[Adyna]

I have seen that a lot of people on here, despite being in therapy, continue to say the same thing over and over as if they are prisoners of their 'diagnosis' or past.

Is there anyone that feels therapy has been a transformative experience for them? How have you changed? How do you want to change? What worked?

[SorryShaped]

Therapy helps me in many small ways. There's no single transformative event that changed everything at once. It's little bits here and there that help me learn better ways to cope.

[protos]

I had a friend who during the years goes to therapy, when we are young, we had the same, or very similar mental health disoreds, and ultimatey one day he told me that, it's amazing that I was overcome my disorders without therapy (in fact all of them go away in 95% after some years). He is going th the therapy still.

[elisewin]

Me! I have already ended therapy, but I found it extremely healing and beneficial. It has thought me ways to be present, to respect myself and my strenghts and feel safer and more secure in the world in general.

[Omers]

I have been in therapy on and off since 1994 with 9+ different T’s. CBT T (1999-2000) helped get flashbacks and body memories under control. At the time it helped, now with current T it is a bandaid that covered infection... but then if I were still having flashbacks and body memories I never would have found current T as he is a man and that was one of my triggers.
Current T is helping me in ways far beyond words even if sometimes it feels like it is taking too long (mostly this has been an issue since we have had to do teletherapy). I understand myself better. I understand how some of my old choices weren’t really choices, they were driven by my past. I see all new possibilities for the future that I never could have imagined. But, most important of all I am learning to feel love and loved in new ways that include far less pain and anguish.

[Lemoncake]

I worked with R for 3 years and 4 months: I'm still a bit nutty but:

-I haven't SH'ed for more than two years.
-I left a friendship with my old best friends, where I didn't feel like I wasn't being appreciated.
- I have more happier moments and learnt how to cope with my depression better.
-I learnt how to say "no" to things I didn't want to do.
-He gave me the courage to cut out extended family members.
- This is going to sound stupid, but I was frightened to go to the dentist.

Overall I used to feel so fragmented- I feel like I became myself more. I thought I would end up killing myself before I was 26 (I'm currently 28).

+ He also influenced me to be more green.

[stopdog]

No - it did not help me at all. It was not completely unuseful when my person was sick and dying - but that came up after I had hired them and therapy/ist did nothing - it was just a place to vent while they sat there doing nothing.

[childofchaos831]

For us, we feel like it hasn't really don't much of anything. We still as messed up as when we started if not more so, from uncovering more traumas that we didn't remember at first. Even with anxiety or self harm, it hasn't helped. Those are just as bad as when we started.

Now, we would like to say... We have a very difficult time trusting people, T's included. And have had a very hard time connecting with a T. We've been with our current T for 5 years and still have a hard time sometimes trusting her enough to say certain things. We're starting to wonder if it's the right fit. Or if we need to try to find a new T... We've been wondering that for a couple of weeks now.

[ArtleyWilkins]

Therapy saved my life. It changed my life. I know with certainty I would have died by suicide without the support and transformation that my therapy provided.

I am 8 years or so post-therapy. I am a very changed and much healthier, much more content individual.

[Elio]

Yes therapy has helped. I believe I would be dead had I not found someone that was willing to meet me where I was and was willing/able to work with me the way we have been working. It's a slow process for me and not linear.

[Sometimes psychotic]

Therapy really helped me become social with people ....I have social anxiety among other things......i used to not date or have friends now I have both.

[Mountaindewed]

Not lately. Not since these video sessions started.

[emmaleemochizuki]

it helped me in a way that I started to talk.

I have seen far too many therapists and psychologists and my current T is at least my 10th.

But she is the first one I spoke of about abuse.

It took me a whole year to actually start to feel safe to talk to her, but it was worth it.

I am still struggling, but things are better.

[ScarletPimpernel]

Therapy has helped me:
* Have a relationship with my mom
* Get past ex-T abandoning me
* Be able to do things like grocery shopping on my own
* Open up to my family about my issues
* Learn to navigate my sister's symptoms
* I haven't cut in over 5 years
* My H and I have less of an abusive relationship
* Gained a lot of good coping skills
* Provided me with a lot of support during difficult times

My symptoms have lessened greatly. I'm currently working on stating my needs and setting boundaries. I'm also working on fertility issues and spiritual issues.

