Therapy

Hi: I was just wondering if any of you are in therapy? And, if so, do you find it helps? I just started recently. Actually...I am going back to the psychologist who did my evaluation. I am just so unsure about it. I would love to hear your experiences with it...if you are comfortable enough sharing them with me. In thanks, Jersey Mom

I am in therapy and go every month. Its also the dr who did my evaluation, he specializes in WLS. It is helping, he challenges me on different things and attitudes. It works best when I am honest and meet my demons head on. He pushes me to exercise more. Overall I find it of benefit and would encourage it, we're going thru a lot of changes and every bit of help will help me/us along the way. Tiffany

Tiffany: Thanks for your input. Do you find that just going once per month is enough? I am going once every week and every *other* week I want to quit. Oddly enough, I never even talk about WLS struggles, etc. We are dealing with past issues but I still wonder if it is helping. Hopefully I will know soon! Thanks again, Jersey Mom

Sometimes I think about going more frequently. The doctor is not under insurance so I pay $100 to see him and money is part of it. I feel our sessions are of high quality. And I suspect I'll hit some issues along the way and will see him more frequently. It works for where I am right now; I am happy to have a professional support network as part of my process. Its hard facing old demons.

Hard facing old demons? Amen, my sistah! My last three sessions focusing on an early experience were the most difficult hours of my life. I would say they were the most difficult 3 hours of my life but the first ran two hours...the second an hour and a half and the third an hour and twenty minutes. SO GLAD that is done with! Yes...if I was not covered by insurance, I would not be going at all so I can understand your situation. Do you think he would work with you as far as a more reasonable payment plan? I know many of them do. Good luck on your journey! Jersey Mom

I am in therapy. I started about 3 months before my surgery so I could be prepared. I was gong to the same person who did my psych evaluation but changed a couple of months ago because I was not getting enough feedback from her. I go once a week. About a month after my surgery I got really depressed and I started taking antidepressents. I have never really had a problem with depression before. I don't like going but I an honest when I get there and share what it going on with me. I don't feel like it is helping me. Emailing you guys helps me more than therapy.

Janet: I understand exactly what you are saying. Do you think it is because we feel more comfortable sharing here than with our therapists? Some days I clam up with him and just cannot get the words out. I never seem to have that problem in an online forum. I wonder if it is because there is still a touch of anonymity. Thank you for your input! Jersey Mom

I see someone every week. The woman I see is a psychologist and I started to see her several years prior to my surgery. She does focus on eating disorder patients and also something called HeartMath which is all about the Mind-Body connection. She has been infinitely helpful in helping me work through some very tough stuff. We definitely don't always talk about food issues, though they frequently come up in relation to how food and my weight has affected my self image and how that in turn has affected so many other parts of my life. She definitely helped me get to a place where I could make the decision about WLS. Don't be discouraged if the first person you see doesn't fit. You need to be completely comfortable with who you will be pouring your heart out to. You need to feel safe, unjudged and completely trust the person you choose. Some weeks are brutal and gut-wrenching and some aren't. Either way it is great to "unload" everything in my head once a week. I never thought I'd see a therapist, I think because of the stigmas attached to it, but it's one of the best things I do for myself. Jen

Yep, for a while now, but I found I do need it more now because I (as many of us did I think) used food for comfort and during anxious times...WHAT DO I DO NOW? I feel more anxiety and therapy has helped me with sorting things out and focusing on the here and now and finding things to replace food..like exercise, yoga, etc.... And Jen is right. You may need to "try" several therapists before you find a good fit...don't get discouraged.. Anne

Anne: See...that is the thing. I am not sure if it is *him* or *me.* He and I DO spar at times which is, quite honestly, entertaining but I am not sure if I should be going simply to be entertained. I have told him quite a bit about myself...I just cannot see going to someone else and starting that pain all over again. But maybe I will start thinking about it. Thank you so much! Jersey Mom