[lemon80s]

Hi folks,

Many of you have been in therapy for a long time and can probably lift my mood some with your stories!

I went into therapy very recently, the act of going into therapy is basically one big stress factor for me. I've lived my life not looking back ever. What I did yesterday? I dont know. Where I grew up? Hmm don't even ask.

So, this being in therapy thing forces me to think about stuff for once, and even though I'm not overwhelmed with emotions, it's very tiresome. I cant stop thinking and a gazillion questions pop into my head. I'm starting to see all the issues I have and that they might need working on. And it just feels like SO MUCH. I went into therapy thinking maybe it could help me with procrastinating my graduation but obviously there's way more to it.

So, how did it go for you? When did the hamsterwheeling end? I've been in my head for like days on end now. I now procrastinate everything. I'm already getting tired of it. I won't quit therapy, I know it's needed. But some idea of how long this is gonna be so tiresome would be nice!

Thanks

The intensity of therapy waxes and wanes for me. I think I was definitely more "in my head" early on in therapy and have, over time, put therapy a bit more in perspective with my daily life. I don't think anyone can tell you how long it will be until it isn't so tiresome. It's very individual I think.

First couple of yrs were worst. I just got stronger & more able to tolerate the turmoil of emotions that come to the forefront in therapy.

I think it definitely goes in cycles for me, and it definitely gets worse before it gets better. Hang in there! It does improve, but I think the time line is different for everyone.

[content30]

Like the others, it waxes and wanes...for me, I feel like I spent about 9 months just going through lots of my past and issues dealing with that. After that, and for the most part, I'm working more on current issues and improving myself. Of course, the past still is discussed a little, but it is not at the forefront. I feel like this is so individual, though. It just depends on your past, what it was like, how much issues from then bother you and affect you now, etc. Anyway, yeah, it was about 9 months into it that I switched to talking more about the present. I went almost always once per week until then, with about a month of 2-3 times per week during a crisis time.

[lemon80s]

Thanks for the replies, it does look like it varies.
When I see my T again I'll try and breach the subject - we are suppose to be discussing what the goal is and all, so maybe she can give me some insight.

I don't know yet how long it's gonna be talk about the past. I grew up in a pretty crappy situation with abuse and emotional neglect and fostercare and what all not. But I don't know if we need to revisit that much since I've distanced myself from it a ton already. The result of the distancing is not being in touch with my emotions. I wanna tackle that, but have no clue if it needs lots of revisiting.

Will see! My brain will get tired eventually I'm sure.

[tinyrabbit]

I have a friend who loves travelling and I bought her this thing called a scratch map - it's a map of the world where you scratch off each country you've visited. Sometimes I feel like therapy is like that, that I'm scratching off bits of my life bit by bit, except all I find underneath is another layer to scratch off.

I've only been in therapy five months but I'd say the thing to focus on right now is just trying to build a relationship with your T and see where it leads - and talk to them about how you're feeling, as this is material worth sharing!