[content30]

When I used to spend a lot of time on here and people disappeared, I used to wonder how they were and occasionally worried. So, I thought I'd type an update and a post on therapy.

Just over two years ago, I had a serious attempt and went inpatient, after I left the hospital. It turns out, my medication had a negative affect on me, and coming off all of it helped me a lot. In the meantime, I received excellent therapy from an amazing counselor. I can honestly say that I am happier than I've ever been. She's been a huge catalyst for change in me and helped save my life. I am forever grateful to my T.

Because I was helped so much, I decided to apply to graduate school to become a counselor. I plan to be a therapist on the side to give back and help others as I was helped. I'm working full time and going to school part time, one of my reasons for disappearing off of this board. I have no free time.

I have no standing appointments with my T and haven't seen her in almost two months, but she's there when I need a "check up."

I want to write this to encourage all of you that you CAN come back from the pit of despair, if you're there. I want to advise you to allow your therapist to be your ally; open up to him or her; do your assignments; and make the changes that you need to make! I'm walking and living proof of how therapy can heal.

So, how about you? How has therapy helped you? If you're stuck, what can you do differently to become unstuck?

[growlycat]

That's really great news-thank you!!

I once had a horrible reaction to Paxil--it made me really aggressive and combative-yikes!!

What made the difference for you, how did you turn it around?

[content30]

Thank you. I'm so sorry about your terrible reaction. Truly, my counselor was the biggest catalyst. She genuinely cares about her clients, and we are a great match. Last semester, I wrote a paper about the therapeutic alliance in therapy. I referenced a number of journal articles regarding studies that all show that this is the number one indicator of a positive outcome in therapy. Because we have an excellent relationship, I trusted her with everything, followed her advice, and worked hard. I did every assignment; I changed jobs; and I changed my living arrangements. I worked through all of my tough issues from my past and worked on changing unpleasant situations for myself and unhelpful characteristics of myself. I also decided that since I had been on several medications and had several attempts that nothing worse could happen from going off my medicine. Lo-and-behold, I felt better. I was definitely over medicated (for my body). I have nothing against medicine, was helped by anti-anxiety meds in the beginning, and have friends who are greatly helped by medicine. However, it's not for me at the moment.

The keys were a great therapist who is an excellent match and a lot of hard work on my part. Don't get the wrong impression; I didn't hit the ground running. It was a long and arduous process with a few steps back. Overall, though, I gained momentum and can now look back on that dark valley from a mountain top. If I can come back from where I was, then there is hope for so many more.

[unaluna]

Im just so glad to hear back from you!!

[Asiablue]

Love to hear these positive stories! Thanks for coming back to fill us in

[content30]

Originally Posted by hankster

Im just so glad to hear back from you!!

Thanks Hankster! I always enjoyed interacting with you on here, and I hope you're well!

[content30]

Originally Posted by Asiablue

Love to hear these positive stories! Thanks for coming back to fill us in

You're welcome! It's nice to hear from you too.

I truly will never forget all of the posts by you and others on here about Ts and therapy. I'm carrying all of that with me in my heart and mind to help mold myself into a good, compassionate, and empathic therapist.

[stopdog]

I am glad to hear you are doing well.

I'm so glad you're doing well!!!

so good to hear ♥

That's great news content and congrats on taking the next step and going to t school. It's great to hear positive stories

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ListenMoreTalkLess]

Thanks for posting your inspiring story, and I wish you well from here on out.

[bazzinga1990]

I think you'd make a wonderful therapist with the experience under your belt and everything. I would like to congratulate you for your success and therpy. I haven't really noticed a difference in myself yet but I've just started with there be a couple months ago and I know this kind of stuff takes a long long time it could be to that I need to express more to my therapist so what's going on in my head which is one big huge thing or issue in other words that I have have a very hard time letting people know how I truly really feel.

~Ashley~

[AmysJourney]

Thank you for sharing your positive story, I appreciate it so much!

[content30]

Thank you all for your kind words.

Bazzinga, hang in there. I'd say at about a year, I started to see that I'd improved a lot. However, everyone is different in so many ways.

[Aloneandafraid]

Thank you so much for your inspirational post. I've been seeing T for almost a year and I think I am beginning to trust her and open up to her (at last!) we've had a few breaks along the way as she has taken quite a few long breaks for 'family duties' (we are on a two week break at present) and I am struggling each time to get back the connection - but hopefully it will come! Thank you for your post and congratulations/all best wishes for the future. I really want feel better.

[content30]

Originally Posted by Aloneandafraid

Thank you so much for your inspirational post. I've been seeing T for almost a year and I think I am beginning to trust her and open up to her (at last!) we've had a few breaks along the way as she has taken quite a few long breaks for 'family duties' (we are on a two week break at present) and I am struggling each time to get back the connection - but hopefully it will come! Thank you for your post and congratulations/all best wishes for the future. I really want feel better.

Alone, I'm glad you're starting to see progress. It took me about 10 months to fully open up to my T. It can take a while to build that kind of trust, but it's worth it.

Best of luck and well wishes to you.