Therapy isn't it and it's honestly annoying seeing everyone recommend it over everything, amirite?

Therapy is a tool that gets sold as a cure-all. In reality, you get out of it what you put into it. It shouldn't be the first thing you go to, and it's not a miracle cure. But it can help of you're willing to put in the work.

by Famous-Rush 2 weeks ago

This. Therapy is about how much work you put into it. No one, absolutely no one can fix your problems for you but it gives you a permission and time and a structure to work out your issues. Other things like journalling and self-awareness are also significant.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

This, along with the price and waitlists, is why I don't go. I'm a stubborn bastard and I know that talking to some guy won't change my behavior. I'm too stubborn. Things only change when I convince myself to do them so I literally get more benefit out of talking to myself.

by antonietta68 2 weeks ago

What do you think the goal of therapy is?

by No-Lavishness 2 weeks ago

Right, so you know your problem, your only step is to work on it. Therapy is just someone else telling you to work on it. You still have to do the work.

by Upbeat-Log 2 weeks ago

Therapy is like a physical trainer. They can make a workout plan, but they can't do the workout for you. You have to do the workout in order to see the results on yourself.

by Ansley56 2 weeks ago

The first thing you should always do is make sure that you're getting enough of everything in your diet. Low iron can look like depression, gut health affects mood, you get what you put in pretty much. Second would be physical activity, make sure that you're keeping up on at least some light exercise, nobody is saying you need to pump iron for 18 hours a day but do try to move around. And of course sleep goes without saying. Not getting enough sleep is bad for you, that's just common sense

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

So the first professional I should see is my primary care provider is what you're saying?

by maximus94 2 weeks ago

There's a reason people say "healthy body, healthy mind." Like, obviously clinical depression won't be cured by working out. But ensuring your body is healthy is a great way to minimize outside factors. Plus, the actual process of working hard and achieving goals could end up benefiting the mental health as well.

by antonietta68 2 weeks ago

After lifestyle changes, yes.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

If you have trauma it should be the first thing you do… before it's an emergency.

by traceydach 2 weeks ago

Charging $100, $200, $300 or more an hour just to tell the person you're charging that they have to do all the work is literal robbery. Imagine calling an electrician who charges $500/hr to rewire your house, him sitting there and doing absolutely nothing but racking up hours, and telling you " I see that you're not willing to do the work that you paid me to do. Sucks to suck, here's your bill."

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

I'd happily pay an electrician to teach me how to do my own electrical work, though. And that would be closer to the analogy you are attempting.

by TripQueasy 2 weeks ago

Psychedelic therapy OP pls look into it

by EngineeringChoice716 2 weeks ago

Therapy works for a lot of people, but definitely not everyone. Just like taking walks in nature isn't the cure all sone people think it is. Just because it works for some, doesn't mean it works for everyone.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

This is an unpopular opinion. Without therapy, I'd still be having debilitating flashbacks. I haven't for 6-7 years now, so I'm pretty sure they aren't coming back.

by Watersjovany 2 weeks ago

I'm glad it's helped you and many others But My girlfriend gets flashbacks from her therapy, so😂 She's going to go back to a different place with a different support system though

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Yes EMDR for my PTSD was a god send.

by Glad-Philosopher 2 weeks ago

I was diagnosed with PTSD and therapy helped me immensely 🤷

by Excellent_Pack 2 weeks ago

Considering you said everyone you know that has tried therapy has ended up worse off, yeah, you probably phrased something pretty poorly

by Excellent_Pack 2 weeks ago

Most people I know that don't want to go to therapy constantly used to trauma dump on me without my permission. They put the responsibility of helping them through major trauma on me. I'm not in any way a professional. Those people haven't tried it btw.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

People who trauma dump are exactly the types that could use talk therapy. It isn't for everyone, but if a person already likes talking about their issues it's perfect for them.

