Time to take an indefinite break.

It's been almost a year since I started therapy after what has been a very hellish time dealing with major depressive disorder and anxiety. Now that I'm finally feeling well and things are going great personally, I noticed that I really don't have anything to talk about anymore. I was going to weekly sessions and most of the time recently (now that I'm better) with nothing to say and I came to realization that I need to step away from it.

I've acknowledged things I need to work on and I know what I need to do, there isn't any more talking it through with therapy because it's action on my part that needs to be taken. My T seems to think that I'm running away from therapy and that I have trust issues. I've said repeatedly that trust isn't the case at all. In fact my T should know me enough by now to know that I would have left long ago had I felt that way.

I'm tired of the same song and dance... "what are you thinking" and "do you have any further thought on that". Part of me feels that psychodynamic therapy is a joke. I don't find this kind of therapy helpful if all your T does is ask you the same questions over and over and just sits there staring at you.

There's been times where I've said things because I was scared hoping I'd get some response but the things I wouldn't expect a response on get a response but the areas I needed help with I don't get that feedback.

Next week is my last session, I'm pulling the cord. This has been one heck of an expensive out of pocket year for mental health. The medication helped me but therapy after two T's, not so much.

Congrats! I mean that sincerely. I always think it's a wonderful thing when someone has utilized a professional service and feels that things have finally reached a point that they don't need that service any more! I also think it's great that you RECOGNIZE that you're reached the end of this particular trail of self-exploration. I do feel that a lot of us in therapy just keep going because we think we should. Ending therapy at the right point is a very good thing. It means that you've reached a personal goal and feel that it's time for you to go solo--trying out skills that you've learned or just going without the weekly support of "reporting into someone that holds you accountable"!

And you know what, even if you can't say that anything that went on in therapy was particularly life changing, that's okay. You went and talked about personal things and that's hard. You stepped outside your comfort zone and that is more than most people do! Pat yourself on the back. AND if in the future you find yourself stuck, maybe you'll seek out therapy again and find something new and different that you didn't the last time you went . . . or maybe not . .. either way, you're further along the road than anyone who is closed to their emotions or potential. Good luck on your new road to adventure and life changing living!

That's so cool! I'm so glad that you're feeling better. Its really nice to hear.

Glad you are in a good place, nutters! I'm currently taking a break myself - may decide not to go back at all. Who knows??

It'd good to hear that you've improved so much that you feel you don't need the support anymore. I really hope and wish you the best in your future!

Thanks for the kind words. I'm definitely feeling not only well but even happy about the fact that I'm able to quit. It's like an extra boost of happiness.

Then there's the other side of it all that hits eventually. Been there

Hope you continue to do well. I wonder if there is an option of going back if things get rough again?

Yeah, that's a good question. I think that wouldn't be an issue since my T is also my pdoc so I'd still be going for med check-ups but I'm going to ask anyways just to be sure.

Hey there! It's great that you are doing well! I went through this about a year and a half ago. I told my T I wanted to take a break almost every session for about 2 months, and she kept insisting I was running away and didn't trust her. I told her exactly what you said "if I didn't trust you I would have left a long time ago".

I almost felt trapped, so one day I simply emailed her and told her I'm taking a break and wanted to cancel all of my standing appointments indefinitely. I know that it's best to have a few "ending sessions" but with my T i realized that part of the process may not happen and I just wanted my time back (it was an hour to her office, 1 hour in her office and 1 hour back to my side of town)

All that to say, if you need a break, take it. If you feel like you aren't getting much out of it, take a break. If your T isn't hearing you, maybe just email her or him and say you're not coming back for a while.

Good luck!

I would be quite wary of any therapist who tried to stop me from leaving. I saw one for about 3 mos (this was about 15 years ago or so) who, when I said I was quitting - told me I could not - I said "watch me" and walked out never to darken her door again. She was batshit crazy.

A year's therapy really should be enough for anyone who isn't dealing with a serious, long lasting disorder, or who doesn't enjoy therapy. If you feel you're ready to leave, you are. It's not up to your therapist whether you're ready or not. I think it's quite invalidating and infantilizing to be told that you're running away when you're actually doing what you're supposed to do - moving on once you feel things are dealt with.

It's awesome to see a post like this here actually. I'm hoping to be ready to leave therapy soon myself too. I hope all goes well with you! Therapists like to say that you need to end therapy a certain way, but you're always free to leave how you want to leave.