Psycho-Babble Psychology Thread 208728

Shown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Therapy time limitations?

Posted by lauran on March 13, 2003, at 11:01:48

I've been in therapy for over one year now. It is difficult to desribe the gains I've made in my personal life. Posting on psychobabble is just one of them. Obtaining a correct diagnosis is another. Meds are being adjusted right now as I had a bad reaction to one, but that is OK with me. We are getting there.

I guess I am just feeling a little insecure. I feel like I am putting myself on a time table for therapy. Like I have to tackle a problem and then master it and then move forward.

My pdoc told me that therapy has a lot of peaks and valleys, and then some even ground. I may leap forward a few steps, fall back a couple, go forward one, back again, ahead again, well, you get the picture.

All the while my life is going in the right direction however painfully so at times. I guess I just think I have to put myself on a time table. I was looking at my old calendar the other day and realized I've been going weekly for 18 months. Is that a long time? I am finding myself thinking, "I have to be done soon, right"?

I just want to say I am very secure in therapy right now. I once could not imagine myself participating in it. I now cannot imagine going without it. Is that OK to feel?

Just thinking over my morning cup of coffee. Thanks.

 

Re: Therapy time limitations?

Posted by SBOATRN on March 13, 2003, at 15:51:47

In reply to Therapy time limitations?, posted by lauran on March 13, 2003, at 11:01:48

I have been going to a therapist for almost 2 years. Anxiety issues as chief problem with a little *what am I doing with my life* stuff. Always a one on one thing never a group. I guess I have more a personal comment than substance... I feel for right now, I've taken it about as far as I can. I've learned alot and I have gotten some good perspectives and such. I guess I just feel I need to see how it goes on my own. I have weathered may storms with the help of my therapist and I am grateful. I feel like I NEED the training wheels to come off. Just my thoughts, do you have similar or no ??? I do think ya gotta go with what feels right and some people stay for a long time in therapy and that's what works for them !!!

 

Re: Therapy time limitations?

Posted by noa on March 13, 2003, at 20:17:57

In reply to Therapy time limitations?, posted by lauran on March 13, 2003, at 11:01:48

>>I now cannot imagine going without it. Is that OK to feel?

Yes, definitely.

Natural to feel insecure as you've started a process that let you start looking closer at things that are not always easy to look at. Don't pressure yourself so much!

 

Re: Therapy time limitations? » lauran

Posted by Krissy P on March 14, 2003, at 1:04:52

In reply to Therapy time limitations?, posted by lauran on March 13, 2003, at 11:01:48

Hi, I started therapy in 1995 and stopped in March 2002- soo hmmmmm I went for 7 years. I will tell you what my therapist told me- better at (your age) then at (double your age) think about that-you are ahead of some in the therapy process:-) I don't think there is a time limit on therapy, unless of course, an insurance company's say so. Your therapist sounds great and I agree with her, just from my experience-peaks, valleys, even ground, 2 steps forward, sometimes 5 steps backward. That is how it was with me anyway. I hope it continues to go well and hang in there-it's all part of therapy. Problems will arise and you may have to learn how to master it before you really get it and you may not "get it" until a long time after you end your therapy:-) For now, yes, feel it, go for it, and participate in your therapy, all is well for you:-) I wish you the best and try to get the most out of it for YOU. Hope this helps?
Cheers, Kristen
==================================================================================================

I've been in therapy for over one year now. It is difficult to desribe the gains I've made in my personal life. Posting on psychobabble is just one of them. Obtaining a correct diagnosis is another. Meds are being adjusted right now as I had a bad reaction to one, but that is OK with me. We are getting there.
I guess I am just feeling a little insecure. I feel like I am putting myself on a time table for therapy. Like I have to tackle a problem and then master it and then move forward.
My pdoc told me that therapy has a lot of peaks and valleys, and then some even ground. I may leap forward a few steps, fall back a couple, go forward one, back again, ahead again, well, you get the picture.
All the while my life is going in the right direction however painfully so at times. I guess I just think I have to put myself on a time table. I was looking at my old calendar the other day and realized I've been going weekly for 18 months. Is that a long time? I am finding myself thinking, "I have to be done soon, right"?
I just want to say I am very secure in therapy right now. I once could not imagine myself participating in it. I now cannot imagine going without it. Is that OK to feel?
Just thinking over my morning cup of coffee. Thanks.

 

Re: Therapy time limitations? » SBOATRN

Posted by Krissy P on March 14, 2003, at 1:10:04

In reply to Re: Therapy time limitations?, posted by SBOATRN on March 13, 2003, at 15:51:47

Hi :-) I can really, really relate to you here. I went off and on therapy for over 7 years, one on one and group. Last March I felt like I, too, needed to take off the training wheels. Don't get me wrong, it was tough, I cried when I left the hospital the last time in 2001, where I was 32 times and lived there for 2 years- ECT, etc.
:-( You are grateful and that is great, I do think some people, including me, (like I did), gotta go with what feels right and some people stay for a long time in therapy and that's what works for them !!!
Hope this helped a little?
All the best,
Kristen:-)
==================================================================================================
I have been going to a therapist for almost 2 years. Anxiety issues as chief problem with a little *what am I doing with my life* stuff. Always a one on one thing never a group. I guess I have more a personal comment than substance... I feel for right now, I've taken it about as far as I can. I've learned alot and I have gotten some good perspectives and such. I guess I just feel I need to see how it goes on my own. I have weathered may storms with the help of my therapist and I am grateful. I feel like I NEED the training wheels to come off. Just my thoughts, do you have similar or no ??? I do think ya gotta go with what feels right and some people stay for a long time in therapy and that's what works for them !!!

