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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 24 of 24. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jazzed on May 25, 2005, at 11:18:18
I was wondering why most people started therapy initially. Is your reason for continuing the same as it was when you started?
Jazz
Posted by messadivoce on May 25, 2005, at 11:26:43
In reply to Why did you start therapy?, posted by Jazzed on May 25, 2005, at 11:18:18
I started because I felt terrible. I couldn't get out of bed in the morning. I was sad and crying all the time. I was angry for no discernable reason. My health was starting to suffer. I didn't know exactly WHY, but I knew it wasn't right.
The reason I would continue therapy (although I'm not at the moment) is to keep working on the issues that were making me depressed--family problems and abandonment issues. The stuff I uncovered in therapy that I was in denial about before.
Posted by happyflower on May 25, 2005, at 12:14:38
In reply to Why did you start therapy?, posted by Jazzed on May 25, 2005, at 11:18:18
I started this Jan. due to post tramatic stress taking over my life with fear, nightmares, and mild depression from my past abuse of my parents. My abuser still tries to engage with me and my family and it scares me. I am in therapy to make myselfphysically and emotionally safe from her, and to desenatize the past, so it won't affect my future so much. Then therapy has progressed these last couple of months on my future plans for my life and how I can lead a full life and put behind the ghosts of my past. Theapy is the best thing I have ever done for myself. :)
Posted by Miss Honeychurch on May 25, 2005, at 13:07:21
In reply to Why did you start therapy?, posted by Jazzed on May 25, 2005, at 11:18:18
I started because within the span of a year I had convinced myself I had Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's, Lou Gehrig's Disease, and Breast Cancer. After every conceivable test done under the sun I realized I was a hypochondriac and my problems were mental, not physical.
I also hated myself, ignored my husband, was on the brink of divorce, and had lost 40 pounds in one month. It was frankly more of a relief to me to believe that my problems were mental and not a result of something devastatingly physical.
I continue because I don't want to relapse. When I started I was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder. I am now down to 2 sessions a month and will soon be down to one a month. I am quickly approaching my two year mark in therapy. By this time next year I should certainly be out of therapy.
CBT has been my salvation.
Posted by Daisym on May 25, 2005, at 13:45:18
In reply to Re: Why did you start therapy?, posted by Miss Honeychurch on May 25, 2005, at 13:07:21
I thought I was having a midlife crisis or a reaction to my son's issues. His therapy had brought to the surface stuff I thought I'd never have to deal with.
My son's therapist was fond of quoting Shrek: "Ogres are like onions...we have layers." Then he'd add, "Therapy is like Ogres, it has layers too." I'll add to that "and it makes you cry." I never knew I had so many layers to be peeled back...
Posted by Dinah on May 25, 2005, at 13:58:27
In reply to Why did you start therapy?, posted by Jazzed on May 25, 2005, at 11:18:18
Panic attacks caused by OCD. Along with a couple of longstanding phobias that might have also been OCD.
It seems that those panic attacks and OCD served a purpose though. When we relatively quickly tamed those with CBT and meds, like Whack the Mole, a host of other problems and pathology made themselves known.
He once said (long ago) that I'd have been better off keeping the OCD and panic attacks.
Posted by cubic_me on May 25, 2005, at 15:27:17
In reply to Why did you start therapy?, posted by Jazzed on May 25, 2005, at 11:18:18
I started after a close friend killed herself. She was the only person I'd ever talked to about my depression etc and loosing her triggered a severe reaction in me. By the end of therapy we hardly talked about her at all, as really I'd needed therapy for my own issues for years but I hadn't wanted it on my medical records and tried to ignore what was going on.
Posted by JenStar on May 25, 2005, at 18:58:14
In reply to Re: Why did you start therapy?, posted by Miss Honeychurch on May 25, 2005, at 13:07:21
Miss Honeychurch,
my story is so similar to yours! I also "had" MS, Lou Gehrig's, heart disease, cancer and several other illnesses. After lots of invasive tests my doctors convinced me I was not at the brink of death, but rather was suffering from anxiety and stress-related hypochondria. So I started seeing a T to handle stress and other issues. But I stopped going b/c the medication (Lexapro) made me feel less anxious. Now I think I need to see a T again, b/c the same issues are here. I think they'll never go away, and I need to really work on better ways to manage anxiety & stress. And face the fact of mortality, which I hate.I see you as a success story! Have you been able to stop thinking you have diseases? Do you have entire days where you don't think about having a disease? (I wish I could!)