[puzzclar]

I feel that I need to share my story.

I have seen over 10 t. Been in therapy for 15 years. I have never been this close to getting into my traumas.

And I am the one putting the work in. My t helps to pull me back to reality. And provides guidance.

I know for some people, they go into it with the t will fix me, I don't have to do anything. Well, I have words for you. I guess you won't change. If one feels stuck, and I did lots of times, then one needs a change in perspective. Start putting effort into the relationship with your t.

I have been reflecting on what to do, and then found a program that I'm very excited for. It's called Lifebook. I had to put $500 as accountability that I would do it, and at the end I can get that money back! I will take 6weeks and make a lifebook, with what I want my life to look like. And then I'll go for it, looking at the lifebook and creating daily goals.

Yes this is work, but life is work! If one sits ideally by, the world moves faster than the person.

Work for your dreams. Depression for me does NOT define me. I define me!

We are NOT our disorders. We are PEOPLE, looking for a better way, or staying the same, letting the past influence our present life. Is that what you want?

[downandlonely]

Therapy has never really helped me. But I think it's because I did not have past trauma to work through. My depression is mainly biological, so meds are the most important thing. However, I have found support groups very helpful. I am now doing virtual support groups.

[Mopey]

Yes, therapy finally helped me, but I had to find the right therapist first. Before her I had many who were no help at all - in fact, quite the opposite.

Good luck to you.

[Under*Over]

Yes it has definitely helped me. My therapist told me that while my condition isnt getting more or less severe at the core, with therapy and medication my coping skills and insight have gotten better. And I am really happy about that

[Bill3]

After four years of psychodynamic therapy I am much less socially avoidant, much more able to speak up for myself, far less anxious, much more self-confident.

[Victoria'smom]

Is there anyone that feels therapy has been a transformative experience for them? Therapy has saved my marriage several times. It keeps me out of the hospital.
How have you changed? I trust professionals, I talk but I'm still stubborn as hell.
How do you want to change? I want to feel comfortable and not self destructive.
What worked? Writing to my T's.

[Adyna]

Thanks everyone, great to see it's helped so many of you.

Originally Posted by emmaleemochizuki

I have seen far too many therapists and psychologists and my current T is at least my 10th.

I'm sure you can't have 'too many' Therapists..kiss a lot of frogs to find a prince.

Good luck everyone!

[ArtieTheSequal]

Therapy definitely helped me, once I found most recent ex-T. The first 2 times I tried I got no benefit from the experiences. I was in therapy with most recent ex-T for almost 8 years; I left about 7 months ago.

*Near the end of year 1 I got out of a job that was sucking my soul away and into a much better company, where I've been promoted, changed departments, and am looking at moving to another department again now

*I found true forgiveness in my heart for my Dad for childhood physical abuse (before he passed away, but I was not able to tell him before he died)

*Finally (and this took the bulk of the 8 years!) was able to forgive my Mom for a lot of stuff growing up and we now have a more healthy relationship
*I went back to school after talking about it for 5 years
*I started writing again and self-published a book of my poems which prior to therapy I would never have had the confidence to even think about doing

*I have completed several shamanic trainings that again, prior to therapy, I would have been too shy to attempt (therapy really brought me out of hiding)
*My relationships with my family and my spouse are better

These are the highlights, there are more little ways sprinkled throughout. It's the best and most difficult thing I've ever done for myself.

[Mopey]

Originally Posted by Adyna

Thanks everyone, great to see it's helped so many of you.
I'm sure you can't have 'too many' Therapists..kiss a lot of frogs to find a prince.

Too true, Adyna, too true.

I have noticed also, some people say the same things year after year.
Therapy has helped so much. I am so much better off now. I no longer have severe anorexia. No longer self injure. I have so many better methods of coping. And I am really happy.

[WastingAsparagus]

Yes, my therapy has helped me. The latest thing I have learned is how to be an adult. Ha. I mean, it needs to be learned at some point. I am still working on it, but it needs to sink in...