[Vicky.]

I hope it works, starting it in a few weeks :S

I'm skeptical and always have been

[Kyle]

I've had CBT and am doing CAT currently though mine is for a mental health problem rather than general day to day issues but I say go for it. Even if you don't get what you think you are looking for out of it at the very least you should feel better having someone listen to you vent and not feel like you are putting them out.

[Vanessa]

Do you have to pay for it?

[Kizzy]

No ness, go to your doctors and ask if there's any 1to1, or group sessions even it's a comfort just to know you're not the only one feeling as you do and you are support for one another that way too.

[Vanessa]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

No ness, go to your doctors and ask if there's any 1to1, or group sessions even it's a comfort just to know you're not the only one feeling as you do and you are support for one another that way too.

Not sure i can talk to a stranger about myself though. But i just feel myself getting depressed these days and maybe talking would help.

[Kyle]

If you go to your GP and tell them they can offer you IAPT services Vanessa. It won't cost you owt.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Vanessa

Not sure i can talk to a stranger about myself though. But i just feel myself getting depressed these days and maybe talking would help.

It will only be a stranger until you go then it will be a friend

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Vanessa

Not sure i can talk to a stranger about myself though. But i just feel myself getting depressed these days and maybe talking would help.

Sometimes it's easier to talk to a stranger, someone with whom you have no connection, I found it easier anyway. Hope you do too.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Vanessa

Not sure i can talk to a stranger about myself though. But i just feel myself getting depressed these days and maybe talking would help.

It would, it's good that you've noticed yourself feeling down too that way you can start to think about ways to help you feel better

[Vanessa]

Usually i always feel in control, but not lately.

[jennyjuniper]

I think in general it's a good idea. It depends on whether you are willing to take the advice offered. Also the potential for harm that an unqualified or unscrupilous therapist can inflict can be very damaging.

[Vanessa]

Originally Posted by jennyjuniper

I think in general it's a good idea. It depends on whether you are willing to take the advice offered. Also the potential for harm that an unqualified or unscrupilous therapist can inflict can be very damaging.

[Kizzy]

If it's one at the docs that won't be a worry ness I wouldn't say, I think that's jst the ones that charge and just take your money without wanting to help, as when you think as soon as they say you're ok they stop getting paid
Just don't get stuck on anti depressants, if you just need to work through grief they won't help in the long term.

[Vanessa]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

If it's one at the docs that won't be a worry ness I wouldn't say, I think that's jst the ones that charge and just take your money without wanting to help, as when you think as soon as they say you're ok they stop getting paid
Just don't get stuck on anti depressants, if you just need to work through grief they won't help in the long term.

Yes, i agree. I don't want them. I'd rather be messed up.

[arista]

Originally Posted by Benjamin

Do you believe it works, have you been, or do you think it's just another way for people to make money off people with problems?

But what about Counseling thats free


so of course it works

Silly Ben

[Z]

I sought out CBT after being assaulted for the second time in my life by a stranger. It was really useful for me, because it was about correcting behaviours that only I could help myself with; it was in my control to change how I behaved and my counsellor was absolutely brilliant in helping me with that - so I'd say if you have some kind of problem that's ultimately down to you, you would definitely benefit from it.

On the other hand, I went on anti-depressants after a particularly bad time with my family life had left me crying almost every day and feeling sad all the time; i.e. circumstances that were not in my control. The anti-depressants definitely did the job, I stopped feeling sad and became really productive and cheerful, but I also started becoming extremely carefree/reckless in certain aspects of my life which I decided was not a good thing and ultimately decided to stop taking them. My doctor advised me to wean myself off them gradually but I decided that I'd had enough and that my life had suitably calmed down enough to just stop taking them - as I had a job, a place to live and a happy relationship too.

So, if you've got some kind of problem that you could fix yourself but you can't find the inner strength to; I'd recommend counselling - but if it's something out of your control or you feel is way too much for you to do on your own, perhaps go with counselling in combination with anti-depressants. I didn't seek counselling for the problems with my family because they weren't in my control and no amount of counselling would have been at all useful in that situation.

[Vanessa]

Originally Posted by Z

I sought out CBT after being assaulted for the second time in my life by a stranger. It was really useful for me, because it was about correcting behaviours that only I could help myself with; it was in my control to change how I behaved and my counsellor was absolutely brilliant in helping me with that - so I'd say if you have some kind of problem that's ultimately down to you, you would definitely benefit from it.

On the other hand, I went on anti-depressants after a particularly bad time with my family life had left me crying almost every day and feeling sad all the time; i.e. circumstances that were not in my control. The anti-depressants definitely did the job, I stopped feeling sad and became really productive and cheerful, but I also started becoming extremely carefree/reckless in certain aspects of my life which I decided was not a good thing and ultimately decided to stop taking them. My doctor advised me to wean myself off them gradually but I decided that I'd had enough and that my life had suitably calmed down enough to just stop taking them - as I had a job, a place to live and a happy relationship too.

So, if you've got some kind of problem that you could fix yourself but you can't find the inner strength to; I'd recommend counselling - but if it's something out of your control or you feel is way too much for you to do on your own, perhaps go with counselling in combination with anti-depressants. I didn't seek counselling for the problems with my family because they weren't in my control and no amount of counselling would have been at all useful in that situation.

