Useful Things Learned From Therapy or Self-Help

[jenny4]

Hi all!

I'm really interested in the things you have learned from therapy or self-help that have made an improvement to your lives.

In my last course of treatment for post traumatic stress, I learned that by forcing myself to keep going over a past traumatic event in detail, in my mind and on paper, it did reduce my PTSD anxiety. It did increase my anxiety at the time, but later on, it's definitely improved my feelings of personal safety. I didn't actually complete the course of therapy, but still worked on what I'd learned and it's been the most useful thing out of the therapies I've tried in the past.

What are the things you have learned that have helped you most?

[jenny4]

Hi Nat,

I've also spent my life suppressing al lot of my feelings and I'm sure this contributes massively to my SA. My cousin's 40th birthday party is coming up in just over a month, so I'll be going to that, and in the mean time I hope I can push myself to meet up a bit more with friends. I've really struggled with motivation and energy levels since childhood, it makes it hard to get out there and do things you know will take even more energy. I feel wiped out after I've been socialising.

It's good to hear you've found therapy useful, thanks for your reply :-)

[Focused]

One thing I learned which is simple to do and helpful is the calming/breathing technique which really can help to relax me, stop me feeling so tense and helps keep me from hyperventilating.

[Freespirit6]

Not to focus on mistakes just relax and accept them as part of being human, not to predict the worst outcome, or build things up out of proportion in my mind. To focus on everything that is going right and not to react to fear with panic but have calming encouraging thoughts and to think rationally about how dangerous the situation really is. Focus outward, concentrate on what is happening externally not on how I am feeling, really listening and focusing on the person I am talking to, working on forgetting myself.

[Debs28]

Mine is probably to give myself permission to just be me. Realise when I am trying to people please and try to uncover why. xx

[Jason90]

That you only get the reward if you put the work in, there's no quick fix you have to face your fears which is a slow process and even if things do go wrong they can almost always be dealt with. I also learnt that its important to realise whats opinion and whats fact, just because you think something about you doesn't mean everyone else does. Also its important to be realistic with expectations, nobody is perfect.

[The_Mercenary]

The one that really struck a chord with me is what I have in my signature, thinking back on bad times creates depression and looking forward creates anxiety so live in the now that was a real lightbulb moment for me strangely and although there has been and still are points when I have to remind myself of that I feel like training your brain to think that was is very beneficial