How does talk therapy help you? - Anxiety and Depre...

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How does talk therapy help you?

kittenkisses91 profile image
14 Replies

I just had my second therapy session today, and I'm just wondering how exactly the therapist and going to therapy helps you?

I asked my therapist and she said she would help me learn skills to help me in situations that make me anxious. I have social anxiety and am also struggling with depression. One of my "goals" from therapy is to make more friends but even talking about that and what I would have to do to make that happens makes my heart race!

I feel that talking in therapy about my issues also makes me kind of depressed afterwards because I have to think and talk about all my issues to someone else.

The sessions seem so short too! 45 minutes is only long enough to really talk about one issue and it seems hard to believe much is going to happen quickly.

I've avoided therapy for so long, my psychiatrist has been trying to get me to go for years, but it's so uncomfortable to talk about my issues with someone. So how has it helped you? Or what have your therapy experiences been like?

Thanks!

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14 Replies
TriggerPoint profile image
TriggerPoint

When I See A Therapist ? I EXPECT Some Feedback Too ! It IRKS Me When It Seems Like I May As Well Been Talking To A Wall !* BUT ? I Have Had Some That Were "GREAT" Too ! Find The Right Ones.... [ most therapist are merely good to vent too. but it helps ]

Prayers For Ya ~*

P.S. What ALL Those Folks Have To Soak In In Just One Day Makes Me Wonder How They Stay Mentally Stable...LOL... Seriously Though....

Agora1 profile image
Agora1 in reply toTriggerPoint

Me too. I wonder about that each and every time, as well as how they keep

all the names of the players in our stories straight. x

TriggerPoint profile image
TriggerPoint in reply toAgora1

Recorders & Notes....I Guess....

Agora1 profile image
Agora1 in reply toTriggerPoint

You know TriggerPoint, I've never seen my therapist write anything

down, but you may well be right in that they use recorders. Thanks

for the input. :) x

TriggerPoint profile image
TriggerPoint in reply toAgora1

Surely They Do.... Oh ! Remember The Movie The Sixth Sense ?...Notes & Recordings...Somebody Is Recording These Sessions Even If The Recorder Is Not Seen.....

Agora1 profile image
Agora1 in reply toTriggerPoint

Oh I do remember the Movie The Sixth Sense. Each time I see it, it gives

me goose bumps. :)x

gerg profile image
gerg

I have found group therapy to be most beneficial for me, but individual therapy works similarly. One needs a fair amount of sessions before the results begin to appear. The sessions may be short but the work continues until the next session, and then some. Openness and honesty are imperative, you are doing this for yourself. Always be meticulous with your words, and you will provide most of what you need for therapy.

Agora1 profile image
Agora1

Hi kittenkisses91, going to therapy is definitely work as well as a 2 way street.

That 45 minutes does goes by fast I'll agree. It is hard talking about things that

already have you stressed and can make you more anxious for that moment. My therapist

has helped me greatly in situational issues. Not that we always agree. And that's okay.

Therapy has given me things to think about which has allowed me to pick apart my

anxiety and get down to the root of the cause as well as find the key to the answer.

It's taken me a long time to get where I am at today. That mostly was caused by my

not believing what the therapist was saying and so it took hearing it over and over until

one day as I've said before, I had an "aha" moment. Everything became clear. I understood what they had been telling me over the years. Several therapists during that

time but always the same advice and yet I fought it. Once I accepted that the professionals knew what they were talking about, I put their advice in place and started

moving forward. There's always a place for medication and therapy for a while. It's a good building block. Once we are at a place of stability, we can look further for other methods and tools to use to keep our lives going smoothly. My best to you :) xx

Therapy has helped me a bit. It all depends on the person you talk to. There has to be some sort of connection or else they just can’t help me. It’s nice to have a person who’ll sit and listen to you, even if you’re paying them.

Needtovent profile image
Needtovent

Therapy helps in that it should help you to realize why your body reacts the way it does (anxiety symptoms) . Once you get a handle on that you can slowly begin to address how to change that. This will be one small thing at a time, a small change in your behavior to recognize, then, act upon - that will be your 'homework' for the next session. I've had some good and not so good therapists. Frankly I'm not sure how some who just look at you without challenging your thinking on a subject, are trained..... but if they're not, find someone new. Give it a good try!

Bluekoala2813 profile image
Bluekoala2813

Control self a community and praying and candles of peace

WiltedFlower profile image
WiltedFlower

I had a similar situation with my new therapist, and I talked to my psychiatrist about it and she said something to me that I think might help you, "your first few therapy sessions will be discussing how your week has been and how you are doing b/c you haven't known each other for long, and are still introducing yourself and getting comfortable." WHich I realized is very true. Your therapist is most likely trying to feel the waters as of now and trying to understand who you are, what your situation/experiences are like or have been so they can give you accurate feedback. But if this lasts longer, and you two don't have a connection, maybe consider another therapists. it is very simple to find others near you.

As for your talking about your issues and this making you more depressed/emotional, it is totally normal to feel that way. I hate to break it to you b/c i'd only like to give you good news and support, but therapy won't always be kittens and rainbows. It will hurt some, but it is a part of the healing process! you need to allow yourself to feel vulnerable to begin to feel better. But to make yourself feel better after therapy so you are on the upside rather than the opposite is to distract yourself! It's a great way to put yourself at ease. Try grounding yourself, too! Me personally, I like doing puzzles and sudoku b/c it makes you think about what is right in front of you and not what happened 10 minutes ago or 2 weeks ago. Other ways to ground yourself are to identify 5 things: What are 5 things you can see? What are 4 things you can feel? What are three things you can hear? What are 2 things you can smell? And 1 thing you can taste? say this outloud. These are just a few things to try, but they have worked for me so well in times of anxiety. Even if I was a mess and breaking down, shaking, crying, can't hear, concentrate or focus on anything. The whole ordeal. Things are different for each person and other things may work differently for you rather than how they did for me. But I hope this gives you an idea.

Take care, and stay safe. I hope you feel better soon <3

I've been through a lot of therapy and I've had both good and bad experiences with it. What I don't like about it is that even when it's helpful, you can become too attached to it. The therapist is not your friend. I've gotten to a point where I'd just like to have some good friends, but I've had friends come and go. I will say this, if you see a therapist for 2 or 3 months and you still don't feel like they are that helpful to you, try finding someone else. Therapy is very personal and there can be personality clashes. Find someone who really cares.

bethelbee profile image
bethelbee

For me talk therapy helps. My present therapist, who I've had for about 3 years makes/helps me see things in a different way. I don't always realize it at the time but I'll think about our conversation afterwards and think, oh yeah, now I see; that aha moment agora1 mentions. My last therapist was also great, he helped me through many a rough time and helped mend my relationship with my brother, who abused me when I was little. Sadly that therapeutic relationship ended, just wasn't beneficial anymore, but I presently have another wonderful therapist. You need to put 8n the work as well.

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