[sidony]

I don't know if I've ever mentioned this, but therapy had one unexpected benefit for me that I just love: I no longer dread the end of the weekend. :-) I used to dread its ending so much that by mid-afternoon on Sundays I started feeling depressed. And I don't know why really -- it's not like I hate work (I don't). It just sometimes felt like the days were really long and I was waiting an awfully long time to get to a full free day. Well, that all changed upon starting therapy. I look forward to the therapy visits which are always during the week. For a while there at the beginning, I was looking forward to Tuesdays and kind of hating the latter part of the week. But nowadays I have group therapy on Monday nights and individual therapy on Thursdays late afternoon. I look forward to both (I greatly prefer individual to group, but they're both fascinating). So these days I look forward to 2 therapy sessions per week. And I've even managed to add other high points to the week (weekly happy hour on Tuesdays, etc.). I may not like Monday mornings, but I barely even remember dreading them now. :-)

Sidony

I know you mean! Actually (pathetically?) the first thing I thought of when I woke up this morning was, "Blah, it's Sunday-- but at least I have T on Tuesday." Yes, there are a lot of other things to get me through the week, but they mostly consist of work and school. It is nice to know that I will have that time that will allow me to suspend the way I have to operate in "normal" life, and just let myself go. I normally get to look forward to T twice per week, as well... but unfortunately this week I have to see pdoc on one of the days that I usually see T. I have been dodging that appointment since before Christmas, and just getting him to call in my refills, but now I have to see him.

My favorite, unexpected benefit of therapy has been... BOOKS!! My T has given me so many books (and articles) to keep. He also also told me about a lot of books that I have bought (great-- spend more money). The books he has given me have ranged from Shakespeare to Winnicott to Kerouac. Everything from plays to psychology books. He has opened up a wealth of information, and helped me to set the foundation for a lot of my favorite theorists before I even started doctoral school.

[ECHOES]

Hi Sidony

That's a great benefit to get!

I still have the dread that hits early Sunday evening even though I now have therapy twice a week and I love that and look forward to those sessions very much. I also have a need for full free days and large blocks of free time. Just how I am. Others don't get that sometimes, but I don't get how they do without it!

[internettie]

I can relate. I see my T on Mondays and I really look forward to the weekend ending now. LOL I used to lie in bed on Sunday nights and dread the week starting. Now I can sleep easy knowing that I get to see T on Monday. It is a great benefit of therapy.

[Brian37]

my favorite unexpected benefit:

learning how women really think...

female therapists rock!

[chaotic13]

When I started therapy I thought the T would listen to my problem (only one was perceive at the time lol) and give me a few techniques or strategies to better tolerate it or change what was going on. I got that benefit. But one that was unexpected was realizing that I had great friends that I had never really talked to.