[needadvicenow5500]

I gave in and started trying therapy but I'm really really apprehensive about it. I hopelessly do not have anything to talk about. I've had just one session now and wish I hadn't signed up. I just want to stay home like I always do and enjoy watching tv and reading.

I forgot to keep a reminder in my head to decline to answer anything I don't want to answer, so I ended up answering this crap about my childhood and whether I was abused and other subjects that have absolutely no relevance at all to me. Stuff you might have asked me 35 years ago, but definitely not NOW!

[wildflowerchild25]

If you don’t want to talk then why go to therapy? Like if you won’t answer questions that your therapist asks you then it seems like you’re wasting your time. Just because you have bipolar (assuming you do) doesn’t mean you necessarily need therapy. But you have to be committed to therapy for it to help you. If you don’t want the help then there’s no reason to go in my opinion.

Not trying to be mean just saying if you want to have someone to talk to therapy is good but if you’ve got nothing to say then I wouldn’t go. However you can also use therapy to learn coping skills to help you when you are feeling out of sorts. Have you ever tried DBT? It’s less of a talk therapy and more skills based. It might suit you better.

[needadvicenow5500]

Maybe when I get past the first couple of days of unstructured questions to get to know me, there might be something helpful in it. I'm cooperative, I just don't see how I could keep thinking of anything to bring up for weeks and months and months. Not sure what kind of therapy they do in it, CBT...DBT....

[Aurelius710]

What do you want out of therapy? What are you hoping to get out of it? I mean, I use my therapist as a sounding board. We'll just shoot the breeze some of the time. Sometimes one of us will bring up a particularly serious issue. In a way he's getting paid to sit and talk with me, with an important caveat. When I venture into a depressive episode, I go down fast and he's better placed to spotting that downturn than anyone.

Otherwise, you have no obligation to keep visiting that therapist if you don't want to. You can call and cancel anytime. My advice though: get through the intake meeting and see what they are like in an actual therapy session. If you still don't like them after that, call and cancel.

[needadvicenow5500]

I will keep in mind I don't have to do it. That makes me feel much better. I plan to try for a few more appointments to see what I think.

[Victoria'smom]

My P nurse made me go back to therapy. I've had two sessions both I've felt nauseous after. I don't like the T but that doesn't mean she can't help me. We'll see tomorrow. I'm hoping she doesn't send me to IP just for thoughts. My suggestion is if you don’t have much to say space out your appointments. Then when things get bad you can increase your appointments until you’re better. In theory your T will know you better because you see them more and spend longer with them.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

Therapy was really hard for me at first. In fact with my first therapist I couldn't really talk so I typed pages every week and he read them and then we talked about what I had written.

After that therapist I went through several I didn't click with. I kept trying to stay with each one for a period of time to try to adjust and that worked; I never regretted leaving one and eventually I found someone I could work with. I saw her for 3.5 years and she moved so I went to my current therapist who I've been with 13 years. That started with a promise to myself that I'd try him for 3 months as he was very different than I was used to. It took a few weeks for me to realize he's an excellent match for me. I know I sometimes make him crazy but we have a good relationship and I'm glad I gave it a try. (And while I do talk to him I still type things that are too hard out and that's fine).

I think it is good you're giving it a few weeks and if it doesn't work don't hesitate to try someone else for a few weeks. Sometimes it takes a few tries to find the right person. It sounds like you need someone willing to let you take baby steps and there is nothing wrong with that.

[~Christina]

This is just my opinion ..... if therapy isn’t hard your not doing it right.

See my T has saved my life , helping me learn coping skills to manage my Bipolar.

Unless there is a court order no one can force you to go.

Do you have coping skills ? What do you do when your having trouble ?

I've found therapy more hurtful than helpful. It's not for everyone.

[piggy momma]

Therapy takes work. A lot of work. You can’t just show up. And you might have to shop around and test drive a few therapists until you find the one that’s right for you. I’ve had some really good therapists, and some whose gifts lie elsewhere.

Ultimately if you don’t want to be there, I’d say don’t go. You won’t benefit. That is different from being in therapy and having a one-time episode of not wanting to go (I wanted to bail today, but instead I went and we talked about why I wanted to bail - because I was super mad at him).

Therapy is also expensive, so invest wisely.

[needadvicenow5500]

I did give her a whole typed paper of notes about my family problem. Then I was disappointed the 1st session seems to be a lot of questions to get to know me first. But maybe some help will come out of it next time.

I can't answer these private questions about sex and my childhood and other crap, so I have to remember to just politely decline those subjects. That wasn't what I went to get help with.

I'm having a good day today and drawing a blank right now on what my problems were.

Are you retired or financially so secure that staying at home and watching TV or reading is just fine? Or would some change benefit you, financially, socially, and/or psychologically? If some change would be very beneficial, then that is something to talk about along with what is holding you back, and what you can do to assist in taking steps forward. The latter can include learning coping skills and helpful tools.

Nobody says that therapy is mandatory forever, but when we're stuck in a rut or hurting ourselves in some way, it can be beneficial. The support itself can be beneficial, especially in cases where we don't have enough or the wrong kind of support.

It's OK to express to a therapist that you don't know what to say or that you're not ready or interested right now to talk about the past. If they are a half-way descent therapist they should be able to ask the right questions or direct you in a way to help with that. Maybe if your past really has been an issue, eventually the therapist will inspire you to process it. If they don't/can't, they may be the wrong therapist, but that doesn't mean that there aren't others out there that are.

The therapist I had before my current one told me that it usually takes at least five sessions to know if you found a good fit, or to know if the approach is right. That goes both ways. And five sessions is usually "at least". I hope you will be patient to see if maybe your reservations change a bit.

[MickeyCheeky]

I think you need to evalute why are you going to therapy, needadvicenow5500. What do yo want to get out of it? What do you want to improve in your life? I thnk these are important questions you have to ask yourself. I think it's also good to discuss this with your therapist if you want. Both options are valid. Just remember that therapy requires work, and you must be willing to do what's required if you want to see some improvement. If you don't want to talk about certain topics, or want to focus on some other ones, feel free to talk to your therapist about this. There's also the chance he/she may just not be the right fit for you. In that case maybe it's worth trying another therapist. And finally, there's also the possibility you may just not be interested in therapy - and that's fine as well. If you feel like you're content with the way you are right now, I don't think therapy is necessary for you. The final decision is up to you. Just do what you feel it's the best thing to do for yourself. After all, it's your own time and money. Wish you good luck! Let us know how it goes. Sending many hugs to you

[needadvicenow5500]

Still my plan: to try it for a short time. I do have some notes/goals/etc. I might find it more helpful just to read on here and on other self-help sites/apps, like about meditation and other self-help.

[needadvicenow5500]

Originally Posted by BirdDancer

Are you retired or financially so secure that staying at home and watching TV or reading is just fine? Or would some change benefit you, financially, socially, and/or psychologically? If some change would be very beneficial, then that is something to talk about along with what is holding you back, and what you can do to assist in taking steps forward. The latter can include learning coping skills and helpful tools.

I get disability for a history of paranoid schizophrenia. Have for many years. Just recently had the diagnosis changed to bipolar.