Anybody been in therapy before?

Yup, I was in therapy about 11 years ago or so, in order to make a very difficult choice, and I was also in counseling when i was little, like 6 or 7, when my Dad went sober to help me deal with the effects that his alcoholism had on our family. I was also on anti-depressants a couple years ago to treat my EXTREME anxiety and temper-tantrums Therapy is good because, like lookingglass said, it helps you to look within yourself cause sometimes that it is very difficult to do.... even now I analyze myself and the things I do to figure out WHY i do them. Also, I feel ya on the friend issues, I'm a loner also, every friend I've had has ended up betraying me, including my ex-husband, so now I have a very hard time opening up to people

I was in therapy for a while in university. It was very difficult for me to go because my family has a stigma against mental illness (or any kind of illness) and seeking help for their problems -- we don't discuss the "ugly" things in my family, or admit that any of us might have problems (like the fact that my grandmother suffers from depression, that my cousin has ADHD, or that my uncle is narcissistic (sp?) ). Despite all that, I've studied psychology, and I knew I was depressed, I had almost all the symptoms, and my school life and personal life were suffering because of it, so I decided to go against my family's "teachings" and seek help. I spoke to both a therapist and a psychiatrist (my depression was severe enough that I required medication), but I found the sessions with the therapist to be more effective. My family is very unemotional and non-demonstrative; in spite of how unhappy I was, I found it very difficult to emote and express myself, and my therapist helped me to do that. Therapy isn't for everyone (although I think most people could benefit from a session or two), but I think under the right circumstances it can make all the difference in the world.

I have a few things to say on this topic. I've had depression and bipolar and anxiety disorder since I was 12. I was in counselling for a long time and it REALLY helped- being able to get things off of my chest and find out- this is important- that I wasn't alone, people did care about me, I wasn't *crazy*- that was something I really needed. But I was in deep enough that I needed medication. years and years of medication. First prozac, then zoloft, then wellbutrin. the combination of wellbutrin and counselling got me to a point where I am now unmedicated and completely functional again. Counselling is a vital step, and it really helps.

Originally Posted by Renovia

i have been through some counselling and i am on zoloft.

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Be careful with Zoloft, everyone. It can help with depression but if you have bipolar, as I do, it can cause suicide- basically what happens is you're still miserable but now you have the energy to do something about it. I've lost three bipolar friends to zoloft.

Originally Posted by kluchetta

Don't forget that there may be school resources you can use.

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I don't know about anyone else but here at Hamline U in MN, counselling is free of charge.

If you feel you'd be able to be honest and let things go with a counsellor, by all means, find one you like and start feeling better! But make sure you're ready to be honest- I had a friend who was so afraid of being labeled "crazy" that she refused to go to counselling and when she did she lied and said she was fine. The fact that you want to seek a counsellor is a step in a great direction! I hope things work out for you and that you start feeling better very soon. If you ever need to talk, give me a PM.

I have and it was wonderful he was a family counselor, he helped me a lot. I wish he hadn't retired because I would call him right now!

I have been in therapy a few times, mainly when I was younger. I was kind of an angry child.. I wasn't that bad though, lol.

It was nice having a therapist to talk to and vent my feelings without them judging me right away like most people would. They give a 3rd party's perspective and an outside look to your life situations that you may not be able to see and help you open your eyes to certain problems and what you can do to try to help fix them. I was never perscribed any type of medication, thankfully. I don't think they would've helped. I am perfectly fine now, I just learned different ways to vent my angers and fustrations.

Good luck

thanks for the info about zoloft. . . .i'm not bipolar - just have anxiety.....

Originally Posted by Renovia

thanks for the info about zoloft. . . .i'm not bipolar - just have anxiety.....

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Oh, I didn't mean you shouldn't be on it! Sorry if it came off that way. The stuff just scares me. I was on it when they didn't know I was bipolar and it was the worst month of my life. But I really hope it is helping you, and congrats for seeking help, I know how hard it is.

Originally Posted by Renovia

thanks for the info about zoloft. . . .i'm not bipolar - just have anxiety.....

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Zoloft is supposed to be quite good for anxiety. Also OCD. I switched to Prozac because I have gained a little weight and the doctor hopes the Prozac will help with that more than the Zoloft.

Originally Posted by kluchetta

Zoloft is supposed to be quite good for anxiety. Also OCD. I switched to Prozac because I have gained a little weight and the doctor hopes the Prozac will help with that more than the Zoloft.

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When I went in for treatment of my anxiety the doctor irst put me on Efexxor, but it made me swing over to crying all the time so then i was switched to Zoloft- worked like a charm! I swear it permanently reconfigured my brain chemistry too I never stress as bad as I used to, and I've been off the meds for around 2 years

yeah I dont want to be on any medication.

thanks for yourhelp guys!

I went to counselling through the university counselling center when I was an undergrad and it was free. You could have eight sessions free of charge. Most colleges offer this service. I've also been through counselling with the department of children and family services. I paid something like $13 a session and saw a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. They go based on a slidling scale. Social workers tend to be less expensive than a psychologist, but just as good (look for someone with an MSW and a LCSW). Another idea would be to go to a pastoral counselor (if you are Christian), because they are usually less expensive and often go by sliding scales. You just want to look for a pastoral counselor who is licensed as a professional counselor (LPC), marriage and family therapist (LMFT), mental health counselor (LMHC), etc., otherwise you could get someone without good credentials.

Clinical Social Worker

http://www.helpstartshere.org/common/Search/search.asp

Pastoral Counselor

http://www.aapc.org/centers.htm

see hendrix
your not alone.
not at all.
lots if people have found success.
your greatest gift to yourself will be seeking help and getting it.
Dont ever think your weak or unable in anyways. your making the right stride.

take it easy lady!

You aren't alone. I have been through theraphy on and off since I was 6yrs old and I am 25 now.

I have been through a lot and it has helped A TON!!

I suffer from GAD (generalized anxiety disorder) and depression. Things I have learned from therapy or even talking with my assit pastor has helped.

If you need to go don't worry about your age. Worry more about your mental well being, and getting what you need off your chest.

I am also on 20mg Lexapro (highest dose with Lexapro) since 2004, and once in a while when a panic attack comes on that I can't control, I take .25 mg of Xantax. I choose to go on the anti-depressants. Though therapy helped, I could still didn't feel normal, I felt there was something missing. Also I was daily breaking down into a panic attack, crying, freaking out, etc. Decided it was time to go on meds.

I no longer have panic attacks, some depression sometimes. But other than that I feel normal again, whole, just plain ME!

Oh yeah one other thing i found out is that depression and anixety runs through my fathers side of the family.

Originally Posted by HappyHendrix

I was just wondering has anyone else been in it and has it helped with or without(preferably without) medication in your life?

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I'm in counselling, and I see a psychiatrist and psychologist regularly, so yeah, I've been in therapy. It's worked for me, but then again I am on meds. Like someone else said, I think everyone should have a therapist.

Go for it. I had counselling, started when I was 16, definately helpled. Obviously you will get on better with some counsellors than others.
Wow, I didn't realise how common anxiety is. I have anxiety and panic attacks. I am a qualified hypnotherapist, and can use hypnotherapy on myself, it really helps with my anxiety and panic attacks.
You should find a counsellor if you really want to, it will make you feel so much better to just get everything off your chest. In the meantime, you can talk to us on here, and can you talk to your boyfriend.
My fiance is really great with my anxiety, he knows how to use some techniques that I use in hypnotherapy / NLP to help.