[archipelago]

I would have designed this as a poll, but then I wasn't sure how. Anyway, I'm interested in what people do alongside therapy to attend to whatever issue they are dealing with. I am curious because therapy is so important, yet it really is limited in terms of time, unless we are wealthy types that can go 5 times a week.

Though there are all kinds of alternatives to the therapy model, what I'm curious about in particular is how whatever you do when not actually in session is related to what does happen in sessions.

For me, though I do a number of things, one consistent thing has been self-analysis. In other words, I use the therapy as guidelines that then I apply to whole bunch of things that I may not necessarily ever bring up in therapy, but they have everything to do with how the therapy is working.

I've used three basic techniques. The primary and strongest one is writing. (And alongside that secondarily reading if interested.) The second one is mindfulness or meditation practice. (Again augmented by reading when helpful). The third is more general--creativity in whatever form it takes. Also within that since I tend to combine my creativity with long walks, there is exercise though I don't necessarily tie it strongly to therapy itself.

Curious to hear what others do or how people think about the way they view therapy in their lives. Whether they contain it within the limits of that particular time or extend it outside.

[refika]

Currently I'm going to therapy 3 times a week, but that will soon diminish to 2x a week. Between sessions, I rely heavily on writing to cope with all the issues I have. I also try to keep busy with my work and hobbies, but some days the issues really affect my ability to get work done.

[Raging Quiet]

I used to have acupuncture alongside therapy when I went through a crisis point; it was beneficial.

[tinyrabbit]

Interesting question. I have had to stop writing as too much comes out. I find it better to focus on self-care and coping, so I don't think about too much at once and get overwhelmed. Lots of distraction, like reading and playing my guitar. I also colour - I bought a colouring book full of patterns and it's so relaxing. Also lots of mindfulness / grounding / trying to stay in the present moment.

[wotchermuggle]

Medication - I'm currently resolved to the fact that I need them and that they are a benefit to me. In typical bipolar fashion though, my mind constantly tells me I can do it on my own.

Working - This probably sounds silly, but I do better when I'm working. I need a predictable routine otherwise I really struggle. Even in my worst times, I tell my therapist and Pdoc that it's better for me to work than to ever be in hospital.

Eating - The worst one of all. I'm definitely a comfort eater.

[healed84]

Wotcher.. Working has been my saving grace this 7 months. Really, it is really hard to be anxious when I am at work with 16 kindergartners who need my full attention. In stark contrast to last year at this time when I was having mutiple anxiety attacks and I was staying at home.. it gave me time to sit and home and really feed into my anxiety. Granted- I still spend a lot of time in my bedroom after work, but nobody is perfect!! so yes, work is essential to part of my therapy as far as getting me better.

Medication.. as much as I hate to admit to it, meds make me better.

Guided meditation, writing, excersizing..

[ultramar]

Amongst other things:

I keep a journal that is mostly, although not exclusively, about therapy.

I try to conjure up my therapist between sessions, remind myself that he is 'there' and of the moments when I have felt good in different ways while in session. Sometimes I try to figure out what he would say in a given situation, even have 'conversations' with him.

Work: I work in a 'helping profession' which gives me a great deal of satisfaction. I often work with very ill people -both physically and mentally and people struggling with very challenging social issues- and this sometimes helps me keep in perspective my own challenges; there are always others 'worse off' (though you can't compare suffering, of course). It helps me to climb out of myself and into the shoes of others.

I also take medications, pretty hefty ones, which help me to gain what I need out of therapy and also not to dive into unbearable abysses and fly into out-of control/destructive and sometimes psychotic manias (usually).

[stopdog]

I see two therapists, acupuncture, sacral cranial therapy, meditate, take qi gong classes and sometimes yoga.

[wotchermuggle]

Originally Posted by healed84

Wotcher.. Working has been my saving grace this 7 months. Really, it is really hard to be anxious when I am at work with 16 kindergartners who need my full attention. In stark contrast to last year at this time when I was having mutiple anxiety attacks and I was staying at home.. it gave me time to sit and home and really feed into my anxiety. Granted- I still spend a lot of time in my bedroom after work, but nobody is perfect!! so yes, work is essential to part of my therapy as far as getting me better.

Medication.. as much as I hate to admit to it, meds make me better.

Guided meditation, writing, excersizing..

What a coincidence....I also work with kids and have extreme anxiety. It's not about the work, but I get it in response TO work....if that even makes sense. The anxiety has kept me from work, so I have to push through to get to work, then I'm usually fine. I spend a lot of time alone too.

Glad to know someone else gets it, but sorry you're in the same spot. Therapy is really helping me too.

