[pegasus]

I'm obsessed with therapy and psychology in general!

I have been having therapy with my psychologist now for 4 years and still going...

Sometimes it is very painful and can be like going to the dentist,

and sometimes it is exciting and enjoyable!

It does seem to be a bit of an obsession a NEED to learn and wanting to know everything. Is this normal???

My T says it's ok.....it's ok to like /enjoy therapy and he says he can understand that. (But then he is a psychologist so he would like it too wouldn't he?)

Well, anyway I'm rambling a bit.

I guess it is a healthy obsession, but I'm wondering what I will do when all the therapy stops (not likely to happen yet).

Thanks for listening

[JustBen]

Hmmm. Interesting question. I guess I'd say it was a problem if you felt like you were never done. If you feel like you have to have everything 100% "done" and worked through, then it could be a never-ending process.

[Fuzzybear]

Psychology and therapy are fascinating, I agree with you there

It sounds healthy to me as you are learning a lot!

Four years isn't really all that long when dealing with and trying to heal a lifetime of pain

((((((((((((( pegasus ))))))))))))))

[pegasus]

Thanks for your reply (( JustBen ))

No, I don't think it will be a never-ending process.

I know I still have issues to work on, but I can see that it will end.... maybe in a couple of years I sometimes think Yep! I can see the goal and then other times not.

I guess I will have to find some way of keeping my interest in psychology?????

[pegasus]

Oh! Thanks (((((((( Fuzzybear )))))))))))

You can see where I am coming from!

Thanks for understanding.

Hi Pegasus

Not sure of your personal situation right now--- but have you thought about maybe taking some classes on psychology?

Who knows-- maybe you'll be a therapist some day-- --- you sure are helpful around here!

I wonder if there's something awfully wrong with me --- so many seem to look forward to their sessions--- I have to talk myself into going every time and have such a nervous stomach that day..... think it's partly the idea of letting someone else into my world-- that's very scary for me-- don't want them to get lost in the dark too!!!

Anyway---- warm thoughts to you!!!!

[pegasus]

Ahhhhhhhrrrrrrrrr! Thanks (((((((( mandy ))))))))) for your reply.

Well, Iv'e always wanted to be a T, but I don't have the money, and you need money to do a degree in psychology. ........ trying to be positive.... who knows what will happen in the future.

Hey! By the way, I get that sick feeling before going to therapy too Got to laugh about that one too!

years and years ago therapy used to be the in thing to do for the rich and famious so to speak. If you didn't have an analyst you were not worth very much money and personality wise. So in those times people stayed in therapy forever or as long as they could afford to pay for it regardless of having problems or not.

Like everything in life that attitude changed to if a person saw a therapy professional that meant that person was crazy as a bedbug so to speak and if that person had an analyst, psychiatrist, psychologist, counselor they were put down for it. In this timeframe NO ONE wanted to be in therapy regardless of the need or not.

Well times have once again changed. In this time period there is a mixture of the two previous time periods. Some people want to stay in therapy for however long they can afford to pay for it regardless of if they need to or not and others see it as a stigma of stability and refuse it regardless of need or not.

the therapy profession has found a neutral ground and that is that during the first few sessions the client and therapy professional spend time finding out what brought the client into therapy to begin with. Then goals are set around those problems. When those goals have been completed its time to leave therapy.

In some cases along the way of working on those goals other problems also need to be taken care of so more goals are added and completed.

One of my therapy professionals told me in actuality there is no end problems and goal setting it can go on foever because no one is 100% problem free. So I asked her "so when will I be done?"

I will probably never be done with therapy but I like many others may come and go into and out of therapy for the rest of my life because of the type of abuse I went under leave life long problems to take care of. but as for when I would be done with HER - That day would be the day She has nothing else to Bwitch about because I am using all the coping tools to take care of my problems just to keep her off my *****, and because I have better things to do then sit in a stuffy room talking about the sexual abuse I went through.

She was right I have been in and out of therapy for over 20 years. Each time I was done with that round of therapy when my goals were met (that is if I didn't give up before then)

This round of therapy has taken so far almost 6 and a half years. My main goal of getting my depression in control and learning how to take care of it not for short term but forever so that my child could come home was completed in one year. Other goals have been added and completed in that one year and then in the following years many more have been added and completed.

