Considering Seeking a Therapist

I have been seeing my psych nurse for about 5 years now, she has never mentioned seeing a therapist. Over the last few months I had been wondering if I need one. I saw my nurse yesterday and she gave me a list of ones she liked and had expertise in bipolar disorder.

Do all of you have a therapist?

If so what prompted you to procure their services?

If not do you have a reason why?

When I was in the military I enjoyed some group therapy, as I did not like the 2 therapists I was assigned and could not change.

I have a therapist. My old therapist, who was worth her weight in gold, just closed her practice and I started with a new one recently. My psychiatrist encouraged me to get a therapist. It really helps me talk over my feelings and problems and get non biased advice and direction in return.

I thought I was going to just use my psych NP but she suggested I also see a therapist and scheduled me for shorter drug management appointments. She did some therapy also when I first started seeing her to get better perspective about what to prescribe by digging to see what bothered me the most and what symptoms I had that she could treat or had the best luck with using a particular med or whatever. I thought she was a pretty good therapist but since starting to see a therapist whe specializes in mood disorders I have learned a lot more about BP in general and mine in particular. I am seeing a LCSW.

I actually started with a therapist first. She diagnosed me originally with mdd then maybe 3-4 months later with bipolar. Fierce I was diagnosed with bipolar I told my primary who was prescribing antidepressants to start a psychiatrist.

I got a therapist because I wanted to do anything and everything I could to get better. I have PTSD as well as bipolar. My bipolar episodes are traumatic even once they are over. I need help processing it all and help moving forward.

My pdoc is also my therapist.
he helps to support me re: anything/everything in life that is a stressor. He helps me to see alternatives. He helps me to more clearly see myself. He helps me with my relationship with myself and with my relationships with others. He helps me with past trauma and with current day, ongoing trauma, due to severe chronic pain, and other medical issues.
I've worked with him for many years now and he keeps on supporting me in every way possible.

I hope you find a good match should you seek out a therapist.

WC

I have seen a number of therapists since college. I was diagnosed bp in 2012 which was 1 year after I graduated. I went through four therapists post-diagnosis before I found one I really clicked with. He helps me see that not all of the thoughts I have are facts, not all feelings need to be acted on. We talk about other things going on in my life too, but one of the major things I struggle with is obsessive thinking, and he helps me process the thoughts and impulses that are going around in my head. I highly recommend therapy. Just keep in mind that your first therapist might not be "your" therapist.

So here is a fun fact. My nurse is leaving her practice -_- I really like her wth?