[Poppy Princess]

How is therapy supposed to help? Is supposed to be comforting? Cause I don't find it very comforting. How do you reach some kind of conclusion?

[wotchermuggle]

I think that therapy can be very difficult. Especially when you just start out (but also throughout the time you're in therapy) things often get worse before they get better. I think conclusions and change come from better understanding yourself, what has affected you and where you're coming from, in order to move forward with a more positive life.

[Miswimmy1]

Therapy is a journey. I don't think it is always going to feel comforting, but it is definately not always supposed to feel bad either.

I don't know why you are in therapy and what kind of therapy you are doing, but generally speaking the point of therapy would be to find solutions to your problem and/or to achieve your goal. In order to do that it would be advantageous if you had a good relationship to your therapist and coudl open up to him/her. Comfort isn't really the main point in my view. You can get comfort for free from family, friends, animals, an activity..But when it comes to getting an objective view of your problems and working toward resolutions, you need a trained professional. I think you have to try to be active in therapy and really fight to get as much as possible out of the session.

[Poppy Princess]

For me the problem is I have no idea what my problems or goals are. I know I want to be happy but I don't know what would get me there.

[wotchermuggle]

Originally Posted by ArmyGirl

For me the problem is I have no idea what my problems or goals are. I know I want to be happy but I don't know what would get me there.

That could be a goal: "Find out what will/makes me happy."

[tinyrabbit]

I think therapy can be comforting. It can also be scary, upsetting, maddening and uncomfortable!

My T says it's a mixture of being challenged and being held.

[learning1]

One common thing is you figure out with your therapist if there are things you got used to when you were growing up that you are so used to that you don't notice it but you assume it is that way for everyone. Sometimes you find out that other people's expressions and reactions to things mean something completely different from what you thought they meant from what you were used to growing up.

[stopdog]

I have been doing it for 3 years. Nothing comforting about it as far as I can see.

[refika]

Sometimes therapy will be comforting, other times it will be the worst day of the worst days you ever had. Sometimes therapy will be the best day of your life. That's all part of the process.

If you have a good therapist that you trust and work well with, the good days will outweigh the bad days, but the bad days are needed to get to more good days.

[stopdog]

There are times when the appointment is not the absolute worst part of the week, but it has never been a good part, just rarely not as bad as other parts. Most of the time it is the worst part of the week for me.

[Mapleton]

Originally Posted by stopdog

There are times when the appointment is not the absolute worst part of the week, but it has never been a good part, just rarely not as bad as other parts. Most of the time it is the worst part of the week for me.

I'm sorry. Can we swap my bi-weekly for your weekly?

My T says that if therapy were easy everyone would be doing it. He also says it takes a very brave person to keep coming back.

[BonnieJean]

I rarely find therapy comforting. It is a lot of hard, painful work. The results have been encouraging..

[Poppy Princess]

Mine isn't a lot of work. It's kind of boring and useless.

[Mapleton]

Originally Posted by ArmyGirl

Mine isn't a lot of work. It's kind of boring and useless.

Therapy is only as good as your motivation to work in therapy. Generally speaking if you're not ready, it will feel "boring and useless," and if you are it will not. I've read Ts write that, and people in therapy.

I do, though think that a skilled therapist can get you to see that you have obvious underlying stuff that you SHOULD be motivated to change. That's what happened for me.

[almostthere]

Hi ArmyGirl

Strong name for a girl who has issues.

I'm here to lend support in your journey.
I have a lot of experience and have gone through therapy sessions, and been put on meds, more than I care to remember.

Anyway, what you need to do first is to established a certain level of trust between u and your T. It begins by being honest about the issues that brought there and whether your T is a right fit for u. U know like a pair of shoes.... when u try one on that isn't comfortable, u go on to the next. Right?? But in real life situations, it's not that easy. Right???

U need to established a comfort zone with your T. Easier said then done because school does not teach us how to navigate through life, and much less, our issues.

Anyway, try to hang in there. To b honest I'm struggling with the same issues as u r and so r so many people in this country.Just listen to the daily news reports.

good luck... and all the best...

U can send me a PM if u like.
I'm know as "almeostthere" in this hear territory!!!!

Don't be shy.... give me a try!!!

Originally Posted by ArmyGirl

How is therapy supposed to help? Is supposed to be comforting? Cause I don't find it very comforting. How do you reach some kind of conclusion?

[sittingatwatersedge]

Originally Posted by refika

If you have a good therapist that you trust and work well with, the good days will outweigh the bad days, but the bad days are needed to get to more good days.

thanks for this. I will try to remember it. I do think I have a good one; but you're right, the bad days are the WORST.

[adam_k]

For me it is about taking a second look at my life. Trying to figure out what worsens or helps my depression, dealing with my marriage crisis, and learning how to express my emmotions and needs. I tend to not express myself or what is bothering me. I do a lot of avoiding, and ignoring issues. Sometimes it is helpful when she asks questions that I haven't thought of. Sometimes it feels like she is dropping bread crumbs to help me figure out how to better manage my life.

Therapy is probable different for everyone as we all have a own issues, compounded with traumatic events and mental illness. Everyone is a unique snowflake I guess. The first step I think is finding someone you connect with. That you feel comfortable talking to. If you find them difficult to talk to then it will be hard to establish trust and get anyhing accomplished.

Once you have some trust you can feel comfortable opening up and maybe figure out what makes you sad. What is missing. How to feel about yourself and learn to like yourself. That is something I struggle with constantly. Therapy has helped me so far. It is not easy, but I am starting to work on some issues. Finding the right medicine also helps. It is hard to feel better or work on yourself if you don't even want to wake up in the morning. After 5 tries I found one that makes me feel less depressed. I still have my days, but that is probable due to my marriage problems I am having.

I hope you can find some treatment that can lead you to some hapiness. If not a treatment, then a friend, priest, or partner that helps you gain some balance in your life and feel better.

[WikidPissah]

Comforting...never. I always hated it.