Posted by tabitha on October 7, 2004, at 13:38:32
In reply to The Point of therapy, posted by shortelise on October 6, 2004, at 13:14:50
When I started I wanted relief from all the painful relationship patterns in my life. I was constantly extremely upset over coworker interactions, and got into a 'social outcast' role a lot without understanding what I was doing to get there. Plus my love life was chaotic and painful to the extreme. I think I imagined that therapy would transform me into a socially popular person who sailed through office politics and social situations, and had all the friends and dates I could ever want. Well that still hasn't happened.
We went through several phases. I'd say the major issues were (1) becoming more aware of my feelings-- feeling them instead of acting them out, (2) stopping my alcohol abuse, (3) dealing with grief over my mom's suicide, which happened a couple years after I'd started therapy, (4) changing my unhealthy love life pattern and my social reject pattern, (5) support through my bipolar diagnosis and ongoing effort to learn what a 'stable' mood felt like, (6) lots of cognitive re-training. A lifetime of depression had left me with some pretty distorted thinking. (7) ongoing lessons in understanding other people. My T has a radically different take on what makes people tick than I did. (8) lots of general support.
I never did achieve popularity. In fact I often complain to her that I'm more isolated than before I started therapy. I think my unhealthy relationship patterns did serve to suck a few people into my life. Now that I'm not using those patterns, I haven't figured out a new approach.
Whenever I talk about goals with my T, she seems big on the idea that the best goal for me to have is self-acceptance and inner peace.
Thanks for the topic, ShortE-- it was a good exercise for me to take stock.
poster:tabitha
thread:399630
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20041002/msgs/399995.html