scared about the future

[willowroux]

I'm really worried about starting a new therapy program (IOP) tomorrow for my depression, anxiety and ptsd. I just realized the biggest thing I'm worried about is it not working for me. This will be the second time I've done this particular program and I recently got out of a five week residential program.

Each time I do something like this I feel okay for awhile, better. Then my mood quickly drops and I'm back to where I was, if not more hopeless than before. It gets to the point where I'm suicidal. I'm sad all the time and I'm sick of it.

I know I need to do something different, put more into it or something like that. I guess I just feel stuck and I'm scared things aren't going to change for me.

[blackcat64013]

Hi Willowroux,

Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) are a step-down from a higher level of care such as inpatient treatment so your mental health professionals have made a clinical judgement that you are on the road to your recovery.

Look at your Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) as a way to empower your healthy self and instil a strong belief in the hope of recovery for yourself and believe that you can do it.

One of the best pieces of advice that I got was that real-life situations that are encountered in daily life mean that recovery doesn't always follow a straight line. When life throws up a roadblock this becomes one of the shakiest times of your recovery and you need professional support. Don't be afraid to acknowledge the fact and ask for help.

I believe in you, to make a success of this

P.S. My treatment plan works best when my treatment team and I identify short-term goals – defined “short-term” as two weeks as well as intermediate goals (60-90 days) and long-term goals (one year). At the moment I don't feel up to sharing these on the site.