Has anyone here ever had counselling?

[MercuryMorrison1]

So, I'll just come out and say it...I'm fairly certian that I suffer from one or maybe multiple forms of depression. I'm planning on seeing a counselor within the next week for my issues. I've felt this way for a couple of years now, I have regular up's and downs, but I do not think that I am bi-polar because my mood swings generally last for month's at a time (as opposed to weeks/days at a time) and my mood's are hardly ever to the extream of someone who is bi-polar. I have on some of my lowest low's considerd the aspect of suicide, however I always remind myself how selfish the act of suicide is and that in doing so I would only hurt the people who love me and want nothing more than to see me happy.

 

There is a possiblity that my feeling this way could be genetic...My father sufferd from pretty heavy depression through out most of the 20's and 30's...In his late 30's he relented and went on anti-depressent's which for the record made monumental difference's in his overall mood and outlook. He is now 45 and living happier than I've ever seen him in my whole life, and that's what I want for myself as well. I don't like the idea of being on a pill everyday for the rest of my life, which is why I'm going to counselling first to see if my issues can be sorted out just by having someone to share my feelings with and give me some professional adivce.

 

Has anyone here had counselling? If so, did you find it helpful at all? Or was it waste of money.

 

Thanks.

[denise_xo]

I find counselling extremely helpful, as long as it's with the right professional. IME, the latter is (apart from them having the necessary skills etc) also about personal chemistry - I need to be comfortable with someone in order to be able to open up and talk freely. If I don't open up and talk freely, counselling won't help. The only way to figure out if the person is the right one is to give it a try for at least a few sessions. The other key criteria is that you need to want to address your issues and do active work for counselling to be helpful. Just going there once a week isn't going to solve anything. But it sounds like you are motivated.

 

Apart from that, my personal experience is also that ADs can make a monumental difference in life quality.

[darkmoon]

your post seems to say that you want to discuss your depression as if the discussion would be the cure

 

look for a counsellor worth hiring

some can be bossy or useless, yet they charge alot

try cognitive therapy cuz it makes you see life differently

discuss your desired outcome to see if the counsellor is worth hiring

just discussing your depression is something a friend could do

do something you enjoy, to feel happy right now

[MercuryMorrison1]

your post seems to say that you want to discuss your depression as if the discussion would be the cure

 

look for a counsellor worth hiring

some can be bossy or useless, yet they charge alot

try cognitive therapy cuz it makes you see life differently

discuss your desired outcome to see if the counsellor is worth hiring

just discussing your depression is something a friend could do

do something you enjoy, to feel happy right now

 

Well the thing is, I don't really like to let people I'm close with know that I'm ''unhappy''. Its just something inside of me wants to prevent myself from being put into a certian light. I did try to open up to a close friend about it a year ago, but unfortunatly he didn't really know how to respond. His only response was ''you're to young to be depressed'' which I hold nothing against him for being that way, I think it just boils down to it being something he hasn't experienced so he can't really relate to it. That's one reason I feel as though I should see a counsellor.

 

Thanks for the feedback.

[MercuryMorrison1]

I find counselling extremely helpful, as long as it's with the right professional. IME, the latter is (apart from them having the necessary skills etc) also about personal chemistry - I need to be comfortable with someone in order to be able to open up and talk freely. If I don't open up and talk freely, counselling won't help. The only way to figure out if the person is the right one is to give it a try for at least a few sessions. The other key criteria is that you need to want to address your issues and do active work for counselling to be helpful. Just going there once a week isn't going to solve anything. But it sounds like you are motivated.

 

Apart from that, my personal experience is also that ADs can make a monumental difference in life quality.

 

 

Yeah I am still considering AD's, it really depends on how counselling go's. But I have to admit, I was really suprised to see the difference it made in my dad...He went from pretty much hating all things on earth and being a total shut in hermit, to being an outgoing happy guy who enjoys get togethers with friends. Taking AD's improved his quality of life greatly...They also improved his relationship with my mother quite a bit.