[AnnieK]

The hospice where my mum spent the last days of her life sent me a letter recently offering me bereavement counselling and also for my son. I haven't taken them up on it yet but they have said I can contact them if I feel a need in the future. It's kind of nice to know the offer is there but just talking to friends has helped, they knew my mum so I found it easier to just talk rubbish to them about her and they got it.

[waterhog]

i had one session - i asked to book my next and he said he is having time off and he needs counseling.

i turnt to poetry after all this to filter out the bad and it is working like a dream and i have never looked back.

[the truth]

ITS ESSENTIAL TO have it in some form or another though its a sad reflection of our so called society that people feel they have no one else to talk to other than a paid hand....I agree too its often easier to talk to strangers.

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Z

I sought out CBT after being assaulted for the second time in my life by a stranger. It was really useful for me, because it was about correcting behaviours that only I could help myself with; it was in my control to change how I behaved and my counsellor was absolutely brilliant in helping me with that - so I'd say if you have some kind of problem that's ultimately down to you, you would definitely benefit from it.

On the other hand, I went on anti-depressants after a particularly bad time with my family life had left me crying almost every day and feeling sad all the time; i.e. circumstances that were not in my control. The anti-depressants definitely did the job, I stopped feeling sad and became really productive and cheerful, but I also started becoming extremely carefree/reckless in certain aspects of my life which I decided was not a good thing and ultimately decided to stop taking them. My doctor advised me to wean myself off them gradually but I decided that I'd had enough and that my life had suitably calmed down enough to just stop taking them - as I had a job, a place to live and a happy relationship too.

So, if you've got some kind of problem that you could fix yourself but you can't find the inner strength to; I'd recommend counselling - but if it's something out of your control or you feel is way too much for you to do on your own, perhaps go with counselling in combination with anti-depressants. I didn't seek counselling for the problems with my family because they weren't in my control and no amount of counselling would have been at all useful in that situation.

..yeah I would say this exactly as well...for some people therapy works brilliantly and for others it could be medication/or a mixture of both even ..it really is dependant on the individual and as you say, the situation as well...

[Shaun]

I'm considering it.

I think I may be bipolar, or just plain depressed lol. I keep having recurring dreams about my late brother & father and waking up from them just always leaves me... I don't know, but it just puts me in a down mood for the rest of the day.

I also feel like there isn't anyone I want to or can talk to about it... especially my family because my mum was actually diagnosed with depression and had almost a year off work because of it so I feel like it'd be taking the piss. "Hi mum yeah you know how your firstborn died and you feel like a failed parent? Well I sometimes can't sleep..." you know? And I've always had difficulty expressing these things to friends, I think that's why I spill so much to people on here. And then I just get more down because it feels like no one cares, but really it's just my fault because I don't feel like I can open up.

But yeah... The stigma of "getting counselling" definitely puts me off.

[Kyle]

If someone is gonna look down on you for going to counselling then they probably aren't worth knowing. If you think you can benefit from it, especially when you express concerns you might have bi-polar disorder, maybe going just once to see would be ok I dunno.

There's no shame in asking for help from time to time.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Shaun

I'm considering it.

I think I may be bipolar, or just plain depressed lol. I keep having recurring dreams about my late brother & father and waking up from them just always leaves me... I don't know, but it just puts me in a down mood for the rest of the day.

I also feel like there isn't anyone I want to or can talk to about it... especially my family because my mum was actually diagnosed with depression and had almost a year off work because of it so I feel like it'd be taking the piss. "Hi mum yeah you know how your firstborn died and you feel like a failed parent? Well I sometimes can't sleep..." you know? And I've always had difficulty expressing these things to friends, I think that's why I spill so much to people on here. And then I just get more down because it feels like no one cares, but really it's just my fault because I don't feel like I can open up.

But yeah... The stigma of "getting counselling" definitely puts me off.

aw Shaun you shouldn't feel like that, I'm sure your mother would hate to know that's how you feel as well. If your mother suffers with depression she's probably the best person to speak to about it and she'll probably understand alot of what you're feeling

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Shaun

I'm considering it.

I think I may be bipolar, or just plain depressed lol. I keep having recurring dreams about my late brother & father and waking up from them just always leaves me... I don't know, but it just puts me in a down mood for the rest of the day.

I also feel like there isn't anyone I want to or can talk to about it... especially my family because my mum was actually diagnosed with depression and had almost a year off work because of it so I feel like it'd be taking the piss. "Hi mum yeah you know how your firstborn died and you feel like a failed parent? Well I sometimes can't sleep..." you know? And I've always had difficulty expressing these things to friends, I think that's why I spill so much to people on here. And then I just get more down because it feels like no one cares, but really it's just my fault because I don't feel like I can open up.

But yeah... The stigma of "getting counselling" definitely puts me off.

Dreams are often triggered by unexpressed emotion from certain life events. Every f ucker and their dog does counselling these days (iv even done it) its just going and talking to someone who wont bullsh1t you and will help. I would go for it.