Successful Types of Talk Therapy and EMDR Therapy

By Merely Me Tuesday, April 13, 2010

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Howdy!

How is everyone doing today? Are you enjoying the spring weather?

I have some things to share before I ask my question.

Last week I was telling you that it is Autism Awareness Month and I have been writing some posts about this very important topic. For example I just wrote about Anxiety and Autism Spectrum Disorders. I know all about this because my son has autism and suffers from anxiety. So please come on over to the Anxiety site to check out my post...AND

Member Judy who you know here on My Depression Connection agreed to do an interview for me about her experience using a therapy called EMDR for the purpose of treating PTSD or trauma. If you don't do anything else please do come over to the anxiety site to read about this groundbreaking type of therapy and how it works to help people heal from past traumas.

I love the spring but this weather also brings out the bugs and insects. And ticks. Oh how I hate those things...they attach to your skin and can cause scary diseases like Lyme Disease or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever among other things. I thought I knew how to best get rid of ticks but I was wrong. In doing research for my article I found one of the best ways to stop the ticks from biting. If you want to know what I found out from our U.S. military please read my post, "The Prevention and Treatment of Tick Bites."

Have you been hearing more about Vitamin D lately? I know I have as I was told by my doctor that I am deficient in this very important vitamin. A lack of Vitamin D can cause anything from depression to heart disease. There are three ways to get this Vitamin, through diet, supplements, and the sun. Come and read about my confusion over what my GP told me vs what my dermatologist was warning me about Vitamin D. I could use your opinion!

Okay...now on to our QUESTION!

My question for you today is about therapy. Judy has found a really good therapy which helps her, EMDR.

Now what about you? Have you had any type of talk therapy? If so which kind? Did it or does it help?

I really would like to know about people's experiences with therapy and what you feel works and what you feel is a waste of time. What aspect of your therapy has helped the most? Is it the relationship you have with your therapist or is it the method or both?

We want to know what helps people. Sharing your story can be the thing which helps someone else. It is a wonderful domino effect...you help someone and then they help someone and before you know it...we are all doing much better. There is that optimist in me!

Hope you all are having a great Tuesday and hanging in there!

Member Depression Treatment Review: Group Therapy

Comments (15) | Add comment

CJinLV

4/13/10 11:26pm

Hi M/M & all,

Talk Therapy, eh? Welllll, the Seminars I've become an active participant in have used Talk Therapy as their mainstay. Although the venue is more group-oriented, individuals do 'step up' for individual coaching, etc from the lead facilitator.

Each person is asked (and assisted) to 'dig deep' to recognize, reconcile & eventually heal whatever has been their personal pain with guidance & support; sexual abuse, physical abuse, abandonment etc. No, it's not easy but it is well worth it. The core idea is "Breakthrough, not breakdown". It can be very painful, intense & profound however the end result is very cleansing & liberating. I for one, have dealt with a lot of things in my past; many of which were so deeply buried that it felt as thought they needed to be dynamited out.

I'm all for Talk Therapy; if for nothing else, those thoughts bouncing around in our head seem so much more intense than when we actually verbalize them to an understanding, non-threatening & non-judgemental listener who has only our best interersts at heart.

Just my two cents...

Carl

CJinLV

4/13/10 11:29pm

PS- that 'pop-up' asking to link our responses to Facebook HAS GOT TO GO! I'm not a huge fan of Facebook & I think it's (FB) getting out of control.

Merely Me

4/14/10 4:33pm

Hi Carl!

I am a fan of talk therapy too. But with the caveat that you have shared...someone who is non judgmental and has your best interests at heart. It is my opinion that the relationship between you and therapist is the most important thing...above and beyond methodology. That is just my opinion though.

Do you feel that insights...are a huge part of healing? I have found for me...I can have these marvelous insights but...then what? How do you change your life?

Okay I hear you on the facebook pop up. I....don't know how to respond as I am not management. I am just a lil 'ol writer here. But believe me I am listening.

CJinLV

4/15/10 1:27pm

Hi M/M!

As always, thank you so much for your kind words.

As for insight(s), the best thing to do is act on them! Often those things we view as "struggles" may be the very things that make us grow beyond our wildest dreams if only we 'step up to the plate', look them square in the eye & deal with them.