Where am I now? Well I could drop out of therapy today and have close to no problems maintaining my stability. The type of program that I am on is 98% self monitoring self goal setting and self accomplishing. In fact back last summer I found out that the court mandate that I remain in therapy had been closed back in 2002 but the DHS caseworker who had the court order on file never told me the courts had closed it. I had been in therapy fo two years beyond what the court said I had to be.

When my therapist and I were finally told that the court mandate had been closed 2 years earlier we had to decide if I should remain in therapy or not.

My first thought was cool I'm out of here and more than a few evil thoughts about the caseworker and my past lawyer who both had not told my past therapist and I that the court mandate had been closed and lead me to believe I had to remain in therapy for those 2 years.

Then I thought about it from the objective point of view of all I had learned in my total of 4 years of therapy most of which had been done the first three with the past therapist. I saw where I was before entering therapy and then where I was when I had to make this decision and what was left to take care of.

I ultimately stayed in therapy for a few different reasons.

One - I liked where I was compared to where I used to be.

Two - Even though I had entered therapy with a new therapist that I at that time did not personally like I have continued to move forwards under her mental health care guidance.

Three - If I continued to move forwards under her mental health care when I didn't like her and when she was beginning to grow on me the rest of the trip with her could be very beneficial now that I was actually liking her and doing this not to accomplish a one year ethics law time frame and a court order. I could not help but wonder where I would end up now that everything was in my control instead of the court.

four - I looked at my self set goals of what has been completed and what hasn't. At least one of them I could not do on my own - getting rid of a nightmare and the flashbacks that I have that matches the night mare. Working on that causes me to dissociate so I get no where. I felt that having a therapist as a guide for this would be beneficial.

All things considered based on where I was and where I wanted to be and what goals I wanted to complete meant that I remain in therapy.

when I discussed this with my present therapist she felt I made the right choice and used the right criteria to decide that -

I looked at

my accomplishments of goals completed
goals left to be completed
my ability to complete those goals without further guidance,
where I was at the present vs where I wanted to be.

then based on facts not on the emotions of whether or not I liked or hated being in therapy and liked or hated the therpist I made my decision.

and in doing so I made the choice that was right for me.

[pegasus]

Thanks (((((( myself ))))))))) for your detailed reply.

It is interesting how the mental health system has changed over the years (here in the uk. )

Years ago people with mental health problems were deemed to be 'mad'. The powers- that -be have realised that actually people become distressed, and that there is usually a cause to that distress. ie some trauma from the past.

And years ago patients were just bunged on meds and left to it.

Thank goodness that has changed now. TALKING THERAPIES are the answer and doctors are now refering patients for this type of therapy.

I do know that my therapy with my T will end one day. That will be when the child - part of my personality has been brought into the here-and-now.

As for my obsession with therapy and psychology in general......well .....it keeps me going and wanting to live!

[Hopefull]

I enjoy therapy to. It is a cool way to learn about yourself and can give you hope to get through life. It saves me from keeping it all in.
Like you, I worry that I might not want to quit when the time comes. However, I know that I can do it on my own at times. I just can't kick this sleeping/crybaby problem on my own. I think I can work through some of my other issues on my own.
I suspect when you finish therapy, you will find that you still do it in your own mind. I tend to have an inner T which I suspect you do too. If you want to become a T, try addiction counseling. It requires just an associates degree. Majoring in social work (BS followed Masters) and becoming a licensed clinical social worker can work too. Don't forget that the US government gives out grants (Free Application for Federal Student Aid-FAFSA) and there are scholorships too. You can also do what I am doing which is take two courses a semester in order to work through school. (It can cause high stress levels and may cause my depression-like problem when added to unexpressed guilt.)
Don't give up on your interest in therapy and psychology.

you're welcome ((((((((((((pegasus))))))))))))

[(JD)]

I think it's good to be able to do therapy. Think about this: if you think you don't need therapy, and are only there for another reason, wouldn't that, in itself, consitute a reason for therapy (going to therapy when you don't "need" it?)



I will always be in therapy. I tried to think otherwise, but at this point I feel I'm going downhill with my pain and disability... and the struggle gets harder.

[pegasus]

Thanks for all the replies, I really do appreciate the input.

Seen my T today........... and he said I got to keep FIGHTING.......... and to 'bang' around a bit!

So if I am a bit growly, please forgive me but it seems to be the only way forward.