 

Re: My word, I hope not!!!

Posted by Dinah on March 14, 2003, at 3:33:24

In reply to Therapy time limitations?, posted by lauran on March 13, 2003, at 11:01:48

I told my therapist the other day that I didn't know how I could make it if he terminated me, then of course immediately regretted admitting that degree of dependence. Although since I previously requested that he hospitalize me when he terminated me (altho he forgot that whole conversation) it shouldn't have come as a shock to him.

He gave the "the dependence is only a needed step along the road to independence" so I started asking the "well, what if I never get over it" questions, and we did that whole little dance. Sigh.

The only way I can see leaving therapy without having my fingers pried from the door as they cart me screaming away is if I quit my high stress job and externally remove enough stress to avoid my meltdowns.

So if there's a time limit, please don't anyone tell me. :)

 

Re: Therapy time limitations? » SBOATRN

Posted by lauran on March 14, 2003, at 10:11:06

In reply to Re: Therapy time limitations?, posted by SBOATRN on March 13, 2003, at 15:51:47

Thanks SBOATRN. I am in therapy once a week. I make the most of that with journaling and trying to put into practice the things I learn. Sometimes it works, sometimes it does not.

I attend therapy once a week. My therapist told me a while back that there may be times I need more, times I need less. I may stop for awhile and then resume for a few sessions. I feel this is right, as long as it is mutually discussed and not just me retreating back into my shell of a life.

Thanks again for replying. Your poster name is intriguing!

 

Re: Therapy time limitations? » noa

Posted by lauran on March 14, 2003, at 10:19:48

In reply to Re: Therapy time limitations?, posted by noa on March 13, 2003, at 20:17:57

Hi Noa. Yes, I do pressure myself too much. Even getting out my calendar and couting the times I've attended therapy shows how anal I am. I'm learning though. I'll toss the time table. Geez, I spend more time analyzing the amount of time spent in therapy than the actual progress achieved! I just needed to address this and then get over it.

 

Re: Therapy time limitations?

Posted by SBOATRN on March 14, 2003, at 10:58:15

In reply to Re: Therapy time limitations? » SBOATRN, posted by lauran on March 14, 2003, at 10:11:06

Dear lauran,
I know you will do what is right for you !!!!
I think we all have those intuitions, thoughts, feelings, whatever - that do guide us. As stated before, many find therapy a lifesaver for a long as they want and need it. Sometimes alot and sometimes a little. I would not hesitate to seek it out when I need it. It's good we have it available to us and good people to help us through. Best of luck and good thoughts to you.

Signed,
The "RN" in me comes out

 

Re: Therapy time limitations? » lauran

Posted by noa on March 15, 2003, at 7:33:14

In reply to Re: Therapy time limitations? » noa, posted by lauran on March 14, 2003, at 10:19:48

Laura, maybe you don't have to stop the counting all together, but just try to notice it when you do it and try to put a different "spin" on it--"ok, here I am counting sessions again, it's what I do. Oh well. No big deal. But maybe I don't have to buy into the idea that having a lot of sessions is bad." Ie, gradually turn the counting thing from the negative self-talk to something less negative and maybe eventually into something positive.

 

Re: Therapy time limitations?

Posted by lauran on March 15, 2003, at 11:27:46

In reply to Therapy time limitations?, posted by lauran on March 13, 2003, at 11:01:48

Thanks all. I always gain so much insight from each of you. I will just relax and let therapy time be what it will be for me. I am very grateful for the therapist I have. Still though, it gets pretty tough at times.

 

Re: Therapy time limitations?

Posted by SBOATRN on March 15, 2003, at 14:13:03

In reply to Re: Therapy time limitations?, posted by lauran on March 15, 2003, at 11:27:46

Sure does get tough at times, but you are doing good stuff for yourself, which is great. Take the credit where it's due. Best of Luck !!!

 

Re: Therapy time limitations? » SBOATRN

Posted by lauran on March 15, 2003, at 15:08:06

In reply to Re: Therapy time limitations?, posted by SBOATRN on March 15, 2003, at 14:13:03

By the way, I'm an RN too!

 

Re: Therapy time limitations?

Posted by SBOATRN on March 15, 2003, at 15:21:26

In reply to Re: Therapy time limitations? » SBOATRN, posted by lauran on March 15, 2003, at 15:08:06

Oh, It's so good to know I'm not the only one of us with issues.... No, I'm sure you know ones that NEED help and just don't do anything about it !!(I know I do !!) I think our profession possesses an ability to have a set up for potential emotional *difficulities*. Quite stressful and encompassing.
Again, best of luck


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