I've found that not acting on that "a-HA!" moment of realization had turned into just another crutch. Remember, although Depression is a medical condition, it's also manifested as a mental condition caused by not having, acknowledging and/or acting on a dream. No more for me! Acting on an insight can bring such a beneficial mental rush; whether or not the outcome is 'successful'.

Carl

Merely Me

4/15/10 4:43pm

Oh this sounds so good and positive!

I have found that I struggle with the insights as to what to do with them. You sound like you have such a good handle on things.

Good job!

CJinLV

4/15/10 8:14pm

Thanks M/M!

Mine has been a long, hard road but through it all, taking some shances along the way have been such a plus.

Carl

depression/c/913903

4/14/10 1:14pm

I've been on quite the Cognitive Behavior Talk therapy road, using Dr David Burns workbook called 10 Steps to Self Esteem. I completed the lessons and assignments with flying colors and it has helped me immensely.

I still see my therapist every week, and have been healing. I am off of all my anti-depressants and functioning quite well. I was completely off of them 2 weeks into February which a year ago I started changing from Cymbalta to Serzone which was a mistake to go on the Serzone. But I wanted to lose weight gain and I was finding that by using the anti-depressants it was taking away from other joys in life.

So it has been a year of intensive therapy where I actually see a Therapist w/ a PHD weekly for an hour or the 55 minutes. Not the mandatory 15 minute med check every 3 to 4 months by an MD. My first therapy of last year involved my husband and then this Dr went on a Sabbatical, then the other therapist was suggested by my firstborn that I needed to see a DR that works with Cognitive Behavior as he thinks I'm a hoarder.

I resisted, but to please him and I needed help anyway, I went to one in town. I don't consider myself a hoarder, but a person that suffered from many losses and clinical depression that made me not care to even get out of bed. Then you add to that a suicide of my teenage son, and more deaths in my family leaving all kinds of messes involving siblings, etc.

Also having Carpal Tunnel Syndrome brought on by the stresses of extended family and the loss of my son and later surgeries for it. This can definitely affect someone's ability to "let things go" especially when one can't get out of bed to even brush their teeth.

Anyway, I've traded a vacation to some exotic island for this talk therapy and it is worth it. I've since though discovered by reading news on Psych Central that I am going through withdrawals and the symptoms are: metal taste in my mouth in the morning, irritated stomach, jittery and/or heart races or something like that.

What helped was to know that I don't need to go back on my meds and the knowledge that I was experiencing this was helpful, as I didn't get any info like that from my med DR. He was just pleased to see a new me and doesn't need to see me for 6 months and that I can call in anytime to renew a prescription for temazepam and if needs be Xanax.

I would use Xanax when my legs felt like rubber after going off of my other anti-depressants, but still gradually going off of Wellbutrin. Even a quarter of a quarter of .5 mg of Xanax was driving me crazy. But did need some 6 weeks ago after I had a meltdown after one of my sons got married and I was a bit stressed over it as I wasn't ready for these changes and to not have my late son be a part of it.

So anyway, here's my story and I can testify that "Talk Therapy" works especially with an excellent, experienced therapists. Also, I pray a lot when I feel some anxiety and pain. As I feel pain more in some ways, and yet not, as I wouldn't be able to function if I wasn't healed. I do get hypnotherpy CD's made by my Dr for sleeping, dejunking, anxiety, and we'll see what comes down the road for anything else.

The Dr helps me to deal with family members that are adjusting to a new me and also to not allow them to treat me in a certain manner anymore cuz I'm not checked out anymore and I'm paying attention to our business and relationships. Which is a good thing.

Ivory

Merely Me

4/15/10 4:48pm

Ivory...

You have been through so much in your life. But you sound so good! I applaud all the steps you have taken to help yourself. I think you are on the road to wellness and we can all learn from your experience. I am so glad that therapy has helped you.

I had a wonderful therapist in my 20's and I am still learning from the things he said to me. It is such a unique experience and...when you get through it...you really feel as though you have accomplished something.

I thank you for sharing your experience with us.

jpw2008

4/14/10 5:45pm

I am enjoying spring

As to the question,I see a therapist

I dont know if thats considered therapy or not

I am frustrated about doing things to sabotage my happiness

I stay home because I dont like to socialize

Jon

Merely Me

4/15/10 4:54pm

Hi Jon!

