has anyone had counselling for stress and depression and did it help?

Question

i,ve been 3 times now and it does seem a very slow process no immediate improvement ??

Answer 1

Yes. I have been receiving psychotherapy/cognitive-behavioural therapy for depression/Borderline Personality Disorder for a total of about five and a half years.

You're right, it is certainly a slow process. Although I think
how long it takes to work can often depend on how quickly it takes you to open up to the therapist. Basically, the more you put into it the more you will get out of it.

I have recently finished group therapy. I was in it for around two and a half years. For a long time I stayed pretty much silent. I didn't say anything. Then after about 9 months I started to open up. The group was more beneficial to me than I ever thought possible.

Going through the therapy has, I think, helped me so much. Although things did get worse before they got better, the experience has really allowed me to move my life on.

I remember sitting it my psychiatrists office convined I was going to kill myself. Now, that thought seems so idiotic.

You mentioned that there was no immediate improvement. This is totally normal. Therapy isn't a magic wand and it can't make all your problems vanish immediately. But if you put the effort into it you will get the rewards.

As I've already said it is a slow process. The improvements will happen gradually. You may not even notice getting better at the time. You may just realise one day that something which would have been a problem before suddenly isn't, and that your now able to deal with it.

Anyway, good luck. I hope it all works our for you!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 2

Yes, you're right - it IS a slow process. It's taken you years of your life to get to where you are now, and the stress and depression didn't come out of nowhere. So to disentangle all of that takes time, too. I know how frustrating it can be when you just want the horrible feelings to stop - and medication MAY help you with that, but doesn't work for everyone and even when it does, it's only a short-term solution - you need to get on and do the counselling/psychotherapy for long-term help. You are never going to completely change who you are, but the world can begin to look very different. Someone once described it as spending weeks and weeks thinking that nothing is happening, and then suddenly realising you have moved a tiny distance but it completely changes your whole perspective.

I'm a psychotherapist myself, but I got into this work through my own state of unhappiness 20 years ago. It was because psychotherapy helped so much, over three years, that I decided to train professionally (another six years of personal psychotherapy as part of that!).

Answer 3

I have and it helped a little, but I was pretty much immediately diagnosed with an anxiety disorder and a severe depressive episode, for which my psychiatrist prescribed Celexa.

I know the thought of medication is scary but if counseling isn't working, talk to your doctor about it. It really changed my life, and I haven't noticed any significant negative side effects. Sometimes my mouth gets dry and I take it at night or it makes me a little groggy, but that's it. I'm feeling GREAT! I'm happy again and I can sleep normally and am motivated and have a new appreciation for my life.

But, if you are opposed to meds or your doctor doesn't think they are right for you, maybe you just need a different counselor. Make sure you are going to a trained psychologist and try to get a recommendation from you primary care doctor or someone you know who has been to one in your area. Try to really just open up, remember that you are paying them to listen to you, so don't hold anything back. You are allowed to whine, complain, cry, or get angry~ they've seen it all and they understand what is going on better than you do. They won't judge you and they can help you work through whatever is causing this or refer you to a psychiatrist if they think that medication is the only way to treat your symptoms.

Please don't get discouraged!! Beating anxiety(?) and depression is a struggle at first but it is worth the fight. Life is good, and you can't see that or enjoy it when you are depressed. Good luck!!

Answer 4

I have had many different types of treatment myself; and I would just like to note that when you have been diagnosed with any depressive illness, anxieties, or disorders, there is no 'quick fix'...
Either the type of therapy or therapists/psychiatrists have to change or you need a short term course of medication along with the intended or suited therapy.
God sake you have only had 3 sessions - this is barely enough to turn the head of your future around and make you well in a flash... Have some patience! and even if you don't feel like actively doing things, at least look up on the Internet for info on mental illness/groups and types of therapy.