 

Thanks for the advice. I found both's posts to be very helpful.

[carhill]

I had 14 months of counseling with a clinical psychologist. Do you have any specific questions? He examined my exW's assertions of my being clinically depressed and found them to be situational in nature, in his opinion, and recommended against the use of medication. Turns out, long term, his opinion had traction, and the tools (cognitive tools for processing stimulus and emotion, mostly, along with clearer communication) learned have benefited far beyond therapy and the end of the M.

 

IMO, the key is engaging a competent professional who specializes in the particular aspect sought. We did this by referral from another psychologist who was a client of my exW's.

 

The only way to know what works for you, or not, is to try. If the first try isn't a good fit, no worries.

 

Two prerequisites:

 

1. You should have the desire to change elemental aspects of yourself to feel differently.

 

2. You should be honest with your therapist. Complete transparency can be very painful. Expect it.

 

 

You're not alone. Sounds trite, but it's true. Good luck.

[Dreamless Sleep]

I'm seeing a counselor now for the first time. (not counting a marriage counselor).

It's been a good experience. He's helped to validate my experience through my marital separation. I'm not crazy after all. I am considering using AD to get through the worst of this. I was lucky to find someone who I could easily communicate with from the start. I'd encourage you to seek a counselor with whom you can trust and divulge your story. Otherwise move on to another.

[Weezy1973]

In general, if you are questioning whether or not you should seek counselling, you should probably seek counselling. I went to counselling for anxiety and it really helped. I echo other people's comments about finding the right counsellor; one that you have the right chemistry with.

[ImperfectionisBeauty]

I'm in counseling but it isn't helping me much, but its because I'm afraid to be fully honest with her because I'm embarrassed.

[carhill]

So, as a suggestion, work on that first. Examine the roots of embarrassment and fear of disclosure, in general. Learn tools to process those fears. Then move on to the subject matter impelling the feelings.

[SandRat]

I'm in counseling but it isn't helping me much, but its because I'm afraid to be fully honest with her because I'm embarrassed.

 

Rule number one; YOU HAVE TO BE TOTALLY HONEST WITH YOUR COUNSELOR!

 

Some things will just pour out, others have to be coaxed out. A good counselor knows when to coax. If you're not being honest with your counselor and they haven't busted you on it yet, get a new one that will "make" you face certain issues head on. Really, that's the only way to deal with "real" problems. I learned some things today from my counselor, first visit, I'm going to be a bit difficult for him as I've already buried him in issues that I've already identified myself. I'm sure he's saying "This guy's going to be easy to handle, he won't shut up". But he's going to find out real soon it ain't gonna be that easy. Just call me Sybil. j/k

[disquieted_dragonfly]

Hello there!

 

I am 22 and currently in my second series of counselling sessions (mostly due to the fact that I had to relocate). I also started it for sorting out some really depressive thoughts I had been having since I was 19. Now I don't know how old you are, but I am glad you didn't immediately believe the person who told you you were too young to be depressed. Information no. 1: it can strike at any age and it is mostly not in your own control, especially if you have never dealt with it before. But by the way you talk about it, I presume you have read a little bit about it or know stuff because your father suffered from it too.

 

Information no.2: if you start counselling and find the right therapist, you will look back after a while and wonder why you didn't start earlier. It took me about half a year of therapy to understand that, by avoiding counselling in the beginning, I lost almost two years of my life to depression. And it won't come back, nothing from the past does.

 

So: it may take some trying to find the therapist which makes you feel professionally taken care of, secure and comfortable enough in order to fully open up and start talking. It will surely take a lot of heartache to find the underlying causes and incredibly great (and continuous!) efforts to change some of the ways in which you view yourself and the world. But there is nothing better you can do for yourself. Future-you and all the people you will be making happier than ever will thank you. Start this journey today or tomorrow. Know that it's like a promise to take care of yourself for the rest of your life. After a while it will become the natural alternative to feeling desperate about any situation, especially since the right therapist will give you the "tools" to do so by yourself.