JenStar
Posted by Jazzed on May 25, 2005, at 22:46:59
In reply to Re: Why did you start therapy? » Miss Honeychurch, posted by JenStar on May 25, 2005, at 18:58:14
You all are so together to seek help (an outside consultant). It's a very positive things to see that you need help, admit it to another person, and then go for it.
Jazzed
Posted by LadyBug on May 25, 2005, at 22:47:34
In reply to Re: Why did you start therapy?, posted by cubic_me on May 25, 2005, at 15:27:17
I started because of a major depression and severe anxiety. For the first 2 years with my therapist we were just trying to keep me alive. It was a rough couple of years. I had some major problems going on with my husband. I should have left him but I was too gone to do it. After the 2 years, I was going to stop going and my friend told me I had to keep going because I really needed it. She had been going for years plus her husband is a Psychologist and does therapy. I stayed and our work and relationship started to really grow. Out connection was so good and we could figure many things out even though they were hard!!!
I love my T. very much. She is awesome. It is me that screws and makes things hard!!LadyBug
Posted by Jazzed on May 26, 2005, at 4:12:28
In reply to Re: Why did you start therapy?, posted by LadyBug on May 25, 2005, at 22:47:34
> I started because of a major depression and severe anxiety. For the first 2 years with my therapist we were just trying to keep me alive. It was a rough couple of years. I had some major problems going on with my husband. I should have left him but I was too gone to do it. After the 2 years, I was going to stop going and my friend told me I had to keep going because I really needed it. She had been going for years plus her husband is a Psychologist and does therapy. I stayed and our work and relationship started to really grow. Out connection was so good and we could figure many things out even though they were hard!!!
> I love my T. very much. She is awesome. It is me that screws and makes things hard!!
>
> LadyBug
So, you still go to the same T? That's great. Are you still with your husband? Sorry if that's not a kosher question. If so, are things better?So your friend's husband is a psychologist? Wonder what she'd think about this forum, and all of us falling in love with our Ts?! LOL Probably scare the C*** out of her! Cool that she was in therapy though.
Jazzed
Posted by LadyBug on May 26, 2005, at 7:20:20
In reply to Re: Why did you start therapy? » LadyBug, posted by Jazzed on May 26, 2005, at 4:12:28
Yes I'm still with my husband. Things are much better. Though not perfect. But are they ever? I've learned a lot about myself with this process. My friend was with her T. for 11 years. He retired and moved to another state and then he passed away a few months ago. That is something we are all going to face. I know it was very hard for her!!!!! I can't imagine. But she's been very depressed since he retired. I'm not sure what she'd think of this board. She's pretty conservitive....
LadyBug
Posted by Miss Honeychurch on May 26, 2005, at 8:22:47
In reply to Re: Why did you start therapy? » Miss Honeychurch, posted by JenStar on May 25, 2005, at 18:58:14
Jen,
Sometimes I go weeks and weeks without thinking I have a disease. And, when those thoughts crop up, I use my newly found rational thinking skills to assure myself that I am not sick.
I have conquered this hypochondria through therapy alone. I'm sure medication is also helpful in dealing with these anxieties, but once the medication is stopped, I believe the same old anxiety creeps back in. CBT has helped me greatly in dealing with my anxiety and depression, and there are no side effects!
I encourage you to give it another try. It has however taken me 2 years to get to this state of mind, whereas I'm sure my recovery would have been much faster had I taken medication. But I have something now which will last me a lifetime, and that is truly invaluable.
Posted by pegasus on May 26, 2005, at 9:25:52
In reply to Why did you start therapy?, posted by Jazzed on May 25, 2005, at 11:18:18
I started because of anxiety and uncontrollable obsessions and a history of depression. I often dealt with those by SI which was getting worse. Meds have controlled the anxiety and obsessions (and I think the depression) pretty well. Through the therapy I've had so far, I overcame a lot of self destructive thoughts and fear that kept my life very limited. The SI has really tapered off as well. I continue with therapy to try to understand where all of that came from and just understand myself better in general. It's fascinating.
pegasus
Posted by Tamar on May 26, 2005, at 10:08:06
In reply to Why did you start therapy?, posted by Jazzed on May 25, 2005, at 11:18:18
I started therapy after I realized I was depressed. I’d been depressed for months without really noticing, and eventually I was barely able to go to work. I had a lot of social anxiety, I didn’t feel any pleasure in anything, I wasn’t sleeping properly and I wanted to spend all day every day staring at the walls and chainsmoking.
I went to my doctor expecting to be told I needed antidepressants, and she suggested therapy instead. She referred me to my ex-T. I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted therapy; I really thought medication would be the answer. I went to my first appointment with my T with much scepticism and yet somehow by the end of that meeting I thought it might be OK after all.
