Do you value therapy?

Therapy is constantly encouraged these days and has become more expensive in the last year or so. After I graduated college, I stopped going because it would start coming out of my pocket since it was included in my tuition. I've had some intense lows after losing that luxury, but also found hobbies that make my life worthwhile. That's why I don't go to therapy, I'd rather put the money into these activities like motorcycle track days and dirt biking. Another factor is that my cultural background deems therapy as a weak choice and not being able to roll with the punches. My friends and I had this conversation, but we are mostly from Asian households so many of us choose not to go. It seems like everyone is going nowadays so I'm curious as to what everyone's views on it are and if it's worth the money.

 

I see a psychiatrist 2-3 times per year and it’s $300/hr and worth every penny.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 
korrathespy

do they prescribe you medication to take or just conduct an overall analysis?

Yeah I get my prescriptions refilled and stuff. I’ve been seeing this psychiatrist for 11 years. We talk about life and medications/dosages.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

Never done it - could’ve probably helped me in college but I’m extremely proud of who I am becoming.

I personally believe people should look inwards to try and solve problems before seeking outside council, but this statement is not to discount therapy.

 

Agree completely. If you need a therapist to get you part of the way there short term then fine, but ultimately it's a journey you have to take yourself. It's just most people lack self awareness or the ability to look at themselves critically. 

Therapy in most situations is a crutch. It's a form of weakness. It's addressing the symptoms but not the underlying problem. 

 

MonkeyNoise

Therapy in most situations is a crutch. It's a form of weakness. It's addressing the symptoms but not the underlying problem. 

Personally I agree, but I'm not a psychologist/psychiatrist and I'm not sure whether that's entirely accurate. I personally think people should take personal responsibility more and focus on improving themselves (that's why things like religion, meditation, exercise, volunteering in the community, etc. work so well), but I would imagine there are many situations where that's not the case for everyone for people who really don't know where to start.

Quant (ˈkwänt) n: An expert, someone who knows more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing.
 
MonkeyNoise

Therapy in most situations is a crutch. It's a form of weakness. It's addressing the symptoms but not the underlying problem. 

So basically you're talking about an industry you know nothing about and are making sweeping generalizations. 

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 
AlphaMale69

Paying for therapy is fake retard science.

If you're in a rut talk to some friends, crack open some beers, make a few jokes, and have some laughs.

Real friends don't let their bros go pay some woman or lib $300 an hour to psychoanalyze them.

Well, now we know one thing is for sure - you’re a dumbass. Psychiatry requires an MD. We are talking science here. I guess you don’t believe in science.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 
AlphaMale69

The answer is they pity themselves. They don't think of themselves as truly great. It's sad.

No - you’re just making stuff up now. 

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

Becoming truly emotionally intelligent is one of the greatest things that has ever happened to me and I could not have done it without my therapist. I will be 21 in a few months and have been seeing her since I was 15. Being able to step back from a difficult situation, identify how I'm feeling, why i'm feeling that way, and what I can do to manage my feelings is a skill that is useful in every situation every day, yet few truly possess the ability. Not everyone needs therapy and not every therapist is equal, but I can only say good things about my experiences. 

 

You sure this is EI??? This sounds more like CBT to me. I think EI is significantly different than what you're describing. 

 
k1k10

Becoming truly emotionally intelligent is one of the greatest things that has ever happened to me and I could not have done it without my therapist. I will be 21 in a few months and have been seeing her since I was 15. Being able to step back from a difficult situation, identify how I'm feeling, why i'm feeling that way, and what I can do to manage my feelings is a skill that is useful in every situation every day, yet few truly possess the ability. Not everyone needs therapy and not every therapist is equal, but I can only say good things about my experiences. 

Congratulations for recognizing this in your early 20s. It’ll pay dividends for decades

“Bestow pardon for many things; seek pardon for none.”
 

Haven't seen a therapist before it so I can't comment on its "worthiness" but as I contemplate trying it out myself here are some thoughts:.

- I'd have to imagine it's hugely important to find the right therapist and build rapport. Costly to get there, I'm sure. 

- To comment on the arguments above (for the weak, self pity, look inward, blah blah hardo shit), how can you become proficiently aware and intelligent on any subject by studying it completely alone?  Mastering most anything requires having a teacher/mentor/3rd party to keep you in check and fill the gaps.  I look at the idea of therapy as an opportunity to analyze youreself with someone far more educated/experienced to help guide the process.  If you're going to therapy begging for answers with no readiness to put effort into the search yourself, it probably isn't going to work out well. 

- Personally very wary of going down the therapy path and ending up with a prescription.  A friend recently started going and has already been put on antidepressants.  I'm not the doctor, maybe it is truly necessary for him right now, but I'd want to work on everything in my life that could possibly resolve the issue (meditation, diet, exercise, etc) before jumping on a prescription that is hard to kick.  I say this purely in the "unncessary prescription" scenario and recognize there are mental illnesses that absolutely require medication. It's sad to think of how many kids out there got prescribed xanax because they were coddled until being sent off the college, and then once they grew out of their social anxieties couldn't kick the drug and ended up with an addiction that could have been entirely avoided.

- Whoever suggests "going to a friend" is a moron.  The blind leading the blind.

- Agree with the sentiment of aiming for a finite term with a therapist.  Seems just as detrimental as a prescription if your inner peace  ends up dependent on the ability to talk to one specific other person.  Work with them to get where you want to be, then learn to stay there on your own. 

 

Hi there. I am planning to see a therapist soon and have similar thoughts about therapy that are frightening (medication, indefinite timeline). I was wondering if you went to see one or if any of your thoughts on the subject have developed further/changed?

 

Yes - saved my life.

I've been depressed or some form of depressed since atleast a decade. I have gone to a top mba school, secured high paying jobs, gotten promoted, gotten married during this period.I've had hobbies and reconnected with them. Still, it got so bad that i came quite close to killing myself a few times.

First therapist i went to didn't stick and i gave up but went back later to a different one. This stuff takes time to work and i can see the difference in my attitude towards myself now when I'm in a bad situation. Coping has become easier and has a process to it. I refused to take meds and thankfully doing ok without.

Array
 

Therapy can be very helpful in certain context. I think you can do a lot to improve certain mental issues like anxiety etc. Working out ( scientifically proven this improves well being) learning coping skills through reading, improving habits etc.

However in certain situations like people with hormonal imbalances and stuff, a form of medication can be necessary.

Also  how do you define therapy. It's known that killers like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Paul Tudor Jones worked with mental coaches. Don't think they would use it if they didn't think it gave them some benefit.

I think it really depends on an individual's needs and also the quality of the therapist if it is beneficial.

 

What is therapy really? I have never done it so I may be wrong, but isn't it essentially telling your problems to someone and receiving advice? That in itself is a good thing, and I'm sure it works for many people, but it saddens me that we have to pay someone to do it these days. Before, we would get guidance from a parent, or an elder, or a trusted friend. Even reading philosophical texts and self-reflecting can achieve what therapy does. Besides, the value of therapy/advice depends upon how wise the person is, right? I'm sure everyone in this industry will agree, getting a degree or two far from guarantees wisdom! So how qualified are therapists to give life advice anyway? That isn't a rhetorical question btw, those who do therapy, what makes you accept that the therapist is wise enough to advise you?

 

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