Can psychologists help with the depression? Just left mine.

I was on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy therapy since beginning 2016, so 1 and a half years, for the depressive phase of my Bipolar Disorder and for Social Anxiety (since my mania is controlled). I just left last week.

I evolved a lot from my shy/introverted self who didn't do a lot of basic stuff like ordering pizza from telephone. The depression, though not as terrible and zombie-like as it was in the beginning, was still zombie-like and stuck in a point that it didn't evolve. He kept telling me to act, act, act, act, act... He made me feel guilty that I couldn't "act". I told him that was bothering me and nothing changed, so I decided it was time to leave.

What I ask is, what is your experience with psychologists, depression-wise? Are there psychological approaches other than Cognitive Behavioral Therapy that can help with depression? My psychiatrist has mentioned Brief Psychoanalysis, but I'm willing to hearing opinions.

I think they are very helpful temporarily or if you're having a hard time with something in life. I ran out of things to talk about with mine and it was an expensive awkward hour of looking at each other. They tried to get me to talk about some things I didn't want to talk about as well. Talking to someone is very therapeutic. Rarely do people actually listen to you closely in real life and give good feedback. It depends a lot on the psychologist and you how well it will work.

When I saw a psychologist, it was for my depression.
I really just liked having someone that was totally detached from my life to tell about all the sh!tty things in my life... It was cathartic, because I never felt like she was judging how I felt about things.
She also offered suggestions for ways to combat depression and mania.
Things like, learning to change my mood with music, or when to ride out a mood instead of fight it.
At the time I left her care I wasn't fighting with my depression anymore.
I had it under control and I knew how to get through a cycle.

So, I think they can help if you find a good one.

I went regularly to a psychologist for the past year, and initially we used some methods that helped me, such as writing down all positive things I remembered during a day. But eventually it stopped working, and as I wasn't on any drugs my depression worsened and worsened. He couldn't do much more about it, and it turned into something as me paying for someone to talk to me, since my social life doesn't exist, and no one speaks to me. And social isolation is the main cause of my depression, and he couldn't solve it. Basically I spent in total over 1400€ for someone to talk to me, since no one will spontaneously talk to me. I'm ridiculous...

If you ever need to talk I'm always here. *mod edit*

psidium wrote:Basically I spent in total over 1400€ for someone to talk to me, since no one will spontaneously talk to me. I'm ridiculous...

I wouldn't feel too bad about this... I have people who talk to me... but recently all they talk about is the new Kesha album (seriously, it's been like a month of me hearing about the new Kesha album...), how their sister is a bitch, what happened on the veterinarian show they watched last night, and how they can't get a date. All of which I pretty much just smile and nod at, because I don't care. We don't talk about real things. Half the time I'd rather they didn't talk to me at all if all they're going to do is babble incessantly about nothing. I think babbling about nothing is worse than not talking at all.

My therapist isnt necessarily a psychologist but she is an MLPC. Ive been seeing her since the end of last year. Ive found her very useful just to get thru normal day to day life as well as my episodes and my past. Theres plenty to talk about. And when I dont have anything to talk about, she always finds something to talk about. Thats why I love her so much. Shes super creative to find useful things to talk about. Dunno what I would have done without her, this year has been ultra rough for me.

I think, yes.

I saw my therapist for almost five years. He helped me with a lot. He literally saved me from a prison sentence, with a hand written letter, which my attorney presented to the judge, and the judge was impressed with my progress in treatment. He helped me with other things too, of course. He helped me overcome a few depression episodes, as well as a spending addiction, my sex addiction, he gave me advice on a lot of stuff going on in my life. He kept me positive throughout the criminal stuff that lasted about two years. He talked me out of doing negative stuff and into doing positive stuff. He was a god send to me at the time, but like others have said, they're limited. It's not like a psychiatrist, who you need to see because of medication. I didn't so much run out of things to talk to him about, but he moved his practice about fifteen minutes away, which would have added another 15 minutes to an already 45 minute, one-way trip. I'm stable enough that I don't need him, but a good one can help you with a lot of things, including depression.

Also, as others have said, it's nice to have someone that will just listen to you and give you advice. You sounded like you kind of had a bad one, in that department. A therapist should never make you feel guilty, they should make you feel good about yourself and motivate you more than pressure you. If you can afford it, and are able to make it, you could always go to another one. After what you went through, I wouldn't say I'd blame you if you didn't want to seek out another therapist, though.

Bui wrote:I was on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy therapy since beginning 2016, so 1 and a half years, for the depressive phase of my Bipolar Disorder and for Social Anxiety (since my mania is controlled). I just left last week.

I evolved a lot from my shy/introverted self who didn't do a lot of basic stuff like ordering pizza from telephone. The depression, though not as terrible and zombie-like as it was in the beginning, was still zombie-like and stuck in a point that it didn't evolve. He kept telling me to act, act, act, act, act... He made me feel guilty that I couldn't "act". I told him that was bothering me and nothing changed, so I decided it was time to leave.

What I ask is, what is your experience with psychologists, depression-wise? Are there psychological approaches other than Cognitive Behavioral Therapy that can help with depression? My psychiatrist has mentioned Brief Psychoanalysis, but I'm willing to hearing opinions.

I see a therapist about every 2 months. She is great! I only have good things to share about seeing a therapist. Therapist, Psychologist, counselor--I think that they do the same type of job and but not on the same level of education. The therapist I see has a Masters and was or is going for her Doctorate, but it doesn't matter, because I'd pick her regardless of her education. She is very good and we click. I've been to hell and back with my depressive episodes. I'd strongly recommend you look for a good one because for me, it helped me to not feel so alone in my day to day struggles.