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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dis Traught on January 27, 2007, at 15:48:34
Hi, I wonder if I need therapy? I'm so used to working with war-traumatised people that my own sufferings seem minute comparatively speaking. But I don't feel too good, am on prozac. As a child I was severely neglected by single parent, left in an orphanage (brutal, they beat us hard) at the age of four, back to mom by age 4,5 yrs, sexually abused by adult before age 5, sent abroad alone at age 9 (I didn't understand a word of the language), had to stay w strange family, was later bullied in highschool, betrayed by bf when I was pregnant (caught him in bed w other woman), ostracised by co-workers when I couldn't understand what was so awful about incident at work and everyone else was hysterical. It goes on, and on, both brothers dead (drugs and abuse). I guess I'm pretty strong to have survived, but don't know if I qualify for therapy. What do you think?
Penny
Posted by Dinah on January 27, 2007, at 16:08:13
In reply to Do I need therapy?, posted by Dis Traught on January 27, 2007, at 15:48:34
If you think you would benefit from having someone to talk to, or there's something about your life or your reactions to life that you'd like to change, then you qualify for therapy.
It sounds as if you've had a really hard life, and you might have things about that you want to discuss. But even if you didn't, your pain is your pain right now, and you deserve to treat that pain.
Welcome to Babble, Penny.
Posted by Dis Traught on January 27, 2007, at 16:21:06
In reply to Re: Do I need therapy? » Dis Traught, posted by Dinah on January 27, 2007, at 16:08:13
Thank you, Dinah. I suppose it really is about validating my own pain. Look forward to meeting you all on Babble.
Posted by sunnydays on January 27, 2007, at 17:44:45
In reply to Do I need therapy?, posted by Dis Traught on January 27, 2007, at 15:48:34
You definitely qualify - really, anyone who wants therapy qualifies for it, in my opinion! If you feel there are things in your life right now you'd like to change, even if it's just how you're feeling or to clarify where you are in life, you definitely qualify.
Good luck, I hope you find someone good. I'm sorry all those things happened to you. Keep posting on Babble if you want to, we're good supportive people!
sunnydays
Posted by Daisym on January 27, 2007, at 18:20:16
In reply to Re: Do I need therapy? » Dis Traught, posted by sunnydays on January 27, 2007, at 17:44:45
People go into therapy for all kinds of reasons. I think whether you qualify or not is strictly an insurance term - will they pay for it? Otherwise it is typically a choice, something you do for yourself with certain goals in mind.
It does sound like you've had quite a number of hard things happen to you. The question is, are they effecting your life, health, happiness and relationships, now? If you've been able to make sense out of your past experiences and these events reside as part of a coherent, although sad, narrative of your life, you don't necessarily need therapy. If you find your past intruding on your present functioning and happiness, therapy might help you sort through things and change things for the better. I worry often that people think that therapy is a magic bullet -- they'll go in, tell their stories and have that "ah ha!" moment that sheds a light on everything and instantly you feel better. Or, that the therapist will tell you to do X, Y and Z and it will all get better.
The truth is that therapy is a lot of hard work. It is hard to make personal changes, and it is often painful to revisit old traumas in order to understand them better. You have to commit to it and be willing to push yourself to open up and be honest. The job of the therapist is to help you help yourself. Therapy is a safe, carved out space to do the work.
I read somewhere recently that you should look upon therapy like you would a college education. It is a costly investment in your future - both in terms of time and dollars. It takes focus, you need guidance and there is a significant requirement of "outside" thinking/working time needed in order to succeed (homework). But in the end, the "degree" you get should serve you for your whole life. And this is what we are talking about -- your life. So get the best education you can!
Good luck and welcome to Babble.
Posted by Poet on January 28, 2007, at 11:56:43
In reply to Do I need therapy?, posted by Dis Traught on January 27, 2007, at 15:48:34
Hi Penny,
Welome to Babble, I've gotten much help here, and hope you find what you need, too.
For me therapy is hard because I don't open up very easily. After four years my therapist is finally saying that I look relaxed. I knew before I started that I would need to talk about some very hard things, and I'm lucky that my therapist takes it slow and doesn't push me.
It sounds like you had a real rough childhood and there may be things that you might benefit from working through it with a therapist. I can only say that for me it has helped, it's slow and many times frustrating, but I am coping better with things.
Good luck.
Poet
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