I had no idea at all what I was letting myself in for. I suspect if I’d had any idea of how hard it would be for me I might not have started in the first place. But having done it, I’m glad I did. And one day I’ll probably do therapy again, because there are a lot of things that emerged and that we didn’t have time to explore fully. But I won’t do it for a while because I need a rest!
Posted by Daisym on May 26, 2005, at 12:25:52
In reply to Re: Why did you start therapy?, posted by Tamar on May 26, 2005, at 10:08:06
>>>>>I had no idea at all what I was letting myself in for. I suspect if I’d had any idea of how hard it would be for me I might not have started in the first place. But having done it, I’m glad I did. And one day I’ll probably do therapy again, because there are a lot of things that emerged and that we didn’t have time to explore fully. But I won’t do it for a while because I need a rest!
<<<<<I wonder how true that is for all of us? I had no idea how hard, how painful, this work would be. The picture painted of therapy is so surface oriented...and so...so...WRONG!! I think we need a reality show that really tells what it is about. I know what you mean about needing a break...
Posted by Shortelise on May 26, 2005, at 20:38:59
In reply to Re: Why did you start therapy?, posted by Daisym on May 26, 2005, at 12:25:52
Anxiety. I would be sick before a job, terrified, vomit, diarrhea, insomnia.
That was what got me there.
ShortE
Posted by TofuEmmy on May 26, 2005, at 22:45:05
In reply to Why did you start therapy?, posted by Jazzed on May 25, 2005, at 11:18:18
I went to my first T in 1979 I think...I was really depressed, and my roommate was too. We were pathetic at parties ;-). We both went to the clinic at school and ended up seeing the same T separately.
How I found this current T is sorta funny.
I had seen 4 therapists already for depression. I planned on dying by suicide that year. Had everything in order. But I promised myself that I had to try meds first - as a last ditch effort. I asked someone for recommendations for a pdoc, and he gave me a bunch of names, and I made an appt. Well, I screwed up and mistakenly made an appt with a psychologist. Ooopsie. Another stinking T!! How embarrassed was Emmy in that first appointment? Very. Depressed AND dumb, eh?
Six years later I'm still alive, still seeing that T, so I guess he's a keeper.
em
Posted by Dinah on May 26, 2005, at 22:59:19
In reply to Re: Why did you start therapy? » Jazzed, posted by TofuEmmy on May 26, 2005, at 22:45:05
Will ya give him a big metaphorical hug for me?
I'm so glad you found him.
Posted by daisym on May 27, 2005, at 0:36:40
In reply to Re: Why did you start therapy? » Jazzed, posted by TofuEmmy on May 26, 2005, at 22:45:05
Posted by sleepygirl on May 27, 2005, at 0:45:05
In reply to Why did you start therapy?, posted by Jazzed on May 25, 2005, at 11:18:18
wicked anxiety
But what really did it was the involuntary crying episodes in the most inconvenient places.
I had been depressed for years, even heard voices a few times, but I was an island unto myself, and I pretty much had to be on fire to maybe, just maybe, ask for help. I'm light years from where I was, and I can't believe I functioned (or didn't) like that.
Posted by B2chica on May 27, 2005, at 11:22:00
In reply to Why did you start therapy?, posted by Jazzed on May 25, 2005, at 11:18:18
i started cuz i ended up in the hospital for S. ideation and semi-attempt. when i was released it was required that i go see a T. they handed me a couple sheets with names, picked one and went. I'm continuing (after long time searching for new one) cuz some major issues LONG PUT AWAY came to the front while seeing the past T. -but last T couldn't help me...this one is. no matter how bad i get.
so yes, even though i was "Required" to get an appt. i think that's what it took, and i'm very greatful. i'm finally getting the help i need from someone that won't 'drop' me no matter how much of a pain in the @$$ i become- and lately i know i've been difficult. i think it's cuz i'm scared inside.
(little hug and thanks to my T)
b2c.
Posted by All Done on May 27, 2005, at 13:08:13
In reply to Re: Why did you start therapy? » Jazzed, posted by TofuEmmy on May 26, 2005, at 22:45:05
Posted by All Done on May 27, 2005, at 13:11:15
In reply to Why did you start therapy?, posted by Jazzed on May 25, 2005, at 11:18:18
I started therapy when I had been on meds for a while and they just didn't seem to be "working". I felt I needed something else and someone to talk to who would understand.
I'm still going for the same reasons, but after two years, I've discovered a plethora of new ones, too.
Good question, Jazzed!
Thanks,
Laurie
This is the end of the thread.
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