Does your therapist help you?

I love spring too.

Hope you are having a good day.

jpw2008

4/16/10 5:45pm

yes,

He does help.

I am told its a very long process

I guess I'm anxious and high strung

The weather is rainy and dark

I guess so am i

Jon

Merely Me

4/15/10 4:40pm

One of our members was unable to comment due to tech problems (ARGH!) and has emailed me with a comment to post. Thank you for your sticking with us despite the technical problems!

(Hi MM, I'm sending this comment on your question regarding talk therapy which I seem to be unable to post as I usually do, I don't know why.)

I have mixed feelings about talk therapy. First I'll mention that I've been to 8-10 psychologists and almost as many psychiatrist. I do believe you need a person you feel comfortable with and at ease with expressing your feelings, so you may go through several before finding one you like (or a good recommendation from a friend). I have found that even the most competent therapists don't always understand where your coming from. That's not to say I think its a waist of time.

You need someone to talk to, you must have a competent confidant (a good listener). Not being able to get things off your chest can lead to a worsening condition. You can't always follow or carry out all of the advise given for any number of reasons and particular to your situation. You then sift through and analyze what you can or can not use. They don't have all the answers, it's just not that easy. But talk therapy helps and they may suggest something very beneficial. I have also had the rare occasion when a therapist is no longer speaking from a professional point of view and speaking their own mine or gut feeling which can become criticism which I don't think is helpful under any circumstance. I also had one just give up on me and flatly state they couldn't help me. But I repeat, you must have someone to talk to, with experience and credentials/trained.

Friends can help but sometimes give unintentional poor guidance and emotion many times enters the picture. In addition I would suggest always laying all the cards on the table. The therapist will have a much more difficult time helping you without all the facts or missing pieces of the puzzle. I prefer, although male, to talk with female therapists as they seem more caring, although I have had a more difficult time (occasionally) getting into say more sensitive issues, but still prefer them over males. Part of my general temperament is I dislike most males although there are exceptions to the rule. (It's not because my father abused me or mistreated me, he was the best father I could have asked for and miss him more than I could express in words.) I just see them as competition, having something/someone I always wanted. Sorry I'm off the tract here. So in conclusion, get a good therapist, it will help.

Merely Me

4/15/10 4:59pm

This is a really great comment about your personal experience. I think most people probably have a preference for a male or female therapist...most likely based upon their history with their parents. A therapist can be...a parental figure.

I do think the relationship is very important and I really don't like when the therapist gets into their own stuff...and divulges very personal things. Had a therapist tell me about his own sexual abuse and...that didn't help me at all.

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond and participate despite the tech issues. I was really hoping we had all the tech problems resolved!

Judy

4/15/10 10:13pm

Merely Me, just wanted to say something about my experience with the therapist I have had now for many years. I get what you're saying about them not getting into their personal stuff, but I've found, over the course of a "few" years, that a bit of self-revelation at the appropriate time has been helpful. For instance, my therapist has told me that she doesn't personally know what it's like to be deeply depressed, but she's certainly gone above and beyond to see where I'm coming from and I really feel like she gets it. She's told me when she's been stumped and had to consult with someone else. That tells me she cares enough about my well-being to do whatever she can to understand me. I feel extremely lucky to be able to work with a person like her.

DIXIECAT

4/16/10 3:20pm

When I was younger and rearing children, there were a couple of women in our social circle with whom I developed a trusting relationship. We would talk for hours on the phone or in person ... bemoan perceived deficiencies in our lives and share ideas for resolving problems. We often made the remark, "if I didn't have you to talk to about these things, I'd have to hire a psychiatrist" ...

Now that I am old, children gone, new spouse, no problems (other than an assortment of physical maladies), moved far from those trusted confidantes ... yes, I am considering talk therapy ... rheumatologist referred me to a neuropsychologist who is familiar with the depression that may accompany fibromyalgia. I have not gone yet (canceled today ... just not ready to be THAT vulnerable with a stranger) ... maybe in May or June ... we'll see.

Successful Types of Talk Therapy and EMDR Therapy

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