[penguinh]

I think we all get overwhelmed on how much we need to improve on in life that we forget about how far we've already come. So how much has improved/ changed in your life? What are some life lessons you learned on the way?

For me, reflecting back I've actually grown a lot through therapy and life experiences. I used to be super germaphobic and borderline OCD (so much so that I was misdiagnosed with OCD). Everything had to be done in a specific way. I had terrible anxiety attacks and would get random crying spells where I couldn't stop crying. My anxiety was so bad I broke out in rashes and had numerous body pains. I had such problems with food and sanitation that I wouldn't even play cards with my friends because I was concerned about their dirty/sticky hands touching the cards. I was also so easily irritated by the smallest things and could not find satisfaction in anything that I did. I was shy and introverted and cared way too much about pleasing people. I'm not 100% better as I still have much to work on but reflecting back, I've learned a lot and I'm proud.

Congratulations on how far you've come. For me, it's always good to hear about progress, no matter how big or how small. Even, baby steps are worth celebrating and sharing with others.

[UnderRugSwept]

Originally Posted by penguinh

I think we all get overwhelmed on how much we need to improve on in life that we forget about how far we've already come. So how much has improved/ changed in your life? What are some life lessons you learned on the way?

For me, reflecting back I've actually grown a lot through therapy and life experiences. I used to be super germaphobic and borderline OCD (so much so that I was misdiagnosed with OCD). Everything had to be done in a specific way. I had terrible anxiety attacks and would get random crying spells where I couldn't stop crying. My anxiety was so bad I broke out in rashes and had numerous body pains. I had such problems with food and sanitation that I wouldn't even play cards with my friends because I was concerned about their dirty/sticky hands touching the cards. I was also so easily irritated by the smallest things and could not find satisfaction in anything that I did. I was shy and introverted and cared way too much about pleasing people. I'm not 100% better as I still have much to work on but reflecting back, I've learned a lot and I'm proud.

That's great; congrats to you! May I ask what kind of therapy you have been doing and specifically how you have made such progress? I personally have very similar issues but haven't been able to get very far with both CBT and psychodynamic therapy. Thanks!

[glitches]

I have been in therapy for a short time. I am going through a crisis in my home life and things are tough but I feel like being in therapy is helping me see it as it is rather than make excuses about it. To be honest this makes me mad because it is much easier to deal with when my head is buried in the sand. This doctor says we can't deal with my past trauma until I deal with things going on now, which puts a damper on my plan to deal with the past so that the present is easier - I see no way out of the things going on right now. So. I guess the improvement so far is that I am more aware of my issues in the "now" ...whether that is good or bad is yet to be seen.

[penguinh]

Originally Posted by Elsewhere

That's great; congrats to you! May I ask what kind of therapy you have been doing and specifically how you have made such progress? I personally have very similar issues but haven't been able to get very far with both CBT and psychodynamic therapy. Thanks!

Thanks I'm supposed to be doing CBT but my therapist haven't been very consistent with it and most of our sessions consists of me talking about my week. Not saying that my therapist was completely unhelpful but most of my progress is due to myself. Being on Prozac has done a lot for me and with it, I'm able to think more clearly. I'm able to see the positive side of things and how my thinking may be distorted. One thing that contributed a lot to my growth was getting a job. The job kept me occupied and busy and left me with little time to ponder about life and things I was unsatisfied about. It's also definitely made me less germaphobic as I get used to things. I've also been trying extra hard to 'find myself' and reflecting back on moments in my life. I think the most efficient way to make progress is to find a hobby or a job, anything that will keep you busy. I've learned that this isn't going to be handed to you on a silver platter by your therapist, you've gotta work hard for it yourself. Best of luck to you!

[HazelGirl]

Things have changed a lot since I started seeing my T. I am more in touch with my emotions, more caring towards others, more brave, and can connect with others more honestly. I don't feel like I am hiding who I am so much anymore, because at least one person (my T) knows me just about completely. There are still a lot of things to work on, but things have definitely improved.

[Leah123]

I started therapy in a rut. I was working and not much else. I was having a lot of anxiety and some angry outbursts at my daughter that I realized I needed help to overcome. It's been one year of intensive therapy and here's my progress in brief:

1. The intensity and frequency of my angry outbursts is drastically down, perhaps 80%.
2. I take much better care of myself, mostly. Overall, I'm resting more, taking time for myself, listening to music I love, and surrounding myself with comforting things, getting ahead of my stress more.
3. I am enrolled in college again, a long deferred dream to earn my BA is in progress. I've got just a little more than a year left until I finally graduate.
4. I've gotten my husband into therapy to work on parenting issues and depression that were harming our family.
5. I'm vastly more self aware: I see how I'm really feeling under all my stress and respond to it better. I walk away from conflict most of the time when I need to. I take a breath before losing my temper. I am mindful of needing help and comfort when I'm anxious... so, all in all, I respond to my emotions better.
6. I've stopped making rash financial decisions to assuage my anxiety about money. (I still overspend on therapy, sigh, lol, but... Rome wasn't built in a day.)
7. I'm working through my daughter's issues (ODD) better, more constructively, and starting to see a little progress.
8. I'm doing a fair amount of trauma work, really integrating the past with the present, defusing triggers, being strong enough to look at my most painful moments and most difficult challenges and share them in therapy.

I still have a ways to go in having the life I want, and being more comfortable in the life I have, but... my therapist says I've made amazing progress and I like to believe her.