Is there anyone out there who's done more therapy than me?

[Greengerbil]

I am now in my 5th consecutive year.. It costs me about £600 a month, privately. This isn't a game of one-upmanship, I'm just feeling low about not being out the other end of the tunnel yet. I collapsed with nervous breakdown after my marriage failed, having had a VERY VERY severe childhood. I was abandoned to abusers by my dm & nearly died several times. I have Cptsd. The NHS have never come through for me, 10 sessions of CBT wasn't going to cut it. I do specialist trauma therapy & EMDR. I hope one day to make it out the other end of this tunnel. I don't resent the cost - it's kept me from committing suicide but it makes me wonder, am I the only one? Is there anyone else who's been in therapy this long? Sometimes I really struggle..

Probably should namechange but to hell with it.

Off and on I've been seeing a therapist since 2008. And I don't have any of your severe history - just had a trauma that year (not as bad as a marriage ending) and began therapy to help me cope. Trauma long since resolved but I find seeing someone really helpful. We are in family therapy for about 4 years although my child who was the impetus for that saw a therapist for a few years in childhood too. It is very very common where I live and is seen almost as a support rather than a cure. Instead of seeing yourself as still in the tunnel, could you look at it as the therapy is helping the tunnel seem lighter and friendlier and more manageable so while the end of the tunnel is still in sight the tunnel itself is not so bad. Good luck to you in any case.

I did over 6 yrs of therapy! Yr 5 and I was sure I'd never end. By yr 6 I was ready.
There's no shame in long term therapy and I won't hesitate to go back if I need to.

I just wrote a long post but my laptop is really playing up so all I can say is yes, way more - 20 years on and off.