by Mysterious_Low 2 weeks ago

I think the issue a lot of people have is lack of trust, anxiety, not wanting to feel vulnerable, not taking their mental health seriously enough to make the step, not knowing what to say, or just being dismissive about it. Honestly, if they can't get the words out in a therapy session they should just pull up the texts of them trauma dumping on people and go from there.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Maybe they should lol

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

That's what I've been telling them. They won't so I've distanced myself. Their mental health isn't my responsibility. I want to help out but it's super unhealthy for me to be involved in that all the time.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Yep. This was the reason i had to end the friendshup for the sake of my own mental health. I could no longer endure it.

by Ansley56 2 weeks ago

Packing on muscle for muscle sake isn't gonna do much for most but most people would mentally benefit from a couple hours of weekly cardio. It seriously reduces anxiety/depression way more than anything else I've tried at that

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Is it possible that maybe different things work for different people? Crazy concept, know. The gym saved my life, speaking in absolutes when it comes to any of this is ignorant AF, including OP's stance. Therapy didn't do much for me, but it has definitely saved some other people's lives, what is the worst that can happen from at least trying different things? Anything is better than doing nothing.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

What people need to do is make a lot of money. That's the solution to life. Assuming you're American of course.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

No it isn't. People should do it to stay healthy. But it doesn't help much past that.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Whatever you say mate. Works for a lot of people that's for sure

by MassiveInitiative690 2 weeks ago

It didn't work for me but I'm paralyzed from the waist down so 🤷🏽‍♂️

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Spoken like someone who refuses to exercise. It's been proven as effective as medication for a whole host of mental issues from ADHD to depression. And all you have to do is do it to see results.

by Fit-Pressure 2 weeks ago

Ah yeah it's def not a cure-all. I can see why you'd be down on it. Was running a similar schedule for a long time and ended up preferring the gym. Am still on meds for best results though.

by Fit-Pressure 2 weeks ago

It hurts initially. I've never gotten the "pump" either, or a "runners high". Especially on meds these things are not present. But I do find it gives me a certain stability. The body really craves it. Effects can be short-lived however and getting decondicioned (or dehydrated) will leave you having a tough time. I wonder what/who the rage was "at"?

by Fit-Pressure 2 weeks ago

I've found it fairly useless, I'm sure it helps some people and that's great but it did nothing for me.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

It does for some people and they may need help. Some people are able to fix themselves through various different means. It's not one size fix all when it comes to mental illness.

by PureStrike 2 weeks ago

The outcomes of people trying to fix trauma themselves without outside help is way worse. If you have a mental health issue, you should seek help. Whether it's therapy or medication. Trying to do it on your own will have negative outcomes more often than not.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

this. so much this. so many peoples coping skills when they reject MH treatment are things like drinking and drugs, relationships etc... it can make you so much worse. like trying to set a bone yourself vs go to the doctor for a cast

by Aliyahagenes 2 weeks ago

Some people do have the resiliency to move past trauma without trauma. But it is not the norm to have a positive outcome without therapy. Also who's to say that the outcome could have been even better with the therapy? I can come out the other end of trauma relatively okay, but I probably will have residual effects much longer.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

It does for some people and they may need help. right. and thats when its considered a disorder. trauma (PTSD or anything associated with trauma) is a psych disorder. vs just having like every day stress and anxiety, which someone may be able to handle on their own. Trauma is rarely something you can just push through on your own. if you had the coping tools for it already, you probably wouldnt HAVE trauma, thats just how that works. mental illness is mental illness regardless of what degree a person experiences it at. if its mental illness, it needs to be dealt with.

by Aliyahagenes 2 weeks ago

I was mainly referring to not everyone needing therapy. If you have a disorder then you do need some sort of external help. This could be a spectrum of different things.

by PureStrike 2 weeks ago

If you don't know how therapy works, you could just say so...

by Background-Corgi-401 2 weeks ago

Why are you assuming that this individuals problems can without a doubt be helped with therapy? Are you suggesting that therapy is helpful for 100% of people who "know how therapy works,"?

by Cute_Calendar 2 weeks ago

I didn't say any of that...

