Those who've had counselling or psychotherapy

[heresto2019]

Did it help to talk about the worst moments or incidents? Maybe a time when you were a victim of a serious crime? I feel like I need to do it, but I don't know what I want to achieve exactly- it's like I'm stuck with it in my head but if I get it out there I'll be so vulnerable and I don't have a way to measure What it might achieve

I'm not sure I'm explaining myself very well

I found on reflection that I wasn't so much talking to my counsellor, more that my counsellor was facilitating me talking with myself. Key to effectiveness, for me at least, was when I bought into the principle that my counsellor was completely confidential and not their to judge or even really to advise me. I found this very liberating and was able to explore thoughts, memories and emotions that had been very deeply burried in my mind for a very long time.

Another thing I found very useful was that, whilst a few very close people knew I was having counselling, I made it very clear that it was completely personal to me and I would not be drawn into any discussons about what I discussed during my sessions.

I was a complete cycnic prior to having counselling but I found it positively lifechanging.

I'm not to sure in all honesty. I went to a charity that uses graduates as I couldn't afford private. I did find as I went through memories other parts would piece together. I'd spend so much time in my head revisiting them, imagining different outcomes, what I should have done differently and the feelings it brought up would come into the present moment. My counsellor really pushed me. Made me have talks out loud with people that weren't there. Also acknowledge that people were complicit and did nothing. She talked about how I feel when I go through these memories and what it does to present me, how i behave, mood ect. It helped me make the connection that living these things over and over is self harm. Only way to stop giving power to it, is to admit defeat and know that none of it can be changed. Whenever a thought or memory comes up now, I go through a few verbal mantras, it's finished, I'm ok, it's over. Tell myself what I'm wearing and what I'm doing now to stay in the present. Then think about what has currently happened that has provoked this thought.

Psychotherapy can be incredibly helpful for recovering from trauma, the process is challenging to say the least but a good, experienced therapist is worth their weight in gold and will give you space to talk about what happened in whatever way you need to.

I had intense therapy that really wasn't kind - it was very challenging indeed and it helped a lot. It hasn't helped the fundamental traumas though but did help me get a far better perspective on life which has stayed with me.

I applied recently for EMDR but was told that given my history there's a high chance it would be too destabilizing.

Different things work for different people and nowadays I think that something like psychomotor therapy can be useful. Sometimes a multi-facetted approach can help, I think.

Yes I have and found it helpful

I’m still that hurt little girl that is terrified of being rejected and deliberately hurt but I know that it is my issue not everyone who gets close will hurt me

I didn’t change as a person but how I reacted to my own feelings has changed

Yes i've found it helps. I've been paying privately for therapy for a number of years and it has made such a difference to me. There is some evidence I think that reliving traumatic events with a trained counsellor or psychotherapist can help to overcome PTSD.

I've talked previously about having a specific treatment called EMDR for PTSD and anxiety and it has changed my life.

I will say though that I found EMDR exhausting, intense and it left me feeling emotional and vulnerable for a few days after each session. After several sessions though it really helped me turn a corner and reprocess the trauma.

I used psychotherapy for trauma. I told my therapists every little details of my traumas (cse) and it really really helped. He was amazing. It could have been re traumatizing but he was very experienced. And I led the conversations. It took years to be honest. I went over it slowly and then in more detail as I trusted him more and as memories came back to me. I know that's unique to me and my traumas but if you feel you need to say it, then say it. But first talk to your therapist about your fears and vulnerability. My therapist always encouraged sessions on my fears and worries before I told him what happened. They were as therapeutic as actually telling. The relationship as therauptic if not more, as telling. It could be helpful. I hope you find a way to be at peace.

I don't know what I want to achieve exactly

I don't think you need to know this. You probably won't find out the answer until after you have tried it... What strikes me is that you feel you need to, which suggests you've reached a point where you're ready to begin doing so and there is a part of you that would find it helpful to be able to give voice to it? Does that fit with how you're feeling?

If you feel safe to, and feel you need to, it might be a risk to work towards taking? You could dip your toe in and see how it goes?

