PTSD Advice?
I’ve been diagnosed with PTSD. Supposedly this is from the severe bullying I went through for almost 10 years. I’ve only recently gotten help on this two months ago. While going to therapy stopped the crying and anger that I had I feel increasingly tired, I’m frustrated and downright miserable and I feel like I’m failing in life and in school. I don’t have friends. The ones I do have are from High School. I’m terrified talking to people, but yet I can do a public speech perfectly. I don’t think therapy is helping me and going from what my psychology teacher is rambling about he makes me feel like this problem is simple and I shouldn’t even be so upset.
I’m tired of being like this and I’m wondering if I should see someone different to help me. Going out is a problem, dating is a problem just living is an issue I’m even ready to drop out. I was dying to go to school now that I’m in I’m so unhappy.
Any suggestions that I can take? I’ve tried self-therapy and seeing a therapist doesn’t seem to be working.
A. Quitting therapy would be a mistake. You are already seeing results. Your expectations are unrealistic if you think that you should be “cured” by now. You can’t expect two months of counseling to correct 10 years of severe bullying. It takes time to recover from abuse.
Perhaps you misunderstood your psychology professor or maybe he or she doesn’t fully understand the therapeutic process. For most mental health problems, two months in therapy is not enough.
Therapy can sometimes be difficult. Experiencing difficult and unpleasant feelings is part of the process. Pain and suffering are part of life. No one can completely avoid it but we can learn to make better choices to minimize it. Learning those skills, in part, is the purpose of therapy.
Stopping now would be a mistake. As long as you are making progress, week after week, then you are on the right track. It’s important to be patient, adjust your expectations and to participate in therapy for however long it takes to heal. Please take care.
Dr. Kristina Randle