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Therapy experience
Hi all,
I started therapy two weeks ago so had two sessions so far. It goes well I think. I discovered some things and put some pieces together. I had a major breakdown after first session and cried a river. I felt a massive relief after the second one - last Thursday however I am back depressed since yesterday, feeling empty and a bit lost. Something like 'and what now?'.
Could you pls tell me what your experience is? Do you feel the same?
Marie
I started therapy two weeks ago so had two sessions so far. It goes well I think. I discovered some things and put some pieces together. I had a major breakdown after first session and cried a river. I felt a massive relief after the second one - last Thursday however I am back depressed since yesterday, feeling empty and a bit lost. Something like 'and what now?'.
Could you pls tell me what your experience is? Do you feel the same?
Marie
Could you update us on to how your therapy session helped, or not, as the case may be. Did you benefit from the sessions?
Hey Marie!
Like others have said, that is an absolutely normal thing for therapy. I end up gushing out with almost every therapist, or group therapy. It is actually easier to cry now for me, and I'm usually one of the few guys in the group thus it is easier. The girls already know I'm not tough anyway haha.
A good way to think of strong emotions or crying during therapy is the metaphor of a lake that has a dam at one end of it. The lake is your frustrations, emotions, torment, etc. The wall, obviously, is the barrier of holding things in. It doesn't mean you "wall up" - just means not everything is in the open as much as we would like. The first time you release the water, it just gushes out. Then, there is probably still a lot of water in the lake. So next week, a lot may gush out again. You'll find in time that therapy can turn into small releases. You will feel understood and your emotions validated. Perhaps you will have more of a constant flow of water through the dam once you learn and practice coping techniques. Then, therapy will feel more like chatting with a best friend, which is a great feeling I must add. I looked forward to my weekly one-on-one and also my group therapy.
Things will become smoother. I fought therapy harder than anyone I have known, even people who refuse to ever go. I had tried quite a few (most I was forced to see as a teenager). My school psychiatrist was pleased to hear I wanted to give therapy another try, after only going to a lady twice a few semesters before. She set me up with a psychologist who was a specialist in addiction... and by the end of school all we chatted about was Bob Dylan and tomatoes. To give an honest estimation, I told him 80% of what was on my mind. I probably attended a total of around 30-40 different sessions in my last year and a half of school. After just 5 or so, I saw what it was all about. Meaning, I saw the merit and how much of an opportunity it was to help myself.
Reading can help. Sometimes I get frustrated with books after reading a chapter and going off in la-la land for weeks. I love TedTalks on youtube. Those can be really fascinating. I feel like the more I understand brain chemistry and psychology, the better I understand my feelings. My group therapists used to always say I should go back and double major in accounting/psychology. Err not sure what those have to do with each other but I took it as a compliment. I'll bust out the serotonin/norepinepherine/dopamine convo on anyone who says drugs are the scourge of treating mental illness, or even worse that mental illnesses are 'made up'. I am kind of inspired by Tony (weaver) to understand addiction more. Helps me remember what is really going on.
It is great people are giving a plethora of suggestions. If you start looking for answers anywhere, you will get used to wanting to know yourself. Then, the psychologist or therapist won't feel like the do-or-die big leagues. I used to feel like if I didn't go to therapy, I was just stuck there in life and nothing good would happen. What a horrible pressure to put on oneself. It will just be another element of your repertoire to gain understanding and hopefully (as I did) find many sources of stability that you can rely upon.
I think getting into therapy is like getting off of drugs. Pressure can make it difficult. I finally got people to stop treating me like an addict, I made them treat me like a person who happened to suffer from addiction. Then, I saw things for what they were. Therapy is the same way, kind of reversed. Don't think of it as the only way you are going to get better, and it might not seem like such a big deal. I eventually thought of it as meditation instead of a mental-probing session. My therapist let me call the shots. I told him I thought about doing whatever drug, he wouldn't tell me not to. He'd let me work it out in front of him verbally and I always ended up getting a tiny bit of reinforcement when I needed it. That is quite the stark opposite of when I was forced into things and uncomfortable when I was a kid. That is the difference between being forced into something- unwillingly and scared- as compared to wanting to get help. Find someone you can trust, even if it takes a while. It will make a world of difference.
I know I typed a lot out. I really care about that step you took. Even if you just went twice- it shows you are trying. And that is what really matters.
Like others have said, that is an absolutely normal thing for therapy. I end up gushing out with almost every therapist, or group therapy. It is actually easier to cry now for me, and I'm usually one of the few guys in the group thus it is easier. The girls already know I'm not tough anyway haha.
A good way to think of strong emotions or crying during therapy is the metaphor of a lake that has a dam at one end of it. The lake is your frustrations, emotions, torment, etc. The wall, obviously, is the barrier of holding things in. It doesn't mean you "wall up" - just means not everything is in the open as much as we would like. The first time you release the water, it just gushes out. Then, there is probably still a lot of water in the lake. So next week, a lot may gush out again. You'll find in time that therapy can turn into small releases. You will feel understood and your emotions validated. Perhaps you will have more of a constant flow of water through the dam once you learn and practice coping techniques. Then, therapy will feel more like chatting with a best friend, which is a great feeling I must add. I looked forward to my weekly one-on-one and also my group therapy.
Things will become smoother. I fought therapy harder than anyone I have known, even people who refuse to ever go. I had tried quite a few (most I was forced to see as a teenager). My school psychiatrist was pleased to hear I wanted to give therapy another try, after only going to a lady twice a few semesters before. She set me up with a psychologist who was a specialist in addiction... and by the end of school all we chatted about was Bob Dylan and tomatoes. To give an honest estimation, I told him 80% of what was on my mind. I probably attended a total of around 30-40 different sessions in my last year and a half of school. After just 5 or so, I saw what it was all about. Meaning, I saw the merit and how much of an opportunity it was to help myself.
