Is it normal to be angry with your therapist if you don't feel you're getting better?
145037
Actually, you have to look at something else first.\nPeople don't go to a therapist to feel better unless they didn't do their homework on what going to therapy is like. Peopel expect to leave therapy feeling better.\nTherapy is designed to help you see your self-image better.  Here's the problem:\n1) We all have multiple self-images.\n2) Some of them are false.\n3) Some of us are VERY attached to our self-images.\n4) Looking at them makes it hard to keep up false self-images.\n5) People who make us look at them are a threat to our self-images.\n6) Since we rarely differentiate (try to keep seperate) real threats to our safety vs. threats to our self-image we often react with fear, then anger, then attack to challenges to our self-image.\n7) This leaves us stuck with a faulty self-image because we confused reality knocking on our door with an actual threat to our survival.\n\nIf you are resisting therapy, yes, you are angry.  The only way to know for sure is to look deeply at why you are angry, and discuss this with, you guessed it, your therapist.  At the same time, if you don't trust your therapist, in most cases you can choose a new one, but it will only prolong your pain to keep avoiding the real reason, whatever it is, if you are resisting therapy.\nHiding things, including your dissatisfaction, will not help.  Tell them.  If you are a minor, tell your parents everything you can (they are legally and financially responsible for you).\nRemember, if you are angry, that means you're scared of something and seeing a threat.  IF the threat is "just" lack of progress, then change therapists.  If the threat is something else, like getting too close to the truth, you've got a GOOD therapist, and need to face it like an adult.  We never stop growing if we're smart.  I've only known one real fully adult person in my life and I'm 43!  Trust yourself to know when you're squirming away from the truth, and when you're standing still.  Ask your therapist to be more aggressive in finding the problem.  If this causes you to squirm, you know what the problem is.  You don't want them looking too close, so stick with it and look.
1079485
I am chronically ill.  Lately I found that my doctor has been mal-treating me for the last four years.  I am a peaceful person, but this has had me furious.  I have thought how much fun it would be to break him in half.  So, in this case it is good that I've not gotten out much.
780137
I am Bipolar and let me just tell you, the last thing a person who has this disorder wants to hear is criticism for having it. \n\nYou may not have the intention of criticizing your friend you may just be concerned. I know when people say things like that to me my first thought and first reaction is self- defense.\n" I hear you are imperfect for something you didn't ask for and are struggling to change but I won't be sensitive to this situation I will instead make you feel bad about it until you change."\n\nIf you feel the need to say something I suggest saying something like " friend are how are you moods, do you still feel this , I don't know much but I think you should talk to your doctor about still feeling this and that.... Bcus i want to help you and I am starting to worry.\n\nLength of time someone has been medicated is also a problem it's takes about a couple of months before the medications are doing what they are supposed to being doing. And even still there is the chance that they are having leaking symptoms. \n\nLol i wrote a lot but i guess my whole deal was if you feel the need to say something. Choose your words wisely
872652
yes, sometimes i do feel like that and that is when i go to the punching bag and let out all my anger. It really works.
928478
Nothing angers me anymore, I've seen it all,  herd it all, been through it all. A smile and a grain of salt , attack I left behind 1 year ago, it wastes way to much energy, that  could be used instead to heal.\n\n               I AM
39058
I think you need more therapy.  Because someone doesn't reply doesn't necessarily mean they don't care.\n\nIf I was your therapist and you decided to contact me, first thing I would ask myself would be... Is this a paying customer?  Was this person deeply troubled?  Do I really care?  \nIf the answer to any of these questions was No, I would not be contacting you.\n\nMaybe this is why i'm not a shrink :)
754595
I get it! Love your wording because this is exactly how I feel right this moment.\n\nThis is what I am doing.\n Seeing a psychologist twice a month, taking antidepressants and forcing myself to go out and be around people. I am trying to fake it until I make it. I have tapes and books to read and it is hard because my attention span isn't so great right now. I've decided to go back to work so I have something to fill my day and get out of my head for awhile. \n\nUnderstand I am hating every moment of my day and I cry for all that I've lost, which like you, is everything. I want to go back to what I had and it isn't a possibility so I try to do damage control. Maybe I'll make it, I hope so. \n\nI hope this has helped you in some small way and I wish you strength to get through the next hour.
795020
Have you tried therapy? Sometimes that can help; I know how you feel.
460829
Than what is it?  A cry for help IS attention-seeking.  Its not necessarily a bad thing. It just means that you have identified that you need help and your problems are greater than you can handle alone.  But I don't thinking you're seeking help in the right places.  You won't go to see a therapist, yet you continue to feel sorry for yourself and feel suicidal.  I don't understand why 3 or 4 of your questions contain something to the effect of "mental health professional, help me", yet you refuse to actually see a mental health professional.  \nI guess I am a mental health professional, but not a licensed psychologist.  I have been doing counseling for 8 years and have completed all the coursework for the doctorate and just have to finish my one year of practice.  \nI'm sorry that I always come off as the mean one, but honestly, someone needs to tell you this.  You need someone to help you.  Its not something you can do alone.  Its not something you can do online.  You need real, person-to-person help.  That does not make you crazy.  That does not mean they will lock you up.  You just have problems, everyone does, maybe not to the same magnitude, but there are millions of people in this world that deal with conflict and pain on a daily basis and persevere. You could be one of these people if you sought help.  Do you remember my analogy of a person with a broken arm, screaming and crying in pain, but refusing to go to the hospital?  \nBecause, honestly, I don't think catharsis is going to work in your case.  You submit questions everyday, asking for help, threatening to hurt yourself.  You realize that this is a problem and its very disturbing to you, yet you don't want to fix it.  Do you also remember my reference to the depressive "comfy space"? \nAgain, I apologize if I sound as if I am being mean.  But a lot of people on this site will coddle you.  Which is fine.  Everyone's first instinct is to help and preserve life.  But professionally, I know that this is reinforcing your behavior, as are all my responses to your questions.  You need someone to tell you the truth....that you are depressed beyond the point of self-help or Yahoo Answers help....that you are posting shocking questions on this site to feel like others care about you and your feelings are validated...that you will find any excuse to avoid going to therapy...and that you will blame everyone else for your pain.  You blame those that abused you, although I have known many women who were sexually and emotionally abused, yet have been able to live fairly normal existances.  You blame other people on this site for making you upset by being "mean", but some of them are saying things that may be true but you don't want to hear.  Plus, you've made some comments directed to me, regarding the attention-seeking.  It is so much easier for people to make themselves the victim and blame everyone else and then use that as an excuse for their behavior.  \nYou need to stop blaming others, stop making yourself the victim, make yourself stronger, and seek help.  By not seeking help, you are the one who is sustaining your depression.  By seeking help, you are choosing to break from this cycle.  \nAgain, I apologize if this sounds harsh and I fully expect a pointed comment, but you need to realize that your problems are within your control. What you need assistance with are your reactions to those problems.
