[Anonymous]

So... my state of wellbeing is getting to a point where I feel like I might benefit from counselling or therapy of some sort. I've struggled with depressive tendencies for years and years, and I've got a crazy amount of stuff coming up that's causing me anxiety. I convince myself most of the time that I don't need it, that I'm fine, even though I know deep down I'm not normal. I've been considering seeking counselling/therapy but not sure what to look for and also if it's really going to help. If anyone here has had experience with this kind of thing could you give me some advice? Many thanks.

[Anonymous]

If it has been happening for years and years, I think it might be better to see a psychiatrist.
I had issues with depression, anxiety, etc for about 3 or 4 years, even had suicidal thoughts, and mental breakdowns. I saw therapists, counselors, etc but I regarded visits as nothing but petty chats.
I then got medication prescribed from a psychiatrist which I've been taking for about 5 years and I haven't had any anxiety or depression since. I recently tested myself by attempting to ween off the stuff, but I ended up having the same problems after one day off it.

[Rybee]

What meds were you prescribed ^^??

Also kind of echoing the above post... I dont find that counselling helps me at all, just a chat that I could've had with my girlfriend apart from it costs £110 per hour :/

I much prefer to use medication. That's me personally.

[Marinated_in_Joy]

(Original post by Anonymous)
So... my state of wellbeing is getting to a point where I feel like I might benefit from counselling or therapy of some sort. I've struggled with depressive tendencies for years and years, and I've got a crazy amount of stuff coming up that's causing me anxiety. I convince myself most of the time that I don't need it, that I'm fine, even though I know deep down I'm not normal. I've been considering seeking counselling/therapy but not sure what to look for and also if it's really going to help. If anyone here has had experience with this kind of thing could you give me some advice? Many thanks.

I'd recommend a holistic councillor, and one that doesn't just shove pills at you - one that gets to the deep root of the cause of your problems rather than giving you stuff that temporarily suppresses certain types of emotions.

[Anonymous]

Helped me a lot, seeking counselling was the best decision I've ever made in my life. Go for it, there's nothing to lose.

[Anonymous]

100%.

I have started to see someone regularly and it's been amazing. It's going to be a bit awkward and tense at first, but it get's better and better. My school nurse described it as 'gently unknotting a massive knot in your hair slowly.' I think that's the best way to think of it. I feel it's a privellege to have someone sit down and listen to your problems..

[Blueflare]

It didn't help me at all. I thoroughly despised every minute of it.

[fire2burn]

(Original post by Marinated_in_Joy)
I'd recommend a holistic councillor, and one that doesn't just shove pills at you - one that gets to the deep root of the cause of your problems rather than giving you stuff that temporarily suppresses certain types of emotions.

Counsellors cannot shove pills at you they are not allowed to, only qualified medical practioners are able to prescribe medication. Any counsellor that is pushing clients into taking medication is overstepping the limits of their education and training, and frankly if I came across such a person I'd make a formal complaint against them.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I'm a bit worried about the cost of sessions, since I wanted to seek help without initially speaking to my parents about it. We'll see though.. thanks for the advice!

[fire2burn]

(Original post by Anonymous)
Thanks for the replies everyone. I'm a bit worried about the cost of sessions, since I wanted to seek help without initially speaking to my parents about it. We'll see though.. thanks for the advice!

If you are worried about the cost you can ask to be referred to an NHS counsellor via your GP, there will however probably be a waiting list.

If you are at university most universities have trained counsellors which are free to access by students.

[Anonymous]

i saw a councilor through school, at the same time i was speaking to my deputy head of year aswell, together it was a massive weight lifted of my shoulder.

it only worked well for me because of trust though, i knew i had that appointment every week with the councilor, and i knew that i would have a chance everyday to speak to my deputy head, but i also knew at any point during the day if i emailed him i would get a reply, or if i had an issue i could go to his office, or even a lesson he would speak to me.

it took along time, and my sessions with the councilor were reduced slowly, for the first 2 or 3 years it was every week, then it went to once a fortnight, then once a month, and then in year 13 it was once a term unless i needed to book an appointment. so in that sence it weened me off ready for leaving school. and she gave me her email address for when i was at uni, and i did email her for advice a few times.

but because of the student teacher relationship with my deaputy head i really struggled not being able to get his advice or just speak to him when i left school, we were emailing, until he moved school. when all the connections broke i was lost.

so councling does work, but you need trust for it to work best, and remember when you stop seeing them, things could go downhill...

[BigV]

I think therapy can work, I had a positive experience with CBT in recent years. If you are in a really bad place mentally, then often times counseling needs to be combined with medication from a doctor to get the full effect. A counsellor can help you to turn things around, deal with anxiety and depression but ultimately effort and hard work is required, as there is no quick fix really.

I think a lot can depend on how good the counsellor is and if you are able to build a rapport..... for therapy to work you have to open up and talk through personal and difficult issues...... it not easy and may not work if you can't *click* with the person giving therapy. For example, I was offered (and had) counselling many times from school counsellors and it never worked because I was never able to open up to them and tell them what was really going on. This is because I found them patronising, a bit dim and I always wondered how confidential the discussions would stay.

[Anonymous]

(Original post by Anonymous)
but because of the student teacher relationship with my deaputy head i really struggled not being able to get his advice or just speak to him when i left school, we were emailing, until he moved school. when all the connections broke i was lost.

so councling does work, but you need trust for it to work best, and remember when you stop seeing them, things could go downhill...

Wow this sounds familiar haha.. I've just left school and I'm already panicking about not being able to speak to a couple of my teachers who used to help me. And I see what you mean about when you stop seeing them... this is my worry.

[The_Lonely_Goatherd]

(Original post by Anonymous)
Wow this sounds familiar haha.. I've just left school and I'm already panicking about not being able to speak to a couple of my teachers who used to help me. And I see what you mean about when you stop seeing them... this is my worry.

It becomes easier with time

I found counselling quite damaging but that's coz I was having psychodynamic counselling with a presumptive ********. Had 7 months of cognitive behavioural therapy mixed with psychotherapy and that has been a really positive thing for me

[Anonymous]

Thanks I really don't know what to do cos I'm going to uni in October and part of me thinks getting a counsellor/therapy now is pointless since I won't be able to keep going to it for long.

[The_Lonely_Goatherd]

(Original post by Anonymous)
Thanks I really don't know what to do cos I'm going to uni in October and part of me thinks getting a counsellor/therapy now is pointless since I won't be able to keep going to it for long.

Do you think you can hold out until you get to uni? Your uni would have a counselling service that you could easily refer yourself to

[Anonymous]

I don't know, because one of the biggest things causing me anxiety is the actual going to uni process :\ But I think I may see how I go until I get there and then consider getting help there.

[The_Lonely_Goatherd]

If uni's worrying you, it's not for me to suggest whether you should wait or not then. To give yourself some extra support though, you could look at a website called Mood Gym. It's online cognitive behavioural therapy, which trains you to recognise thought patterns, thus empowering you to be in a better position to challenge your thoughts

[Kabloomybuzz]

It might be better to wait til you get to uni to start proper face to face counselling... but there are a few things online that might tide you over between now and then
www.livinglifetothefull.com is guides you through self CBT... you could also look into online counselling. Its often a bit cheaper then private face to face counselling

[Anonymous]

Thank you for all the tips guys, I really appreciate them