Reading can help. Sometimes I get frustrated with books after reading a chapter and going off in la-la land for weeks. I love TedTalks on youtube. Those can be really fascinating. I feel like the more I understand brain chemistry and psychology, the better I understand my feelings. My group therapists used to always say I should go back and double major in accounting/psychology. Err not sure what those have to do with each other but I took it as a compliment. I'll bust out the serotonin/norepinepherine/dopamine convo on anyone who says drugs are the scourge of treating mental illness, or even worse that mental illnesses are 'made up'. I am kind of inspired by Tony (weaver) to understand addiction more. Helps me remember what is really going on.
It is great people are giving a plethora of suggestions. If you start looking for answers anywhere, you will get used to wanting to know yourself. Then, the psychologist or therapist won't feel like the do-or-die big leagues. I used to feel like if I didn't go to therapy, I was just stuck there in life and nothing good would happen. What a horrible pressure to put on oneself. It will just be another element of your repertoire to gain understanding and hopefully (as I did) find many sources of stability that you can rely upon.
I think getting into therapy is like getting off of drugs. Pressure can make it difficult. I finally got people to stop treating me like an addict, I made them treat me like a person who happened to suffer from addiction. Then, I saw things for what they were. Therapy is the same way, kind of reversed. Don't think of it as the only way you are going to get better, and it might not seem like such a big deal. I eventually thought of it as meditation instead of a mental-probing session. My therapist let me call the shots. I told him I thought about doing whatever drug, he wouldn't tell me not to. He'd let me work it out in front of him verbally and I always ended up getting a tiny bit of reinforcement when I needed it. That is quite the stark opposite of when I was forced into things and uncomfortable when I was a kid. That is the difference between being forced into something- unwillingly and scared- as compared to wanting to get help. Find someone you can trust, even if it takes a while. It will make a world of difference.
I know I typed a lot out. I really care about that step you took. Even if you just went twice- it shows you are trying. And that is what really matters.
Glad to hear that so far it's been a good experience for you. That's a very positive sign. It DOES feel so good to kind of "unload" all of that emotional baggage, doesn't it?
Just stay patient and keep going. Improvements are usually gradual, but they will come. I know I always feel like a HUGE burden is lifted after each therapy session. It's very cathartic.
Once you start getting into the nitty gritty of therapy, and after you've gotten through the part where you're trying to get your therapist up to speed about who you are, and what your issues are, you can ask for "therapy homework", things the therapist can recommend you doing outside of your sessions to help you at home, and also she can recommend resources, like books, etc.
Please keep us posted on how it's going!
Just stay patient and keep going. Improvements are usually gradual, but they will come. I know I always feel like a HUGE burden is lifted after each therapy session. It's very cathartic.
Once you start getting into the nitty gritty of therapy, and after you've gotten through the part where you're trying to get your therapist up to speed about who you are, and what your issues are, you can ask for "therapy homework", things the therapist can recommend you doing outside of your sessions to help you at home, and also she can recommend resources, like books, etc.
Please keep us posted on how it's going!
The only group therapy sessions I attended was in psychiatric hospital. I did sessions when I was an in patient, and when I was discharged had out patient sessions. I did join Depression Alliance, and they have meetings in some towns. The groups are run by volunteers, and I went to a local one for quite a while. Long time ago now, but it was a friendly group, and everyone supportive of each other. We had different activities, and nice to be with others who understood.
Bunny hope the next therapy session is helpful to you. Let us know how you get on.
Bunny hope the next therapy session is helpful to you. Let us know how you get on.
Hi, I don't know about sessions or groups available. I've never really tried to find them.
Therapy so far - just two sessions. Another one is on Thursday I think. Hard work but I think it is a good thing for me.
Therapy so far - just two sessions. Another one is on Thursday I think. Hard work but I think it is a good thing for me.
Hello, I have not heard that there are free DBSA (sorry do not know what they are) here in UK. Have you Bunny?
How are you doing with the therapy sessions Bunny? Let us know. Thinking about you.
How are you doing with the therapy sessions Bunny? Let us know. Thinking about you.
In the UK do they have free DBSA support groups too? When I was in therapy I made it an every day thing. Probably the manic in me, and slight perfection thing. I felt like you, once I opened up the dialog it just poured out of me. I still work on my mental health every single day here in CR too.
Louise Hay videos. What the Bleep movie. Power of Now,The Four agreements on cd. Gratitude journal. Watch sugar content in food. No booze
Louise Hay videos. What the Bleep movie. Power of Now,The Four agreements on cd. Gratitude journal. Watch sugar content in food. No booze
Hello there. I think your reaction to your first therapy session was normal. It released a lot inside of you, which must be a good thing. You probably need quite a few more session before you feel any improvement. It can take time.
It is like a lot of things, we feel worse before we feel better. Some people benefit from therapy and others do not. I have seen quite a number of therapists, and I know you have to have a good connection with them for sessions to work for you. If you feel, after 2 sessions, you may benefit, then continue to see your therapist. Only you can make the decision whether to continue or not.
Perhaps what you felt after the second session was normal. This is definitely something to talk to the therapist about. Hope things get better Marie. Let us know how you get on please.
It is like a lot of things, we feel worse before we feel better. Some people benefit from therapy and others do not. I have seen quite a number of therapists, and I know you have to have a good connection with them for sessions to work for you. If you feel, after 2 sessions, you may benefit, then continue to see your therapist. Only you can make the decision whether to continue or not.
Perhaps what you felt after the second session was normal. This is definitely something to talk to the therapist about. Hope things get better Marie. Let us know how you get on please.
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