by Background-Corgi-401 2 weeks ago

Yep, me too. Nobody knows me better than me.

by Formal_Election7293 2 weeks ago

not for everyone ofc but it 10000% should be the option you try first over meds or anything like that.

by Ok-Client-8989 2 weeks ago

So therapy is nice but what many people forget is that it's about helping you to change tangible things in your life but you gotta actually do the thing, if you go to therapy but keep everything else the same and implement nothing then therapy Is not that useful

by Many-Training 2 weeks ago

It's just overused as a phrase "My hamster died" "I'm so sorry please seek therapy"

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

To be fair she should. My brother had a friend that wouldn't say "I love you" to anyone. The reason being she was holding her Hamster said "I love you" and the hamster died.

by mrazmarina 2 weeks ago

Sometimes therapy can work in combination with other things as well. It's also like you said about finding the right fit. Sure therapy may not be for everyone but I can tell you it's helped me tremendously!

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

I'm confused what else would someone recommend? If someone is going through a traumatic flashback/attack and are asking for help, than therapy will 100% be the best option.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Any type of therapy (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language etc) all require the person to do the work in between sessions to progress. It is good to acknowledge that it isn't for everybody if they can't put the emotional skills into practice ie if they are still in the abusive situation.

by newton73 2 weeks ago

It's a treatment. Just like any other treatment, it does not have the same results in everyone. Someones headache might be gone with ibuprofen. Someones headache might get slightly better with ibuprofen. Someone might not feel any change at all. Someone might only feel the sideeffects. Someone might have an allergic reaction.

by Jacynthetromp 2 weeks ago

I suggest therapy because i can't deal with whatever they are throwing at me and wish they would seek out professional help instead of berating the layman that they are not helping them (as the layman has no clue how to help and the best they can give you is not good enough for you).

by Ansley56 2 weeks ago

Except therapy is real and evidence based and Jesus is a fictional character.

by haleysigrid 2 weeks ago

Whoosh? Or just sass 😂

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Haha thaaaank youuuu

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

OP, sounds like you need therapy.

by Creative-Turnover608 2 weeks ago

Sounds like you buried your trauma without addressing it (which means it'll come back—I know, I have PTSD) or you just didn't have it in the first place. You don't just think through PTSD, sorry. Either way you should little a terrible judge for whether people need therapy. Therapy is hard work. It sounds like you didn't want to put in that work and just wanted quick solutions. Too many lazy people who are scared to be vulnerable think they have it all figured out. But ultimately they're worse off for it. Therapy isn't for everyone. However, to deny its effectiveness for most mental health issues is just plain anti-scientific.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Congratulations, you have encapsulated 3-36 months of therapy into 2 sentences. Take my $5k! Seriously though this is a good description of what therapy can do. Sometimes it helps to have a guide though. Not everyone can do it alone.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Therapy does nothing if one isn't willing to put in the emotional labor to grow

by AdmirableTip 2 weeks ago

Or be vulnerable. Some people are scared to not be fully in control at all times.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Not unpopular? I used to describe therapy as training. You have to do it regularly and it tears muscle to build muscle. For some, having a stronger body equals to keep up with more mental challenges. If I can lift so much weight, means I can bear the weight of X. If I can suffer this pain after injury and get out of it, for sure I can suffer this other pain, I can take that challenge because I took another. It doesn't work for everyone and it's ok. I'm not here telling to go lift weights to cure depression, but just "talk about it" doesn't cut for some people. If I write about something I experienced or not, I can use a third person pov and have them experience my feelings or the opposite, I can get excited for some character to experience feelings and cheer happy stories or songs, having that moment of positive/negative detachment. For some it's better to write about it as is, or others have the need to crochet furiously. It's ok.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I think it depends on the individual.

by Acceptable-Fun-5158 1 week ago

100%

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I hope this isn't true. Therapy potentially being able to fix my problems is the only reason I'm alive right now

by Anonymous 1 week ago

You don't have to be lucky to find a good fit, but patient and determined. If you give up, you definitely won't find the right fit.

