[learning1]

Sometimes when I'm down I look forward to therapy and to hoping I can learn to deal with things better. That helps keep me from getting more depressed. But when something gets me really down, like now, it's hard to believe therapy could make a difference. Anyone else experience that? How have you gotten through it?

I guess that since I'm posting on here, I'm getting back to feeling some hope about it. A lot of the time it seems like the hope is all in my mind and not based on anything I experience in therapy though. Well, sorry for being negative. I wouldn't be posting on here if I was really hopeless about it

[lastyearisblank]

Thanks for sharing that (((learning1)))!! I think a ton of people feel that way actually! Big hugs (even if you don't need them!)

[Seshat]

I can totally relate, learning1. I guess I'm not over it, but I've talked about it with T (I've made it clear that it has nothing to do with him, of course, because it really doesn't) and he's been really understanding and supportive. That alone has helped me keep my hopes up.

[Splintered]

I feel like that sometimes too. I think because therapy is one of those things where it's so subjective and different for every person that it can be hard to see how it's helping. Can you see any changes in your life since you started therapy? If you can then maybe write them down somewhere and then you can go back and re-read them when you start to feel like there's no hope. And if you can't think of any ask your t - I think they often see the changes before we do. if ok

[learning1]

Originally Posted by Splintered

I feel like that sometimes too. I think because therapy is one of those things where it's so subjective and different for every person that it can be hard to see how it's helping. Can you see any changes in your life since you started therapy? If you can then maybe write them down somewhere and then you can go back and re-read them when you start to feel like there's no hope. And if you can't think of any ask your t - I think they often see the changes before we do. if ok

That's a good idea I think Splintered... at least if my t can think of something. I've been going to him for a few months so it might not be long enough. I've been going to therapy for longer but I keep changing t's. I did write some stuff down with the one who seemed like he made a difference and it did help to go back and read it before. Now that's over a year ago and I started thinking the differences were probably mostly superficial since they didn't last. Oh well, at least I know it was possible for a bit.

[PTSDlovemycats]

I can relate to this as well. It does improve...

[learning1]

Originally Posted by PTSDlovemycats

I can relate to this as well. It does improve...

thanks PTSD. I needed to read that today

[ECHOES]

Yes, I feel it too sometimes.

One thing that has helped me a lot is to remember what my T said very early in therapy when I was struggling so much and that was to "Trust the Process". I couldn't even trust her then, but I could almost always remember her saying this (when I couldn't remember, many times my PC friends would kindly remind me ).

Thinking of it, of her asking if I could do that - which seemed like her offering hope or a lifeline - was relieving. It meant I didn't have to do anything right then except make that decision, to allow myself to Trust the Process.

Originally Posted by learning1

But when something gets me really down, like now, it's hard to believe therapy could make a difference. Anyone else experience that? How have you gotten through it?

Oh my gosh, yes. I remember asking T at one point how showing up there and talking about this stuff and feeling all of these feelings would ever help me heal...and I honestly think he said something like "I don't know why it works, but it does". Which wasn't that helpful, but I knew I didn't want to feel like that forever so I just kept showing up.

And sometimes, I look back and think...WOW. I don't know how it works, but it DOES. Things shift inside somehow, and some light gets in, and they shift a little more and some love gets in and slowly, slowly, slowly it gets better.

The crazy thing is, when we hit on a new thing in therapy and I feel awful again, I don't believe that therapy will help. Even though it HAS with so many other things...I've EXPERIENCED it! That's kind of where I was before I took a break. I just couldn't go into the stuff we were getting into, because I couldn't find the faith inside that it would work. But...I know it will. I know because I am so different now from when I started therapy. It works.

The only thing I know to do is to keep showing up, week after week after week. It really does get better.

[learning1]

Thank you Treehouse. I think I wanted to hear someone say keep showing up. I WANT to believe in it. I wish my t had said "trust the process" or just said" it does work". He has said he Knows it works, from his own experience. Knowing he believes in it helps, I just don't know right now if he believes in it working for me, or if I'm some kind of weird whiny brat that he wonders why I show up. He told me, when I said I don't know what to do, that the things to do are so simple that people don't believe him at first. So at least he thinks there's something I could be doing.

You gals (and guys) are helping me feel better about it now. THANK YOU!!!

[Suratji]

Originally Posted by ECHOES

One thing that has helped me a lot is to remember what my T said very early in therapy when I was struggling so much and that was to "Trust the Process".

My T says that a lot and I have continually challenged her. I feel like the extra slow kid in the classroom as I ask T, "Can you explain it to me AGAIN?" Finally, after so many times of her explaining it to me, I think I finally get it. But don't ask me to explain it because I don't understand it that well yet.