isn't particularly helpful unless you're in crisis. DBT and individual counseling is helping me! But we have goals and she helps reinforce DBT skills with me during individual.

[jacky8807]

Thx for the replies
Yeah it's probably about finding the right one...I would need an outgoing hyper one but Idk this one puts me to sleep! I think her way is probably very comforting for some just won't work for me

[HALLIEBETH87]

I have seen several therapists in my lifetime and some just sucked. Sometimes you have to be bold and just search for a new one. You wont click with everyone. I wish you luck!

[Nammu]

Therapy was a life savor for me too. They were also able to point out the lows and highs before I was aware of them and it helped me to stay stable by taking proactive steps.

Therapy definitely helps me. Its been a long process trying to break down my own views of myself with a mental illness, but she has definitely helped over the years. My t is also a pdoc so she has much more knowledge than the average and we dont use buzz words or the latest trends in therapy. Its been slow and hard for me, but its nice to have someone understanding. Even that is a help.

[Treyfrancis21]

I used to think therapy wasn't helping me that much, but I went because I had to attend therapy in order to see a PDoc. Now that I have been without it for 5-6 months I am realizing how much it taught me to recognize and cope with mood swings and just how nice it was to be able to unload whatever I needed to onto someone who I'm not involved with on a daily or personal basis. Now I find myself trying to figure a way to get back into therapy at least once a month.

[cashart10]

Well, coming from someone who just said therapy wasn't that helpful, I just asked one of the group therapy leaders if she would take me on as a client and she agreed. I just feel like I need to work through these thoughts of paranoia because I am afraid.

[cashart10]

So, maybe I withdrawl my previous statement. We shall see. I've had many, many therapists, some I've connected with, some I haven't so I guess I'll see if this is any different.

[Homeira]

Cognitive therapy has been very important to me. The therapist I did the cognitive theraphy with, I got along with great. It taugth me some really good coping skills. I saw a psychologist for a short time, didn't click with her in the same way, but still she was able to help me sort through my anxiety issues. I am going to start up again with cognitive theraphy-based group theraphy. That is mostly in terms of coping with anxiety and depression, not just BP. For me theraphy is great. It is where I get my "tools" for coping with my depressions, my anxiety, and to analyze my triggers. But everybody is different. What works for one person, migth not work for the next But it is not like I am in theraphy all the time. Maybe once every two years or so. I don't feel like I need it more than that.

[lacerta]

Yes, it definatelly helps me. It has helped me to accept illness. It helps me to get through episodes, to calm myself down, to understand my trigers, to understand the cycles, understand where to step in and actively fight illness. No, I don't believe it would cure me, but it definatelly improves my life quality.

[festidump]

I would still be quivering mess without mine. We clicked from day 1 which helped after a two month break I'm heading back, the mania I can control to a point now and turn it positive but the depression...... when you need help, you need help and ill take any help I can get!