[lisacj]

I have struggled with clinical depression my whole life. Unfortunatly, I wasn't properly diagnosed until my mid thrities. But the good news it, I finally found out why I was sooo different from everyone else.

Anyway, my question is this......

Do all of you go to therapists or councelors for therepy sessions? I have been through many in my lifetime. There have only been a couple I could talk to. It takes a certain person to get me to talk. But frankly, I don't see a reason to go. With the exception of therepy at the end of my marriage and during my divorce, it never really did me much good.

Anyone else like this.


PS: I am NOT suggesting that anyone not go!!

[optimize990h]

I agree with you as I have a difficult finding the right counsellor. Right now, I am in group therapy and I see a pdoc to monitor the antidepressant effects. My issue is trust with the therapists. I find if I go to a therapist, I need a specific goal, too.

I don't feel like spilling my guts, then finding that I don' t trust the therapist. :-(

[MudCrab]

Depression can be understood in part as a disorder of connection; as a result, the fastest way out of it is through improving your skills of connection with others. One of the most helpful elements in recovery is the quality of the relationship with the therapy professional and how consistent and trustworthy the connection remains between client and therapist.

The patient-therapist relationship becomes a crucible of wellness for many reasons, but the most important may be because it is a kind of living laboratory of all relationships. In addition, the exchange of support acts as a catalyst, hastening recovery and fostering hope. How do you mobilize this most important resource for recovery? ... http://www.psychologytoday.com/artic...-and-therapist

Hello, lisacj. I too have had many therapists. Several years ago, I stopped seeing a therapist because he said I have received the maximum benefit of what he had to offer.

I learned something from all of the therapists. I also think the combination of therapy and meds kept me from being homeless. To me it is a personal thing. At the time, I thought the combination was best for me.

You say it takes a certain person to get you to talk. Therapy to be successful requires the client to participate. Without the client's participation, the therapist is without valuable insight he/she needs to help the client resolve his/her issues.

I am curious about why you ask. It leads me to believe you are not where you would like to be. If that is the case, I suggest you try again and tell the therapist you sometimes have difficulty opening up.

Another suggestion is to journal. The entries should help you talk about the issues you are trying to deal with.

[lisacj]

The reason I asked was just because I see all the posts about seeing T or going to session. When I was a teenager I self medicated with drugs, alcohol, sex and an occasional suicide attemp. Those attempts got my lock up. I actually had one psychiatrist send me home stating there was nothing wrong with me except I was a spoiled brat.

I can't go in an office with someone who will say "tell me what your thinking". Normally what I'm thinking at that moment had no bearing on my depression. And I don't want to go in and talk about my current problems because that always made me feel like I was just a winey baby.

The councelor I started seeing towards the end of my marriage was the best. As soon as my time started, she would ask questions....in dept question. After the second or third one, I was spilling my guts. That was the lowest time in my life.

I will say this, I am actually at a point in my life that I thought I would never be. After my divorce was final, I went through a 3 step mental process. When I was done, I decided to change my way of thinking. I had been told that many times in my life, but I didn't think it was possible. But because I was able to do it.....I have managed to keep my depression to a minimum. I don't waste my thoughts feeling sorry for what I don't have and wanting what others do have. I'm not saying I don't ever get into bad cycles, but they are way more manageable now.

Now I'm sure in about 3 1/2 years this will all change. Once my daughter graduates and leaves......I know I will be a basket case! I have actually talked myself in a deep depression just thinking how soon it really is.

[tigerlily84]

Just wondering, but is there any way that you could see the T that you saw before again? Or maybe he could recommend you to another T that is similar in terms of style?

[lisacj]

Depression can be understood in part as a disorder of connection; as a result, the fastest way out of it is through improving your skills of connection with others. One of the most helpful elements in recovery is the quality of the relationship with the therapy professional and how consistent and trustworthy the connection remains between client and therapist.

To be quite honest, if someone were to truly study my brain they would find many reasons why I am not successful with therapists. One of my main reasons for not going is I know there is no 'cure'. I will always have this problem.

How do you mobilize this most important resource for recovery?

Pardon my ignorance, but what does this mean. What is this asking?

[lisacj]

Originally Posted by tigerlily84

Just wondering, but is there any way that you could see the T that you saw before again? Or maybe he could recommend you to another T that is similar in terms of style?

Unfortunatly she is about 60 miles away. And I'm not really sure she is still in business. She shared the building with her husband, a dentist. About 6 months after I moved away, I heard he had died. So I'm not sure if she is still there.

[TheRealFDeal]

I don't know if what I have to offer will be helpful or not, but I'll share my thoughts and experiences anyway.

My relationship with my current (and 3rd) therapist will end at the end of this month because, for reasons that are irrelevant here, he cannot help me anymore. He gave me a referral list of about 10 psychologists. So my first point is that if you are interested in seeing somebody, maybe you could get a list from somebody. Secondly, shop around. I have called all the T's on the list and several applauded me for "shopping around." I am asking for an initial consult to see if we gel and can work together. Hopefully I will be able to find one in a list of 10.

I have already met with one of them, and she presented an analogy that I thought was very valid. She said that if a person has diabetes, they have to make changes in order to live. They can't sit around and wonder why they should have to make these changes when no one else has to. While there is no cure, there are changes they can make that will improve the qualify of their life.

My current T thinks that one can recover from depression. I don't believe that for myself, but it makes sense to me that I need to do things and make changes that healthy people don't have to do, or that comes naturally to them. Now, do I follow through? That's another story. It is SO hard to do the things I supposedly need to do. SO hard.

So I want to encourage you to do the things you need to do to improve the quality of your life. We are here to offer you support even when you feel you just can't lift a finger. We will care for you anyway and not be judgmental.