Haas anyone had a positive experience of psychotherapy?

[fivecupsoftea]

I'm asking because I started psychotherapy about 5 weeks ago and I'm finding it really hard. I'm not sleeping well, and feel a bit churned up.

Hi Fivecups

Sorry to hear you are finding things tough.

I had about 3-4 years of private psychotherapy which I found really helpful. It got me through some really challenging times and I feel a lot more able to 'help' / 'care for' myself now without feeling that I am going mad (I had had a couple of 'breakdowns' prior to the therapy but haven't had any in the 8 or so years since).

It is tough and painful, particularly if you are trying to understand the root cause of your problems as you often end up spending a lot of time thinking back to difficult or painful times in early life.

It's really important that your therapist is aware of how things feel for you, and that he or she can help you develop some ways to look after yourself and feel safe between sessions, so please let them know.

Good luck x

Thanks for your reply Florence. It's nice to know that psychotherapy can help. I have told my therapist that I am finding it really hard and am not sleeping well etc. She hasn't suggested any ways of taking care of myself. It's a big surprise to me to be finding it so hard. I was actually feeling that I was generally ok emotionally but decided to try it in the hope it might help my physical health. That's why I have posted this question here in physical health.

I haven't had it but friends' experiences suggest that psychotherapy can be very helpful if you are working on a one-off traumatic experience (terrible earthquake that killed your family, home invasion & rape etc) but it can be useless and even harmful if it just goes on for years rehashing all your past mistakes and grievances.

Yes!

Lots. Several times, over long and short periods of time. Not sleeping well, being churned up, feeling as though you're going backwards etc are all really normal when you start....and 5 weeks is early days, if you think of it as an open ended journey.

As long as you have enough moments of feeling seen/heard by and safe with your therapist, then really I would trust the process....but if you need more help in taking care of yourself, or feel mistrustful or unsure of having connected with her, I would talk to her about that again. It is her job to help you through wibbly times

And a good therapist shouldn't let anyone spend useless years rehashing stuff for no reason! There are good therapists and not so good therapists, and IMHO the relationship is as important as anything else...

Yes I've had a good experience. It's normal to find it tough going at first - it tends to get worse before it gets better.

Thanks to you all for your encouragement. It's nice to hear that it has really helped you. I do trust my therapist. Probably the reason I'm having this discussion here and not with her is that I have to wait another 6 days before I can discuss it with her. I would like to go more than once a week, but it's hard enough to accept paying for her once a week, twice is unimaginable.

Stick with it. I absolutely love therapy. I find the whole concept fascinating ( this person who you build a relationship with despite knowing very little about them. A person who is there for you and accepts you absolutely like probably noone else in your life.

For me it offers a weekly release from all those frustrations that build up during the week as well as an opportunity to really start to work on issues (anxiety , self-esteem) that have made life difficult for me over the years.

I am fortunate in having a pretty good childhood so I'm not dredging up a lot of painful memories rather working on things such as difficulties with relationships etc etc. However it is hard at first until you get used to it and it's not unusual to cry during the whole session and dwell on it the evening afterwards. However, as time goes on you'll probably find that you are able to leave a lot of the emotion behind in the session and day to day life will improve as you know each week you will have an opportunity to be listened to by a person who is on your side.

You might find yourself getting addicted to it though- it is very hard to leave

Thanks change le nom I'm encouraged to hear another positive experience.