Therapy and/or Support groups

Saw a therapist once for a few months, I personally never got anything out of it, guess I had to deal with problems on my own.

I've just begun to attend a support group, but sometimes feel I don't belong. Diagnosed manic/depressive, slight OCD.

It's weird, one side of me wants to hear/know how others handle issues, then the other side is like, so what, why should I care how they deal with anything.. Get so confused.

Plus I think I go, cause' they are basically my only social interaction. Some days it's ok, my anxiety is subdued, others it acts up, so i sit quietly.

Pay me no mind, just rambling.

Fred

I think therapy & support groups are helpful. You can learn how to reduces stress, how to manage your illness better, what changes you need to make in your lifestyle to help you, what your triggers are & how to avoid them, etc. Plus I like knowing that I'm not alone in this quest for a better quality of life with a mental illness. One of the women I've gotten to know in my support group who also has bp has expressed concern about how I'm doing & convinced me to go to my meds provider. I see her in a week to see if my meds need to be adjusted.

My friend was able to explain symptoms that she recognized that I didn't & helped me to understand that I need to give my provider the full story of what is going on with me or she can't treat me as effectively. I didn't go see her when I was hypo manic (I just enjoyed it too much), but then I crashed & did some dangerous things so the advice to see her when I am manic was valid.

Hope you can find some good out of therapy & support groups. We are like a big support group here. I'm learning a lot from the people here.--Suzy P.S. You may have to try several therapists until you find one that clicks with you. I went through several until I found one I thought could be helpful to me. So interview the therapists. You are hiring them for a job & you have the right to see if they are a good fit for you. I'm also a loner, due to my illness, but as I mentioned, I'm finding some friends in my support group.

Hi! I agree, you can use support groups for the social interactions alone...unless they aren't controlled well.

Healing, improving ourselves is tough work. I hope you can continue to do what you know is good for you...and allow some of the ideas that come from the group to be worked into your own life.

Yes, I know how it can seem like Why should I care what they did this week etc? But as you said, you can learn or remember social skills for yourself, how to handle a situation or how to change your own self that way too.

I also agree that searching out another T or type of therapy is a good idea. TC

Therapy and support groups are a great way to add to a persons support network of frineds Thats how I met many friends across the USA. By the way In my opinion stumbling is sometimes good. alot of people notice things that are right infront of them but they don't always remember to pick up what they have dropped along the way until they are sitting on the floor after a stumble or fall.

Hang in there.