What kind of therapy have you attended?

I went to day therapy at one point in my life and I found it helpful. There were a lot of other situations in the room different from mine. I feel like it made me feel like my problems weren’t as bad as they seemed. They also taught me coping strategies to deal with anxiety.

I don’t know what your particular issue might be but give it a try it might help.

Definitely give it a try. It can only help.

I went to a year of therapy after divorcing a pathological narcissist 10 years ago.
It was great! Very validating and I found out I was not “crazy!” lol
My therapist wrote a glowing review of me when we were going through the child custody crap.

She said that I was “very intelligent and highly insightful” and was a wonderful parent.
It was the best experience of my life after surviving the shit storm of my ex.

I think it would be great if you were in a group therapeutic situation for a time. I’ve thought of suggesting it to you. Part of what would make it useful is that you don’t like people and I think you would learn to. You would get some different perspectives on yourself and you wouldn’t need to rely so much on your boyfriend for all your needs, which could only benefit your relationship. Do it!

I went to couples therapy. It didn’t help the marriage, but I did find it insightful; I learned a bit about myself.

I was in counseling for a while. I’ve even taken a few polygraph tests. Anyway, apparently I’m normal. That scares me a little. I mean, I don’t want to be put in to a box or anything but if I’m “normal” than that must be a new term for crazy!

^ What does a polygraph test have to do with counseling?

@syz Some of the big city fancy counselors use them to determine a persons honesty.

Thank you for your answers. I might think about giving it a go. Just when there is other people around me, I don’t tend to speak to them unless spoken to first.

My ex-husband and I went to couples’ counselling for a while, and I saw a psychotherapist weekly for several years during a bad patch that got worse and then better.

I can’t imagine how you can go through life disliking everyone except your boyfriend and have even a marginally content life. You seem very unhappy much of the time and yet very very resistant to any attempt to remedy that.

I don’t dislike people here. Just real life people.

People are, in general, real life people.

@Headhurts Group is much better than one on one for us asocial types. Talk or not, listening teaches a lot.

@Headhurts Everyone on Fluther is a real life person. Some have suggested that our interactions on Fluther are much worse than real life, because there’s no pretext about “having to be nice” on the internet. When we can’t see each other’s faces, it’s harder to remember that we need to show them respect and compassion.

You might find that if you open yourself up to meeting people in real life, they are much nicer than you expect.

And I think the therapy is a great idea. :)

@Glacial Really? Truly kind people are rare jewels imo. A world full of narcissism.

I’ve been in individual psychotherapy for 27 years. I have a mental illness, so it’s necessary.

Being in groups is difficult, because there is always the chance for misunderstanding and confrontation and pain. Still, we are social animals. We cannot isolate and be healthy in any mental or emotional sense of the term. Learning to act freely and comfortably in social situations is a valuable tool.

Being in a group invites vulnerability, and that can incite fear. I understand your reluctance, and I encourage you to reach out to others around you and leave your safe home place.

Learn to be open. It’s amazing how it can make a person breathe easier.

@Headhurts I didn’t answer your question in my first post; I’ve done both individual and group at different times and have found both useful.

If been in one on one therapy and group therapy. Group therapy really give me perspective that my problems are not as unique and unconquerable as they seem if you just let them stew in your head can make them seem. Also I LOVE the sound of my own voice so transferring from one on one to group really helped me learn to listen to others.

Too much to list here and absolutely none in the last twenty-three years.

I went to physical therapy for a back and knee issue and hand therapy for a hand issue.

I’ve decided that I am going to go. @janbb decided it for me, you have always been so good and supportive to me and never tried to put me down for who I am and I appreciate this. The clinic is tomorrow and I will attend.

@Headhurts Yay for you!!! Brave girl.

When I went through therapy I was expecting hugs and bland reassurance. Instead, mental therapy is much like physical therapy: you push through the pain to come out stronger. It will show you and your problems in unexpected and uncomfortable ways. But its worth it if you stick to it, so don’t give up if you feel disencouraged.