[archipelago]

Sounds so far like quite a range of differences, which I think is very interesting and healthy. It's interesting to hear that some people like I do take to writing, but others don't. Also that mind/body alternatives are also included. And the addition of committing to working for others. All of this makes lots of sense. It also shows that we each take our experiences in the directions that best suit us and don't necessarily have to agree or disagree about it at all.

At this point maybe I'll add an additional issue. Is therapy something that is held up in a certain way above other things or is it just one of many other things you do to keep yourself healthy?

I write a lot (both journaling and poetry), I do dream work and Active Imaginations and then crochet quite a bit which is just very relaxing for me.

[stopdog]

Originally Posted by iota

. Is therapy something that is held up in a certain way above other things or is it just one of many other things you do to keep yourself healthy?

It is just one of many things. I don't see therapy as better or more important than anything else. For me, it is probably the most expendable out of the things I do.

[archipelago]

Yes, I understand that. There was a poll in a different area of this site that asked about whether or not people took on their diagnosis as their identity, with degrees of how strongly or not. There were a few reactions that caught my attention, one saying that it was shocking to see that so many took on the diagnosis as a crucial part of their lives. I don't personally feel that way, but I also don't have any judgments about it. To link that to this issue though, it would seem that if you felt that your diagnosis was crucial to who you were or what you were doing in life, then it would logically follow that you would take therapy perhaps as more important than other daily experiences. I don't actually know. It's really more of a curiosity, but something that matters to me so not completely idle.

For myself, there have been times when therapy seemed one of several things I was doing. When I switched to a different kind of therapist, even former issues seemed brand new and the idea of substantial change and understanding of all that I've been through brought me back into it as a very important part of my life. It's really actually too complicated to go into, but I have wondered how people do view their own therapy experiences and how much time they spend working with these issues on their own or through other means.

[Anne2.0]

Right now, physical therapy and bodywork (deep tissue massage therapy) are very much linked to my therapy. I am dealing with chronic pain issues that resulted from a minor surgery and are very historical in nature.

Exercise, walking and swimming, definitely help keep my depression and PTSD symptoms in check.

Mindfulness/meditation practice. Also doing "brain training" on luminosity.

Writing practice/creative writing, including taking a class, have joined a writer's group where I actually read my stuff.

Knitting and spinning (yarn, like on a spinning wheel). Gets me outta my head, a creative outlet, also a community-based activity where I knit with others.

[HealingTimes]

Hi

Journalling-I keep a journal, and write poetry. I also want to start writing short (VERY short!) stories. Writing is my main outlet in between therapy sessions.

Art-I was very sceptical of this to start with, but my T has won me over. I draw like a 2 year old, and have no art skills whatsoever, but i am starting to really enjoy the art that i do in between sessions, as my T is into art therapy as well as usual therapy.

Self-care- I try to make sure that I eat 'reasonably' OK during the week. This is the hardest bit for me, not not really a huge surprise since i am in therapy for an ED. I also try to resist any SI thoughts.

my dog helps me a lot. makes me get up, go for walks, etc.
i also garden and try to run.
the running is good for getting rid of the anxiety...
hot baths, but gotta be in a safe mindset in order to relax from them..

great questions and great answers

[rainboots87]

I used to write a lot in my journals. But at some point it became it depressing to write how depressed I was, repeatedly. Last year, I found an old journal from a difficult period of my life and it was like a book of depressive suckiness. I tend to stay away from my current journal, except to write important things I want to remember or that are really meaningful.

Mostly now I do yoga. There is a lot of overlap of yoga ideas/philosophy and the DBT ideas and loving-kindness I learned in therapy. Some classes can be very cathartic and others can be more challenging. I really enjoy it and find it helps me manage my anxiety quite a bit.

[rainboots87]

Originally Posted by iota

At this point maybe I'll add an additional issue. Is therapy something that is held up in a certain way above other things or is it just one of many other things you do to keep yourself healthy?

I think I used to hold therapy very highly, mostly with the two therapists I was attached to. But it is currently not super high on my list, though I know my last T thinks it's important for me, and I know I need some kind of help. Now, it's just of of the things I do.

[content30]

I've been spacing my therapy sessions out more and more, once every two or three weeks. Going to church, being in a small group, hanging out with friends, having a small dog, working full time, volunteering, doing some minimal exercise, and staying on top of my finances and keeping a very neat house are all very helpful to me. When I'm not neat and organized, I become stressed. My spiritual health is extremely important to me. I uses to do yoga and mountain bike a lot. I miss both and would like to get back to doing both again....