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  #1  
Old Aug 23, 2016, 08:25 AM
Anonymous35014
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Does anyone here *not* have a therapist?

I feel like quitting therapy. I don't think it helps me much.

I will openly admit that I am part of the problem: I don't adequately prepare for my sessions, and sometimes I'm just too uncomfortable to talk about certain topics.

The other problem is that I don't think I have "enough" personal issues to warrant therapy anymore. I mean, therapy helped me at first because it allowed me to develop tools and techniques for coping with my BP symptoms, but I feel as though most of my issues have already been addressed. I don't know if that makes any sense.

I know that some people find therapy useful, but everyone is different, and I don't find it useful anymore. So, I'm just wondering about your experiences.
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  #2  
Old Aug 23, 2016, 09:08 AM
hopeless2015 hopeless2015 is offline
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If it doesn't feel useful the I say take a break, you can always go back if needed, or set your appointments further apart so you have the option if you change your mind. I was going every two weeks for awhile and now I'm going once a month and that feels right to me right now

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  #3  
Old Aug 23, 2016, 09:23 AM
Wonderfalls Wonderfalls is offline
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I'm debating that question too. My psychiatrist has always been my therapist 45 minutes (used to be 50) every two weeks for 15 years. He's retiring this summer and we've been talking about whether I need a therapist as well as a new psychiatrist. I don't expect the new pdoc to do anything besides prescribe medicines since I'll likely only see him for 10 or 15 minutes at most every 3 months. I love therapy; I wonder how much that has to do with my current pdoc. Since I'm stable I'm thinking that therapy might be only a self-indulgence.

We've talked about it and decided I should have therapy. Pdoc suggested first I try someone on call, but I know someone who was stable who had very bad luck with that method. She actually has ended up in assisted living for her uncontrollable bipolar. I know that's only one anecdote-- still I attribute at least some part of it to the failures of on-call therapy. That's scary. A regularly scheduled therapist knows you well enough to keep tabs on impending manic or depressive episodes before they get out of hand. She/he helps you deal with stressful situations that can disturb stability. You're going to have new issues come up no matter how good things are now.And you say you have skirted some subjects that may be usefully brought up in session.

My thoughts are that it's just too serious an illness with just too possibly painful consequences to let it go untreated. Of course it's your own decision.
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  #4  
Old Aug 23, 2016, 09:42 AM
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Wild Coyote Wild Coyote is offline
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Maybe cut back and see how you feel about it?

If I remember correctly, you weren't too thrilled with your therapist to begin with? Some just are not a good fit.

I've taken breaks, as negotiated with my therapist/pdoc. My pdoc is also my therapist. I cannot afford breaks now, as things have been too unstable and I need his prescription pad and his feedback has been helpful.

Maybe you need a break?
Maybe you'd benefit from a different therapist?


WC
  #5  
Old Aug 23, 2016, 10:37 AM
p00dlez p00dlez is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bluebicycle View Post
Does anyone here *not* have a therapist?

I feel like quitting therapy. I don't think it helps me much.

I will openly admit that I am part of the problem: I don't adequately prepare for my sessions, and sometimes I'm just too uncomfortable to talk about certain topics.

The other problem is that I don't think I have "enough" personal issues to warrant therapy anymore. I mean, therapy helped me at first because it allowed me to develop tools and techniques for coping with my BP symptoms, but I feel as though most of my issues have already been addressed. I don't know if that makes any sense.

I know that some people find therapy useful, but everyone is different, and I don't find it useful anymore. So, I'm just wondering about your experiences.
I know this will be long so I apologize in advance but NO I don't have a therapist and I will tell you why. A long time ago I went to a marriage councilor. She was a Christian which was cool with me since I am too.

Well soon everything in the marriage was my fault, never my husbands and I think that she had the hots for my husband. If you knew why we went to see her in the first place you would think this was insane as I did.

Anyway she recommended a deliverance be done on me. I didn't know what that was so I agreed. I googled it when I got home and basically she wanted to do an exorcism on me. I got very pissed that I wasted that much money on her and never went back. I mean I am not perfect but I don't think I am infested with demons. Strike One

The second one I went to see was right after I got diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I was upset over the diagnoses and having my first psychotic manic episode. The first thing he did was start grilling me over my childhood. I mean I knew the guy for 5 whole minutes and he was way up into things I don't want to talk about.

I basically wont talk about my childhood because if I start thinking about that stuff it gets stuck in my head AGAIN and I cant get it out for weeks. All I really wanted to was to deal with the bipolar dx but NO he was all about my childhood. I left in tears and never went back. Strike Two.

I just don't see what my childhood has to do with anything and why he wanted to drag that stuff out and get me so upset. Therapy from what I have seen just isn't helpful to me. If I thought they had some good advice or something maybe I would go but so far it has been more hurtful to me than helpful.
  #6  
Old Aug 23, 2016, 11:27 AM
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I've also found therapy more hurtful than helpful. I've tried many times over the course of my 25 years since diagnosis. I had one psychologist who was so bad i reported her to her regulatory board. I just see my GP and he's so cool. We've been together for 17 years.
Possible trigger:
He's just really got good common sense and a light-hearted manner along with excellent medical skills. I'm so grateful to have him. He likes me too. He says i am an 'easy patient'!
  #7  
Old Aug 23, 2016, 12:13 PM
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Victoria'smom Victoria'smom is online now
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I am waiting to see new T. Old T didn't help me. Old old T was not very helpful. but the T before that was helpful. So I hope this new T is better then my last two. I think you should cut down on therapy or try a new T or three. Going completely alone I don't feel is the best idea for bp.
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  #8  
Old Aug 23, 2016, 12:40 PM
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I don't have one right now.

My recent one was a moron though and gave me really bad advise! If I had followed her advise at that time (this was when I was ultra rapid cycling) it would have made things a lot worse.

I feel I should have one right now though. My recent episode was sort of traumatizing.

You probably just don't need a therapist at this time in your life.
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  #9  
Old Aug 23, 2016, 01:22 PM
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scatterbrained04 scatterbrained04 is offline
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I haven't had a T in a few years. I had one when I was first diagnosed. He retired, and I just never got another one. I was pretty burned out on therapy though, and I wasn't really sure what I wanted out of most of the time.

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  #10  
Old Aug 23, 2016, 02:56 PM
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jacky8807 jacky8807 is offline
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I've tried but it's just not my thing. Maybe I haven't found the right one idk.
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  #11  
Old Aug 23, 2016, 09:45 PM
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Standup2me Standup2me is offline
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I don't have one, and am not too sure what I would get out of it.

A few years ago, I had two sessions with a T who supposedly had extensive experience with Bps. She asked if I had ever felt sui***al in the past and was horrified when I said yes, but not for a long time. She was totally aghast and made me feel like dirt
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  #12  
Old Aug 24, 2016, 12:12 AM
Coffeee Coffeee is offline
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I don't have one cause of financial issues but I'd love one. My last one from in school was great!
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