Help I Don't Want Therapy, I Do Want To Get Better

[MoonBat]

My family has noticed my melancholy recently and have consistently made it a point that I should be looking for a therapist or a psychiatrist. It's sweet that they care and I know they see this as a channel to get better, but I don't trust therapists nor do I think they are an effective way to feel better. I'm suicidal because of my status as a woman in the world, I dread the foreseeable future at the hands of right wing politicians, and the upcoming socio-economic collapse. There's nothing I can do to change these things, I don't see how paying for a therapist with what little money I have is going to fix that.

However, I want to improve my mental state. I feel that it is largely out of my control and I'm unsure if therapy is really the best course of action. Anyone else in this sort of position? Did therapy help or did you find a more efficient/worthwhile method of recovery? A few friends have told me I should consider smoking weed or something to help with anxiety, but I don't think that's much better either. (''>﹏<)

 

[Redacted24]

Hi, I'm sorry you're in this state... and yeah the time with therapists is kind of a hit-or-miss experience from my perspective. It all depends on how well you "click" with each other and that takes a few meetings to kind of know.

I had one for a few years that was effortless to talk with. I looked forward to our meetings, and she was really supportive and affirming to me. A year after she left for her own practice and I didn't see her again.

Before her (and for almost 2 years after her) I managed to keep going on my own. I'd call it managing my depression rather than recovery, because I wasn't getting better, I was just doing better at recognizing the pitfalls and steering clear before I got sucked into the hole.

For me, some of it was realization that I can't do everything myself. There are just too many things that I can neither control nor influence. I used to get hung up on that a lot and still do to a degree, and it makes me feel like a gutted fish when there's something bad happening and I can't do anything - nothing! - to make it better. I have to remind myself to simply acknowledge the problem and refocus on the very small circle of things that I can control.

I also worked to see the positive in situations, to change the narrative whenever I could and not get hung up on the bad. Like, having to walk 15 min to the bus stop then wait then ride 20 min to get to my train instead of driving to the station or getting dropped off. Sure my commute got 45 min longer each way and standing in the rain isn't great...but I've prevented some greenhouse gasses and pollution, which helps the environment.

It was little mind tricks like that that helped me get by without talking with someone.

And, frankly, the people on this site have helped me too...because they can empathize and support and are usually kind.

Just some ideas. We're here for you!

 

[Life_and_Death]

what about self therapy. where you figure yourself out and what you need/can use without a therapist.

 

[extremelytired1]

My family has noticed my melancholy recently and have consistently made it a point that I should be looking for a therapist or a psychiatrist. It's sweet that they care and I know they see this as a channel to get better, but I don't trust therapists nor do I think they are an effective way to feel better. I'm suicidal because of my status as a woman in the world, I dread the foreseeable future at the hands of right wing politicians, and the upcoming socio-economic collapse. There's nothing I can do to change these things, I don't see how paying for a therapist with what little money I have is going to fix that.

However, I want to improve my mental state. I feel that it is largely out of my control and I'm unsure if therapy is really the best course of action. Anyone else in this sort of position? Did therapy help or did you find a more efficient/worthwhile method of recovery? A few friends have told me I should consider smoking weed or something to help with anxiety, but I don't think that's much better either. (''>﹏<)

I can't make an absolute statement but most people in that field are there because they genuinely care, are interested in the human mind/experience and want to better it. I know, these are scary times, and from personal experience I don't advise drugs. If you want to get better, and you're suicidal, what do you have to lose trusting somebody? There are so many good people about. Don't be put off by climates of fear and the state of the world