Look at all of these options first, then choose which one you would prefer to do, or some simultaneously.
I have had one-to-one therapy, assessments, cognitive therapy, family therapy and art therapy (this one was particularly good), and now I have found a therapist which I get on with, and I have been seeing for nearly a year.
Although it may seem like a long struggle to get to where you want to go; you have to go through a lot of the rotten fruit in the bunch to find the ripest one.
And at the end of it you will find the right treatment for you - it could take 4 weeks, 3 months, a year - but if you stick at it, then you can find the right treatment and therapy for you.
Please don't give up, this is very realistic advice, I have been there and done that so trust me on this one.
Keep your options open and your chin up.

Answer 5

Yes I have, and Yes it did / No it didn't
(It also looks like I need couselling for indecisiveness) It can be a very slow process depending on the person and the issues and you may have to face the fact that you will never be "cured". It does give you a non-judgemental space in which to relay any problems you're facing. In the end I would say it was helpful, but it wasnt a miracle cure thats for sure. Ask your counsellor for any active ways you can combat depression, this, i conjuction with the counselling should work a lot better!
Good luck, depressions a B i t c h!! Dont let it beat ya! ;-)

Answer 6

I went trough some counseling and self awareness counseling a few years back. It was self prescribed. I was going through a huge life change and felt like everything was slipping away. Like I didn't fit in to the "normal" life others were living. Yes, it helped me see that I have a choice and that fitting gin really wasn't the goal of life. I was prescribed Zoloft, but really didn't like the way that it made me feel. I was not chronically depressed. I did not have a chemical imbalance. So, yes counseling worked for me. For persons with physical/chemical reasons for depression counseling only teaches self awareness. And a person needs to want to help themselves before any counseling is going to work.

Answer 7

Hi
I am currently getting counselling with a uni counsellor. Its only short term help...and sometimes it does make me feel worse but until i work through the problems, she told me it was normal to feel that way after sessions and talking about certain issues.
I think there is many benefits to it depending on your situation..if you don't feel you can talk to anyone in your own life or maybe you find you would prefer to talk to someone objective, who can possible see other ways to help you then counselling is the way to go. Or if you have already tried many other means, then its worth the shot and keep trying...3 sessions isn't much really to sort out so many difficult issues. If it was no one wud see a counsellor long term and no one would be on medication if counsellors could fix problems so easily.

It's not a quick fix, unfortunately I always feel the same, it's like you feel after one session, when you have been brave enough to go, that it should be enough.. but it rarely is. The counsellor can't really offer you answers but just provide you with suggestions and help you find the answers yourself with their support. Unless they are making you very unhappy I would say to continue and see how it goes. I know it's hard, I find myself terrified every time i have to do and want to cancel that morning... but be brave, stick it out for afew more sessions and if you don't find it's helping then stop...or perhaps change to a different counsellor. I have seen doctors, a school counsellor (when i was at school) and a physchiatric nurse..none of them helped but now i have found one counsellor who has been great...unfortunately we often have to fight for help..but you deserve it so keep trying!:)

best of luck
x

Answer 8

its not a quick fix. it can help as a support and somewhere to bounce ideas and unload some problems but its not for everyone. i benefited from the one to one as in groups some of my anxieties get stimulated. it depends a bit on how well you get on with your counsellor as well because if you can relax it helps a lot.i've tried lots of things and feel whilst counselling can be good , if you go on courses to learn how to cope with stress and depression , you are better equipped to deal with your everyday life. there are many techniques to get your self out of the cycles of negative thoughts , you need to find what works for you.
i dont agree that anti depressants are the only solution to the problem. they work for many buy not for all and there can be a lot of side effects. a good chat with your doctor should give you a better idea. there are also more natural remedies available that aren't addictive as well as a balanced diet and regular exercise which all helps.

Answer 9

I've had counselling for depression, and it did work for a while but as soon as I stopped having it, I started feeling s h i t again.
Keep on with it for a few months, it can take a while to have an effect.
If that doesn't work, go to your GP and see what they suugest. This might mean medication, but if it helps you, it will be worth it.

good luck hun!
xx

Answer 10

3 times is so not enough. How long did it take you to realize how stressed and depressed you are? These conditions developed over years of issues. So please stay in counseling, work hard with your counselor to achieve recovery. It really works, if you work too. All the best to you.