by Interesting-Low-4956 1 week ago

🤦🏾‍♀️.

by StandardPrinciple 1 week ago

any therapy is better than absolutely none at all

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Therapy saved my life.

by iciegreenholt 1 week ago

Therapy can help with general issues. Like healthy ways to deal with depression or anxiety. You can learn information yourself from books, YouTube, podcasts, etc.. Its like hiring a personal trainer. You dont need one to get in shape, but it would make it easier.. The problem with therapy is they don't know you. They only know what you tell them and there is a common saying, "your perception is your reality." It's a common saying because your perception is usually wrong.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Therapy with a focus and goal are helpful. Forever therapy just keeps ya trapt in the same mental prison

by Alanis96 1 week ago

It didn't help me, but it has helped millions of other people. Just because something doesn't work for you doesn't mean it's useless.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Therapy is the same as athletic training. If you don't do it honestly you won't have proper results

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Therapy can involve gradual exposure to desensitize the person to a trigger or the traumatic event . This can involve describing it or re-living it in other ways. The initial phases are pure hell, many people bail at that point (understandably). It brings a lot of pain to the surface. However, that's the only place it can be dealt with effectively. If you stick with the process it can pay major dividends.

by modesto90 1 week ago

Tried therapy. First time; they quit the day of my appointment. Second time; they dosed me with pills then ghosted me and refused to take my calls. This all just traumatized me more.

by Nervous_Motor_38 1 week ago

How do you get further traumatized by going to therapy? What kind of therapy are you going to?

by Strong_Constant4184 1 week ago

Think of therapy as a toolbox. There are different tools for the job. Sometimes we may use the wrong screw driver or use a hammer when we should be using a paint brush. But the great thing is, we learn and find out what tools work best for the job.

by Rare-Designer 1 week ago

The way it look at therapy, is it's supposed to teach you the tools to continue helping yourself. It's also access to someone who's studied the mind, they listen to your outlook and maybe try and give guidance/advice. It's in no way near a fix all. But it can be beneficial.

by One-Subject 1 week ago

Its not a cure-all but I would suggest atleast trying it if finances allow (the last part is super important)

by Anonymous 1 week ago

What are the alternatives that therapy is preached over?

by No-Lavishness 1 week ago

I see therapy over-recommended constantly, without even knowing if the person's health insurance would cover it. FACT: Not all insurance plans cover therapy or counseling. Also, counseling centers that offer "sliding scale fees" often do bait and switch. They still want you to pay the full amount.

by Horror_External 1 week ago

Odds are in the US you're spending money to get it😂

by Anonymous 1 week ago

As someone who has tried therapy - I can tell you it's absolutely not for me. Although I guess it worked because all I felt was that I was getting condescended upon, so it made me want to figure things out myself.

by Wilberferry 1 week ago

Are you trauma dumping on people? They might say that alot cos they can't help

by Powerful-Quality 1 week ago

Usually the reverse😂

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I do agree. I'm sure it's helpful in a ton of scenarios but it gets mentioned for everything, including when someone has a life situation that just needs to be fixed rather than talked about.

by Christine06 1 week ago

It's kind of satisfying having an actual unpopular opinion😂

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I agree. If a person is able to sit down and logically think about their problem/issue then they should by themselves be able to come up with the solution and how to deal with it. Some cases of PTSD might need a 3rd party to help but that's all imo.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Most people don't need therapy. And it's a serious problem that there are all these TV, radio, and online ads running trying to convince people they have problems and need therapy. They don't.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

The solution is to thug it out

by stantongina 1 week ago

I'm sorry but 9/10 that's pretty much it 😂🤙

by Anonymous 1 week ago

These are some pretty extreme takes lol

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Yeah in Finlands doctor magazine they talked and recomended this big research that said that dance is the best form of therapy. And no not all sports are that effective, dance was by long margin the best.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

It's in the music, maaaaan

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Therapy is a scam and a waste of money and time

by Anonymous 1 week ago

It's evidence based.

by haleysigrid 1 week ago