Therapy didn't work too well. What do I do now?

Question

*Re posted*

I was going to therapy for a while but I stopped because I don't think it was helping.
We didn't do anything but talk.
She was a great doctor but the she talked to me like I was 5.

After I left therapy I always felt this sort of high like I was getting better. But the depressed feelings would always come back a day later.

Answer 1

That is actually pretty common. please keep trying to see different therapists. You don't deserve to be treated in a way other than your actual age. There are, sadly, many poor therapists as it is a staturated market and the competition seems to not be working in a way you'd expect in a free enterprise system. In any case, am not a drug pusher but also please consider antidepressants and concomitant psychotherapy. I am sorry you had a bad experience but please keep at it. There are many great therapists out there...and bad ones.

jd

Answer 2

You took the right course in ending your sessions with a therapist you felt wasn't helping you. But do consider going back to therapy. Maybe you need to find someone who takes a more behavioral approach and gives you assignments to complete between sessions. Maybe even a group therapy setting would help.

In the meantime start a journal to track your emotions each day. Rant and rave about things and then review it. You might begin to see patterns that cause your periods of depression. Thoughts that reoccur or situations that place you in a blue funk might become evident. And under reflection will loose their grip on your moods.

If your depression has been ongoing for awhile, then speak to a therapist and to a medical doctor about antidepressant medication. But don't take antidepressants without continuing some form of therapy. Although not a doctor a qualified therapist knows their drugs and your situation and can help you decipher which is best for you.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Accept that depression is in fact something normal, this idea that you shouldn't be depressed is something invented to make everybody come to work at the same time, with an average productivity. In nature, there are ups and downs, if life's got no troubles for you to solve, you get in the depressed state to save energy. Also it as natural way to make you quiet while your body gets healed from battle wounds. What happens nowadays is that wounds may be in the soul, if thats the case, try and find what the matter is, dissatisfaction has got to do with the 3 basic needs mostly: sex, food, rest. Otherwise, learn to accept what you cannot change, through study of oriental philosophies. Western culture tend to produce sadness to sell products, its the way it has evolved, based on consume. We are born drug addicts, if you are not getting your daily shot, that may be it. Endorphin is what i'm talking about, exercise a lot 30, 40 min running to get the high, that you can really feel like a shot. Theres only pain and pleasure, if youre not geting pleasure, youre getting pain, in life you cannot hold a state, its always going up or down, and never always up, nor always going down. Thats the yin-yang, you get hungry to feel satisfied with food, if you dnt get hungry, food doesnt taste that good. Now you are hungry.

Answer 4

I wouldn't give up on therapy. You don't say how long you were going to her but either you and she didn't connect or you weren't ready to delve into things further. Maybe a group therapy with people with depression might help you more. Or maybe try another therapist. If you're still depressed it would be wise to continue and maybe you need medication for the depression. Generally speaking depression responds well to a combination of the two. Good luck.

Answer 5

Therapy is a about the talking. It is a lot of work on both ends. So if you felt that she wasn't helping then what you did is right. I have found when you talk to somebody you need to feel comfortable with them. You are letting them in a part of your life that nobody see or hears. But you need to find someone to go to if you are still having problems.
Good luck!!

Answer 6

depending on your situation you may need to see a therapist more than once a week. psychoanalysts often see patients from three to five times per week. It may sound decadent, but if you are struggling with serious depression and/or have a lot of issues to deal with, therapy more than once a week might be exactly what you need. One hint: if you live in a metropolitan area, look to see if there is an institute for psychoanalysis near you - they will sometimes help connect you to therapists who are getting further advanced training in analysis, and will treat you at a lower rate because they are in training.

Answer 7

Give of yourself to others. Volunteer for your community. when you have something to do that builds your self worth and pride you feel better. Sometimes we get too into ourselves and become our own biggest critics. We all seem to be going through this life alone most of the time, so surround yourself with people and achievements, stay active, in fact, do so much that you look forward to lying down for the night and sleeping, because you have a busy day tomorrow.

Answer 8

Have you had a good physical lately? I was depressed and wasn't happy going to therapy only to find out I'm hypothyroid. Could be your thyroid gland causing it. Could be a lot of other things to, but it's something to consider.

Answer 9

I would try going to church and joining groups there or volunteering somewhere. There are a lot of large non-denominational churchs and they usually have lots of opportunities to meet people and do things. I think the more things you are involved with the better you will feel about yourself.

Answer 10

I suggest trying a different therapist. Sometimes it takes some trial and error to find one who works for you. Each of us is different. A "one size fits all" doesn't work for shoes nor therapists.