Part of healing from trauma is being able to put the pieces of your story together, so in the right environment, at the right time, with the right person, it can be helpful to be able to start narrating it so to speak.

Starting to talk about it might help you start to understand why you feel you need to. Don't forget, you will be talking to another person so their responses will help with that processing. You won't be doing it on your own.

I see a psychiatrist to deal with PTSD from a traumatic rape.

We haven’t (can’t legally don’t get me started) actually talked about “the event” but what we have done is process my self attacks, threat system overdrive and learnt various other things to basically calm and soothe myself.

It’s a long old journey but I’m probably around 15 sessions in and can cope with the feelings of fear and panic so much better! I’m honestly back to normal apart from the odd freakout and even those I can recognise and manage now.

I never needed medication. I think it helps more than just rehashing an incident itself if that makes sense?

I'm the sort of person who wants to sort everything out independently, but no amount of googling or reading up on things can move me on like I need to

Almost thought I'd already replied to this thread... Are you me?!

Yes definitely. I learned to create new neural pathways to prevent repetitive, obsessive & intrusive thinking & literally find a new path through. Lots of work, and lots of practising techniques & strategies but it has paid off.

yes definitely. It won't always be quick, and it might not come with a specific therapist/counsellor, but yes in general therapy will create a safe space for you to talk about the things your brain tries to distract you from and tries to hide.

The other thing that I would say is it is surprising just how different therapy/counselling is to just talk about stuff.

I talked about my trauma all the time...sometimes it felt like I couldn't stop. I've told my story a 100 times on MN too!

But talking about it within therapy was something qualitatively different. It took a while to get there but one day I was not retelling, but actual in the memory and re-experiencing (in a guided way not a flash back way) and I suddenly understood the memory and everything fell back into place. I honestly walked out a different (much happier) person than I walked in.

I've had two lots of counselling. EMDR really worked for me. After reading this thread I've noticed I am a lot less troubled about things than I used to be. I was taught techniques that really help keep my anxiety and stress level under control.

I haven't read the thread because I don't want to trigger myself.

Yes I have had psychotherapy as a victim if serious crime and suffering PTSD. Yes it worked and give me my life back.

I still don't read things that could trigger me

Thank you everyone who has responded

I don't know anyone in real life who has therapy or ptsd or has had the type of trauma so it's really helpful to hear your experiences and I really appreciate you all sharing - especially as the poster above mentions I know it can be triggering

Have had six sessions of counselling. Diagnosed with PTSD, cPTSD, anxiety and depression. Abused emotionally throughout childhood and a sexual incident also.

Opening up helped in some ways, but you have to click with the counsellor or you'll never feel comfortable enough to express. I'm not going to lie, I found it really difficult, my generic subconscious stance is to not trust women and be shit scared of men.

My problem was the counsellor left due to personal issues and I've not been seen since, over two years now. Dredging up the raw emotions that we hide in our subconscious, always there lurking but our subconscious protecting us. For me, it's been too much since. Flashbacks, triggering, self-harm, insomnia, the works. I saw a photo earlier today and it triggered me instantly, the problems start when you're halfway in and raw, hurtful, fearful memories and emotions are constantly swirling around your head.

Short answer? Yeah, but only if you feel strong enough to do so, and be able to see the same counsellor throughout. You need to be open if you cannot click either and ask for a different therapist. Sorry for diverging.

I suppose should come back to say I am not that easily triggered anymore. I can watch things on TV and read books etc which I wouldn't have been able to read before counselling.

However I do mind my mental health. I don't really watch the news or read threads about certain things. I can however have a brief discussion with relevant people along the lines of this is what happened to me, I have had counselling and I have recovered but I was in a very bad way between the incident and the counselling.

Surrounding yourself with kindness and loving yourself are important too.

Surrounding yourself with kindness and loving yourself are important too

Exactly, trauma causes self-worth and self-belief to fall through the floor. Although I've, and am, finding it difficult, it's easier to hate myself.

The love & kindness bit can be very difficult when you've got an intensely critical voice in your head unfortunately, for me CBT written exercises are the only thing that changed that critical voice, they work amazingly well