[LostSoul6]

I've had a pretty bad year in terms of stress/emotions. The last few years of my life have been a constant change. A few life changing things have happened. When I thought I was happier/'over' it, something else happened (the ending of a romance, I got really hurt) just a couple of weeks ago. It's like everything that's happened plus the hurt i'm feeling over the romance has just knocked me literally down. I'm struggling to do anything that i need to do, like eat, clean, go to work. Instead doing a lot of laying in bed and crying. The only thing that does remotely help is seeing my best friends. The hard part is just pretending i'm okay. I've already referred myself to a counsellor and had an assessment....now it's just a waiting game as to when they will get back to me with an allocation. I'm really struggling with that, i need someone to help me now, but it's out of my control. I think counselling will help process everything that's happened and help me with coping with things. Well I hope so, i'm not doing much good by myself.
Has anyone has counselling for AD and if so how long did it take you to feel more yourself/happier? Or did it not help at all?
I think I have a separate attachment issue, because I'm always happier 'with someone' or when I love someone, and I need to learn to be happy by myself and not rely on other people to keep me happy. Which is probably a seperate issue i need to deal with along side the AD i'm facing.

[SnakeCharmer]

Welcome to the forums. My problem wasn't adjustment disorder, but I know people who had that diagnosis and got a lot better with counseling. They also found out they had some deep problems that required help, too, and that was probably the most helpful.

I hope other posters who've experienced the same thing you're going through will share their stories with you.

I wish you the best.

[tealBumblebee]

I don't know if my opinion counts because, while I have been diagnosed with AD, I also have a few other dx's too. Still, I can refer to coping in general. I think one good thing is that you can actually recognize when you are doing a poor job of coping (knowing that you should eat/clean/work, even if you choose not to do those things). I think that counseling can help you find the motivation to do things that are beneficial for you because, though lifes challenges will continue to hit you hard - you'll have a sort of better armor to shield you from falling into that deep place that happens sometimes.

Has anyone has counselling for AD and if so how long did it take you to feel more yourself/happier? Or did it not help at all?

I have been seeing T for about 16 months now, and I can say that I probably noticed changes around the middle of this year. So, 10-12 months in?? I think I started feeling better immediately, because I could get things out - but I think it was latter in when I was able to recognize how I feel in certain moments, learn to process why, and somewhat manage how I react to them. T has, especially lately, commented on the amount of progress I've made from when I first started in that I am able to express things I wouldn't have, recognize behavior patterns and (somewhat) confront something that should be addressed. We're not perfect, but it's a process. And while I am continually learning ways to cope better, there was a point when I didn't know how to cope and then a point where I didn't want to cope and now i'm to the point where I can try different ways of coping to see what works at what moment. (Mindfulness techniques tend to be the most effective for me at this point; perhaps because it helps me focus less on the negative and "whats wrong" and more to calm me so that I can react and make decisions with more purpose.)

I think I have a separate attachment issue...

I do too; one of my other dx's is Dependent PD - so there could very well be a tie into that and the ability to adjust to changes in a healthy manner.

I say give it a try as I truly think it could be beneficial. Don't rush it, but also, be sure to be open to different ideas because those things that seem weird or pointless or "not for you" possibly could be the most beneficial! Good luck! Hope you get some answers soon and don't have to wait much longer.

[BonnieJean]

That was my dx when I started counseling. A lot more stuff was discovered in the course of counseling. I'm glad I went. (am going).

[Salmon77]

I was diagnosed with an adjustment disorder, though there are some other issues at play. Not sure what exactly (haven't asked and T hasn't offered) but probably depression and attachment issues. I've been seeing my T regularly for about ten months now and I think it started to help within a month or so. It's small changes that add up so it's sort of hard to define a time frame, plus my stress levels vary. But I think I am definitely coping better now than I was a year ago. So yes, it helps, and I would recommend it especially since it sounds like you're in a pretty rough place right now. Hope things get better for you--good luck.

[feralkittymom]

That was my basic diagnosis. Unless a client presents with an obvious and serious disorder, it's often the diagnosis that's first given because it is the least stigmatizing. The only issue is that protocols suggest @ 6 months of treatment, so if it takes significantly longer than that to see progress, providers may need to add another diagnosis (depression is a common one) to justify continued care, if necessary. And yes, therapy helped a lot with the underlying depression.

[LostSoul6]

Thank you all for your input. I had a better day yesterday, I managed to go to work, and not think about things for about an hour or so at a time.
Still waiting for the counselors to get back in touch... but it's monday so maybe sometime this week.
Hoping this week will be better.
Reading some of the threads about therapy has worried me though. It comes across like not all therapists are professional and some people get attached to their therapist. I don't want to be dependent on them too much.