are things supposed to get worse before they get better

I am getting treatment for trich. I just started about a month ago, but the pulling seems to be getting worse as well as the depression. Is this normal? What should I do?

katlover, what type of treatment are you getting? Are you in therapy? I think some people do feel less depressed after only a short time in therapy, but others take longer, and some people benefit from medications also. I think it's very individualistic, so if your treatment involves therapy, and you are still depressed after a month, it doesn't mean the therapy won't be helpful, and it certainly is not uncommon. You should share your concerns with your therapist. If your treatment doesn't involve therapy, you could consider adding that to what you are already doing.

I think sometimes right at first, where you are, symptoms can get worse. Not only are we dealing with what we are dealing, but now we have added a new relationship and a new kind of relationshiip that might require some time for trust to grow and for symptoms to subside. We feel vulnerable and desire to hide it, and the very symptoms that take us there can get worse as we adjust and attempt to put words to what we feel and see what therapy has in store for us. That can be nerve-wracking and if pulling hair is how we deal with anxiety, then it would make sense that it could get worse. Feeling more depressed can also be a way of dealing with the tension of the unfamiliar; as it becomes familiar, it can feel much better.

I urge you to talk with your therapist about your hair pulling seeming worse and that you feel more depressed. ((( katlover )))

thanks guys I think I will. It all makes a lot of sense now but I will still voice my concerns to my T

Thanks again
Kat

it does seem that way....
((((((((((((Katlover)))))))))

This is only my experience, but in my case things definitely got worse, before they started to get better. I've had several points in therapy when we were working on really intense stuff, where I got worse, had to work through it and then feel better. But definitely talk to your T to tell him/her how you're feeling. You might need to work on coping strategies to help you deal with the emotions that therapy is bringing up.

--splitimage

(((kat))) Things do often feel worse because you are no longer denying the feelings, but looking at your life, as others said.

Do keep your T abreast of how you are feeling and what you are thinking. The T needs that feedback from you, so T can determine if you are going too fast, too quickly, through the issues. That's a common occurrence, btw. To jump in with both feet, so to speak, when beginning therapy. Going slower will hasten good therapy, in that you will be covering the issues themselves, rather than having to stop all the time and "recover" from the reactions.

If you can keep in contact with that yourself...

Thanks how long will it take before things start improving. Today was really bad. I couldn't stop pulling. I have an appointment with my T on friday and hopefully I'll have the guts to voice my concerns. I'm still not totally comfortable with this whole psychology thing. Creeps me out a bit.

Hugs

Kat