Roadblocks to Effective Psychotherapy Treatment

I have struggled with depression on and off throughout my adolescence and adult years. I have bouts of major depression and just a low level of 'the blues' constantly. I have taken medications for several years. I, too, have tried therapy but the longest I ever went was one time a week for a month. I just found that each therapist I tried sat and listened the entire time and sent me home with worksheets from a book. I would return the next week. We never reviewed the worksheets, just the same thing over and over. Me talking, he/she saying 'uh huh' and 'what about this' and then leaving. I often felt irritated and more upset when I left because I desperately wanted something to work. Since then, I take medications, talk with family and pray, pray, pray. I wouldn't mind going to therapy but after my experiences I just don't know where/how to find a good one.

I've been in therapy for a few months now for anxiety and depression (most likely part of post-traumatic stress disorder).  My therapist is terrific and has really  been helping.  I considered medication, but ended up deciding that for me it wasn't right.  I was struggling too much with not trusting my feelings and feeling like I'm overreactiving and blowing things way out of proportion.  If my anxiety went away, I'm afraid I would completely embrace those feelings.  I needed to read your second roadblock.  It's really truly horrible and I know it won't go away for a while.  But at least I'm trying to get better.  At least I know that I'm normal.  :)

My therapist just told me she didn't think I was progressing (I have bipolar & am EXTREMELY emotional & sensitive though better than I was because of medication) & said I needed to go into therapy with my husband & gave me a referral.

 

I'm scared to death of being that vulnerable with my husband.  I understand that therapy isn't always supposed to be "comfortable", but I will see this therapist on my own & hope that someday I can be open to the marriage counseling.  I do think we have communication problems--mostly because I keep all painful emotions locked up inside & spend a good deal of my time being depressed as a result.

It is so weird the roadblocks you have mentioned that you are experiencing in therapy. Like you, I am a big believer in psychotherapy (although it has taken me a while to actually go for therapy since I am in the psychology field myself - ironic, I know). Unlike you I have started with antidepressants before starting therapy. Like you (again) I entered therapy when I was experiencing a Major Deppressive episode. Months have passed, I have been refered to a psychiatrist (which actually scared the living daylights out of me), which altered my medication regimen. Medication made things easier. but still therapy is hard....really hard. Sessions were difficult and we have dug deep to uncover the demons that was put away for so long. We are now at a stage where I can see the progress I have made...That scares me...I have evolved...but suddenly the terrain is unfamiliar. The unfamiliarity the progress has brought sometimes want me to go back to the place I know...That is hard admitting you aren't the same person who started out undertaking the journey. Luckily I have a wonderful therapist...who is currently helping me uncover this unknown place. Psychotherapy is really a godsent, for which I am greatful every single day!!!

Deborah,

You mentioned that depression itself is a roadblock to psychotherapy. How true! Another is psychotherapists who are not well trained and have personal agendas that might be bad for the patient.

 

You also mentioned antidepressants as helping you. I just wanted to say that I have been depressed for 45 years, since age 6. I took my first antidepressant at age 18 when I was diagnosed. Over the years I have taken MAOIs, Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs of all types. No antidepressant has ever made me less depressed. I am giving up on medications at the present time, except for those that help me sleep. I am doing this because they don't help, they have hurtful side effects, and are very expensive for the most part. I am one of the ~30% of people with TRD (Treatment-Resistant Depression).

 

I have decided to pursue medical devices to determine if they help me, especially rTMS (repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation), and DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation). I have ruled out VNS (Vagus Nerve Stimulation) because of the invasive surgeries required, the poor record of success (some improvement in about 1/3 or people, the very long time that it takes to alleviate depression (sometimes 1-2 years), the low efficacy even when it does help, and the very high cost.

 

I would like to hear more about new non-drug therapies of any type.

 

Thank you very much, Your posts are very helpful and I always read them.

 

Mike