Counselling for depression

[SpicyPopcorn]

I'm currently having counselling for depression and have had four sessions so far. I don't have crippling depression, and function ok, but have felt depressed on and off my whole life, and in the last couple of years have just started feeling a general sense of being jaded/cynical and not feeling excited or hopeful about anything. I just feel bored and 'is this it's. I'm mid thirties.

I've found it good to be able to just talk without feeling guilty for offloading onto my husband, and it has made me think more about how I'm feeling.

However, I think I'm quite self aware already, and I'm not sure that the counselling is going to help me feel less depressed, and more hopeful for the future.

I've never sought help before so it's hard to know. Can anyone offer any insight?

I once heard that counselling...just talking about it is pointless

CBT is meant to be better. It needs to have direction rather than just discussing things

I've done CBT online via the NHS and didn't find it that useful. I feel like I've just lost interest in life. I function fine, but feel detached. I don't get anxious because I don't care enough about things anymore.

I find counselling really helpful with the offloading effect you mentioned but also as it helps me believe things can change and won't always be like this. I'd recommend giving it a bit longer.

IPT and CBT, behavioural activation and antidepressant medication are all evidence based treatments for depression
Counselling is not an evidence based treatment for depression

Are you taking effective anti depressants as well? If there is an imbalance they do help - the NICE guidelines recommend both together.

When I see people with depression they talk through how they got here, what they think affected them (this can take awhile) and I get them to focus on what makes them happy and we do that. Bit by tiny bit.

Passion generates passion. There may be multiple reasons why you 'don't care' - could be fear based, could be because of difficult upbringing, could be you don't have enough good relationships (need more than just partner).

I think CBT with an actual person is likely to be more helpful than online only. Doing workbooks and reading alone can make a dent and are important for understanding the principles and starting to learn skills/techniques, but you really need the input of another human being who can help you break free of your own closed cycles of thought etc.

@LaurieFairyCake
I appreciate this.may be a "how long is a piece of string" question, but on average how many sessions of CBT would you think is required? alongside taking antidepressants?

It all depends on the client (and a decent practitioner) but I would expect the standard 12 sessions (3 months) plus antidepressants to make a dent in it.

Thankyou x

I feel like I've just lost interest in life

Then no therapist can fix that.

Try and regain it. Can you try something new, a new hobby, a new sport, take more holidays?

Thanks for all the replies. I'm not taking antidepressants and would rather not if I can help it. I do know the reasons I'm depressed and we've discussed these in my sessions. I'm doing things that should make me happy, but somewhere along the way I've just lost that spark - there was a thread in AIBU a few days ago about this which really resonated with me.

I don't think anyone even realises. I live my life as normal, but underneath everything I just feel quite numb.

Given your latest post it takes longer than 4 sessions, even if you know the reasons. Processing them, feeling them takes some time

Your feelings for life will come back to replace the numbness

Thank you. I'll give it a bit longer.

Why are you against antidepressants? Depression can be exacerbated by a chemical disbalance in the brain, and medication fixes that like it would do in any physical ailment.

My DS was really against taking antidepressants, he thought they would turn him into a zombie. He attempted suicide a few months ago and started antidepressants 3 weeks ago, he had a couple of days of feeling dizzy but other than that no side effects. I would tentatively say his mood is slowly improving. He is also having CBT (which I'm paying for privately as NHS waiting list was 6 months)
But you can't put a price on your mental health. Please re think the AD op