[benzenering]

I'm pretty stable on my med cocktail, diagnosed with bipolar 2. However, I feel stuck...drinking too much, not doing activities I used to enjoy. I really think I'm just having a midlife crisis. Kids are grown, so there isn't too much for me to do. Would I benefit from therapy? I've done it before, but while I was in the doldrums of depression. I'm OK right now, but wish life had more to offer. Thoughts?

[Melody_Bells]

Hi Benzenering, maybe therapy can help you get unstuck, improve the drinking, and live a fuller happier life? Life shouldn't be just mediocre, you deserve deep joy and true happiness! There is no harm in trying, it's just extra support to help you get where you want to be!

[sunrise]

Sounds like you have several things to work on in therapy. A midlife crisis sounds pretty important. I found that when I was having the most trouble and in "the doldrums of depression", the progress in therapy was slower. When we are not so depressed, but still in need of help and have a desire for improvement, we may be able to make faster progress and more lasting change. Go for it!

[gayleggg]

I think therapy could give you some insight to why you are drinking and not doing things you might normally do. I think it could give you some direction for your life. Melody Bells is right, you deserve joy and maybe therapy can help you find more joy in you life.

[Hopelesspoppy]

Why not? I agree with all of the above. Okay is just okay, why not go for good or great?

[benzenering]

Thanks, y'all...I was just wondering if the therapist would laugh at me or something, seeing as I'm not in a crisis. That's when I went to therapy before (it helped!).

[Melody_Bells]

No, therapists would probably love to help you you, someone who wants to live the fullest possible life with the therapist's help! Go for it!

[LadyShadow]

Originally Posted by benzenering

Thanks, y'all...I was just wondering if the therapist would laugh at me or something, seeing as I'm not in a crisis. That's when I went to therapy before (it helped!).

They won't laugh, you have some issues that you need addressing. Like the drinking and the possibility of a mid-life crisis. I'm no therapist but it sounds to me that you're just in a funk and need some excitement. I am in the same boat and therapy doesn't really help me, but it might help you.

[learning1]

I think some therapists are better at accepting self improvement as a viable therapy goal, and some need more dramatic problems to keep them entertained. A difficulty with asking them about it is that if you're using insurance, they have to classify it as a problem/diagnosis to get the insurance to pay. It's not hard for them to come up with a problem/diagnosis for most anyone I think, if the person says they want therapy, and you mentioned several things that are normal things to work on in therapy. It just makes it a little trickier to talk about it if you're really looking for self improvement. But I think you can still ask them if they're willing to work with you even if you're not having any crises.