928687
My advice would be to make an appointment with a therapist (and make sure it's one that is going to actually spend time talking to you, not just prescribe the pills and walk out). Lots of healthy people talk to therapists all the time, even when there's nothing wrong, so you don't have to feel weird about it or anything like that. I still talk to my therapist once a month, even though I'm not really going through depression right now, just because I like to have that lifeline. I like to know that if I do find that I have something important to bring up, I can just call her and set up an appointment. Also, she would be able to tell just from talking to you whether or not you need extra help or medication, and it's hard to diagnose yourself sometimes with these things.
265484
It sounds exactly like what i was experiencing.Its called anxiety.Caused by stress.........you need to tell your Doc and then a shrink maybe and learn to relax...try exercising also it lessens the feelings for a while and its good for you
281865
It's very hard not to dwell on negative thoughts, especially if they refer to something you don't have much control upon (such as other people's behaviours). \nWhen this happens to me, or I get moody, I try to be very aware of myself, and analyze the situation. I often realize that I may be being unfair ion my judgement.\nWhen you feel angry or upset, there are some very distinctive symptoms, like melancholy, sadness or anger. Identify what those are for you, and try to correct them. Sometimes, by annulling the symptoms, the cause will also be relieved. It seems silly, but it does work.
574800
you know a lot of people answering your question probably don't really know what they are talking about, although some seem to be more informative. My answer to you is that it is hard to determine whether or not you have it just by your question. You definately show signs of it, the agression and mood swings and the fear of abandoment. However only a therapist can know for sure. I strongly encourage you to seek help and get answers to your questions by a professional. I hope that you get this taken care of and wish you all the luck in the world.
698206
More than likely, someone or something is bothering you that you have been unable to resolve. If you can figure out what that is, you've solved half your problem. Try to find constructive ways to express your anger --- work out, play a sport, write letters to people your angry at (you don't have to necessarily send them or share them). Try to talk to a good friend who will understand if you are moody right now.
1088658
Sounds like unresolved anger, usually a response to situations we lived through and had no control over. Could be early childhood trauma, could be some gross injustice, could be that no one heard you when you needed to be heard, could be multiple combinations of the above - whatever it is, it won't go away until you begin searching for the reasons and understanding that you deserve to be happy with yourself and others. I have so been there, got better, but still have to examine from time to time. You are not alone, medication or no medication, find someone to talk to. God Bless you.
305936
I'm sorry that you were treated so badly. I recognise the anger you feel. I've had the same experience myself and I know how much it hurt me. \nBest advice I suggest is do nothing. \nThis person has probably long forgotton about you. Getting your vengence on this person more than likely will not make you feel any better. If anything, you may even end up feeling a little guilt. \nThe things that happened to you were wrong, but its happened and you can't change that. It might help to find a way of dealing the anger you feel in another way that could maybe help others. \nI guess this may not be what you are looking for. All I can say is, its helped me.
428210
People here have given you a lot of good advice.  I just wanted ot add that you are not an "idiot" because you are reacting to things that happened to you (and are still happening to you).  Also, you don't owe anyone an explanation of what is "wrong" with you - unless it's someone who you trust and you want to talk about it.  The problem is that a lot of people who have been victimized end up talking about it either not at all or talking about it to the wrong people.  The key is to get the RIGHT help.\n\nI'm sure that you have heard of PTSD or "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder."  Your experiences in your family and at the nursing home could have caused this and having your "nerves on edge" and feeling scared are symptoms of this problem.  If your therapist doesn't know what to do, get a therapist who specializes in PTSD.  I am a social worker and used to be totally against medication, but in a situation like yours, I think you could see pretty quick improvement with a combination of good therapy and short-term use of medication (just to stabilize your mood so you can work on the issues). \n\nI know from my own experience and from just being around a lot of nurses, social workers, etc. that people who have grown up with trauma and drama seek that out.  HOWEVER, if I was your therapist, I would not advise you to be working in the environment you are in right now.  I admire you for wanting to help others, but you have to help yourself first.  \n\nI don't know how your medical/mental health system works, but is it possible to take "Stress-Related Disability" or just "Medical Disability" from work?  That way, you can still have some income coming and, since you were attacked at work, your workplace should be financially responsible to help you "get better" and to hold your job for you if you still want it at some point.  I could go on and on.  \n\nI just hope you can feel how much people care by all the people here who have written to you and I hope you can try to get some small belief that life can be better - that's all it takes is that tiny bit of hope to hang in there.  Please take care of yourself...