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  #1  
Old Jan 24, 2018, 12:48 PM
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Zigy Zigy is offline
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Here is the thing. My "group" is three guys including myself. That's small. It creates the pressure that someone needs to talk and there are periods of awkward silence that irritate me. I can't relate to neither guy. One has social phobia/anxiety/shyness issues and the other some sort of self-image, "I get no respect" issues. No BP, no depression. I'm saying the same things I say during the individual therapy. Seems redundant. I feel like I'm wasting my time and money. I'm not getting anything out of it. It's been three months and I think about quitting and seeing the therapist individually instead. See how that works. But I did CBT and talk therapy in the past and it didn't do anything.

When I joined this group I was told this would be more BP oriented, but it's not. So I'm somewhat irritated, annoyed and disappointed as it is not doing anything to my depression and anxiety.

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  #2  
Old Jan 24, 2018, 12:50 PM
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Maybe say all that in group? I would.
  #3  
Old Jan 24, 2018, 12:51 PM
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My therapist is pushing me to join a DBT group (for borderline) and I keep refusing. I just can't see myself doing group sessions. She says it will augment my individual therapy. I'm not convinced.
  #4  
Old Jan 24, 2018, 12:57 PM
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Originally Posted by TheSadGirl View Post
My therapist is pushing me to join a DBT group (for borderline) and I keep refusing. I just can't see myself doing group sessions. She says it will augment my individual therapy. I'm not convinced.
Then don't do it or ask to be convinced or a free trial? Dunno.
I really liked some of the Buddhist group I went to but I felt like I get more from the gym. So, I'm back in the gym instead on those nights. I do need to do things where I directly interact with others, because I really don't do so all that much. Less than 10 minutes of total vocal conversation in a whole day out of the house. That's low to me. I should interact more. People in the gym I can talk to, those outside I freeze a lot of the time.
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  #5  
Old Jan 24, 2018, 01:20 PM
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I never got anything out of group therapy. My experiences with it were the first time I had therapy (before my bipolar diagnosis) and during hospitalizations and Intensive Outpatient Programs. In most cases, we'd have to go one-by-one around the room and say what was on our minds. The therapist usually just sat there saying/doing nothing for their money. Often I found that people in the group bored, annoyed, triggered, or further depressed me. I found no support in group therapy. For support, I'd prefer a peer-led support group like DBSA. In the hospital and IOP, I only found coping skills and special interest groups helpful. I have gotten a lot out of private therapy, particularly CBT, depending on the therapist.

The only really good thing I, personally, got out of group therapy was in the first group therapy I attended. I started it depressed and anxious and then 4 sessions later I was clearly getting manic. The psychiatrist that led the group tapped me on the shoulder to stay after, then told me I had bipolar disorder. I may not have exhibited as clear-cut manic symptoms in a private session that day. I recall being angered by another group member and then going off on a manic rant about...something.

