Did group therapy help anyone?

Zigy · Jan 24, 2018, 12:48 PM

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.

SorryShaped · Jan 24, 2018, 12:50 PM

Maybe say all that in group? I would.

Jan 24, 2018, 12:51 PM

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.

SorryShaped · Jan 24, 2018, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheSadGirl

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.

01:43 PM

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.

Zigy · Jan 24, 2018, 01:28 PM

I told the therapist during the individual session but she just told me to give it some more time.

Guiness187055 · Jan 24, 2018, 01:32 PM

The only group sessions I have had were in IP. They did not help.

SorryShaped · Jan 24, 2018, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zigy

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.

Jan 24, 2018, 01:59 PM

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.

boogiesmash · Jan 24, 2018, 03:03 PM

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.

Zigy · Jan 24, 2018, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boogiesmash

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.

Zigy · Jan 24, 2018, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SorryShaped

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

SorryShaped · Jan 24, 2018, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zigy

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.

99fairies · Jan 24, 2018, 04:06 PM

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.

Zigy · Jan 24, 2018, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SorryShaped

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.

VerMOZZica · Jan 24, 2018, 07:18 PM

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.

SorryShaped · Jan 24, 2018, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VerMOZZica

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.

bioChE · Jan 24, 2018, 09:40 PM

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.

~Christina · Jan 24, 2018, 09:42 PM

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

SorryShaped · Jan 24, 2018, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bioChE

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?

SorryShaped · Jan 24, 2018, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~Christina

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

Cocosurviving · Jan 24, 2018, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guiness187055

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.