Last edited by Anonymous46341; Jan 24, 2018 at 01:43 PM.
  #6  
Old Jan 24, 2018, 01:28 PM
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I told the therapist during the individual session but she just told me to give it some more time.
  #7  
Old Jan 24, 2018, 01:32 PM
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The only group sessions I have had were in IP. They did not help.
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  #8  
Old Jan 24, 2018, 01:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Zigy View Post
I told the therapist during the individual session but she just told me to give it some more time.
That time limit is entirely up to you. If you feel it ain't working, decide. I'll trust your judgement. You're gonna to trust it too. I've had crappy IP groups and amazing ones, the best of which was someone telling me that I was being abused and didn't deserve it. I'd honestly been convinced everything was bad and my fault.
  #9  
Old Jan 24, 2018, 01:59 PM
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The group I go to is part of an IOP/PHP program (but patients can come in once every so often after discharge as part of aftercare). I love it. It's pretty big, sometimes its about 10 people sometimes its 30. Its nice because even if I dont want to talk I can get something out of it by listening to other people and the counselors talk.
  #10  
Old Jan 24, 2018, 03:03 PM
boogiesmash boogiesmash is offline
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How did you find this group therapy. Just like last post the only group therapy I did was iop and it saved my life, I’m pretty sure I was heading to suicidality if I wasn’t already suicidal. And also sometimes I didn’t say anything but just listened and was amazed on how many times I could relate.
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  #11  
Old Jan 24, 2018, 03:18 PM
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Originally Posted by boogiesmash View Post
How did you find this group therapy. Just like last post the only group therapy I did was iop and it saved my life, I’m pretty sure I was heading to suicidality if I wasn’t already suicidal. And also sometimes I didn’t say anything but just listened and was amazed on how many times I could relate.
My pdoc found her through his colleagues. She came highly recommended. Maybe I'm just therapy resistant. I also feel so bad physically from my depression and anxiety that I may not react normally to talk therapy.
  #12  
Old Jan 24, 2018, 03:21 PM
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Maybe say all that in group? I would.
I'd just quit. What is the point saying that really? I don't want to upset the other two guys
  #13  
Old Jan 24, 2018, 03:31 PM
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Originally Posted by Zigy View Post
I'd just quit. What is the point saying that really? I don't want to upset the other two guys
I would because they may be feeling the same way. There may be something in what you say that could positively change the whole thing. Absence of talking about the problem guarantees its continuance. I don't think you're the only one not getting enough. Worth a shot anyway.
  #14  
Old Jan 24, 2018, 04:06 PM
99fairies 99fairies is offline
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I went to group IP and I got a lot out of it. I still have the notes I took and read over them sometimes. I've also given some of them to my son to read.
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  #15  
Old Jan 24, 2018, 04:07 PM
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Originally Posted by SorryShaped View Post
I would because they may be feeling the same way. There may be something in what you say that could positively change the whole thing. Absence of talking about the problem guarantees its continuance. I don't think you're the only one not getting enough. Worth a shot anyway.
Good point. Thanks. I'll do this tomorrow.
  #16  
Old Jan 24, 2018, 07:18 PM
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I didn`t get much from it either. I think that had to do more with my shyness and my reluctance to speak. I just mostly listened.
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  #17  
Old Jan 24, 2018, 08:41 PM
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Originally Posted by VerMOZZica View Post
I didn`t get much from it either. I think that had to do more with my shyness and my reluctance to speak. I just mostly listened.
Sometimes listening is the most powerful thing you can do. The most shy people in the world often have the best content when they speak. Let it out.
  #18  
Old Jan 24, 2018, 09:40 PM
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I’ve never found group therapy to be a worthwhile use of my time. I could be biased however, because I seldom find worth in any therapy, including individual one-on-one sessions. Maybe I’m therapy resistant. Or maybe I’m just a relatively well-adjusted individual. I don’t know. But for me, group therapy has been utterly worthless.

I’m not saying I don’t have issues. But I am saying I’ve got a good family and friend support system, and when I need to lean on people they’re typically the ones I go to.
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  #19  
Old Jan 24, 2018, 09:42 PM
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I have never had group therapy outside of IP , my rural town has no support groups other than AA or NA.

I wish it did
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  #20  
Old Jan 24, 2018, 09:43 PM
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Originally Posted by bioChE View Post
I’ve never found group therapy to be a worthwhile use of my time. I could be biased however, because I seldom find worth in any therapy, including individual one-on-one sessions. Maybe I’m therapy resistant. Or maybe I’m just a relatively well-adjusted individual. I don’t know. But for me, group therapy has been utterly worthless.

I’m not saying I don’t have issues. But I am saying I’ve got a good family and friend support system, and when I need to lean on people they’re typically the ones I go to.
Teach us the ways of the well-adjusted, please?
  #21  
Old Jan 24, 2018, 09:51 PM
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Originally Posted by ~Christina View Post
I have never had group therapy outside of IP , my rural town has no support groups other than AA or NA.

I wish it did
There's one that meets monthly about 25 miles away from me for bipolar. Not often enough
  #22  
Old Jan 24, 2018, 10:22 PM
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Cocosurviving Cocosurviving is offline
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Originally Posted by Guiness187055 View Post
The only group sessions I have had were in IP. They did not help.


I had the same experience because the group was too mixed for me. There were lots of people with alcohol and drug problems. God had truly blessed me to never had any of those problems. I just have the MI.

Now with that being said I have went to a support group just for people with mental illnesses. That’s my cup of tea. I got something out of that.
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  #23  
Old Jan 24, 2018, 10:31 PM
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Did the addicts look at you like the people with MI are the really messed up ones? Tends to happen. Did to me.
  #24  
Old Jan 24, 2018, 11:39 PM
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Originally Posted by SorryShaped View Post
There's one that meets monthly about 25 miles away from me for bipolar. Not often enough


Closest for me is about 40 miles away
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  #25  
Old Jan 25, 2018, 10:27 AM
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Cocosurviving Cocosurviving is offline
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Did the addicts look at you like the people with MI are the really messed up ones? Tends to happen. Did to me.


Actually yes
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Spoons are a visual representation used as a unit of measure to quantify how much energy individuals with disabilities and chronic illnesses have throughout a given day.

1). Depression
2). PTSD
3). Anxiety
4). Hashimoto
5). Fibromyalgia
6). Asthma
7). Atopic dermatitis
8). Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria
9). Hereditary Angioedema (HAE-normal C-1)
10). Gluten sensitivity
11). EpiPen carrier
12). Food allergies, medication allergies and food intolerances. .
13). Alopecia Areata
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