is therapy helpful?

[PlatoPacks23]

feel lately just been in a huge rut and considering therapy. seems super expensive though and people around me aren't that into it and told me to "just think positive"/take more action and focus on work etc instead.


curious from people here what their experience is? lately been feeling super down and anxious/paranoid and feel like I need to do something


--
also haven't been in a relationship in a while which obviously I think would tremendously help with this, but if thats not in cards as of now feel like I need to do something

 

[BaronOfHair]

...people around me aren't that into it and told me to "just think positive"/take more action and focus on work etc instead.

For your sake, I(and I'm sure the rest of us)hope those same folks aren't into sneaking into zoos, biting the heads off of lemurs, then guzzling down every last quart of their blood, Packs... You seem unlikely to object, if they tell you to "Just go over the fence with us, and enjoy it, broaden your horizons, etc etc"

Psychotherapy can be extremely beneficial, IF

-You find a shrink who's been exhaustively trained in the empirically validated approaches https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2018/01/21/talk-therapy Jump to the ten minute mark or so, and listen closely to everything Hoffman says. Be prepared to search HARD for a shrink like this

-You're curious about and eager to investigate the accuracy of your own thoughts and beliefs

 

[Bible_Belt]

Do you have hobbies and other interests that allow you engage with new people?

 

[BillyPilgrim]

For a short while but the clashing worldviews will lead to diminishing returns fairly quickly.

 

[CoolWave1331]

If you've experienced trauma at any point in your life that you can't shake & creeps up on you (even infrequently), yes you have to deal with it. It's taking away from your happiness and ability to be fully productive if you don't. Sometimes you can do this on your own, other times you will need professional help.

 

[Murk]

Extremely, I joined this forum a year after my mother died from cancer in 2016, diagnosed stage 4 and dead within a year. No siblings or father. I went off the rails, cocaine and alcohol mainly, smashed 35 girls in a calendar year and then some. Nothing really mattered. I have done 2 bouts of therapy, 1 when mum died, second when I started my business in 2020 and my ADHD ruined my motivation.

Go to therapy, better if its free but pay for it too. The smarter/high IQ you are, the more susceptible you are to your own mind, your worst enemy at times. Failing therapy, learn to talk. I speak regularly with friends about what's really going on, late paying bills, avoiding mail and calls, unhappy in career, inside your own head. We have all been there.

Older heads will tell you the mess I was in when I first joined this forum, I got a LOT of help from people here, hence I'll always stick around and chime in when I can.

EDIT: What I'd also add is to get your health in check, healthy eating, working out 3-6 times a week (6 times PPLPLL did it for me) and cut drugs, alcohol and tobacco. Get outside in the sunshine, Vitamin D does wonders.

 

[SW15]

Therapy doesn't help with some crucial aspects of dating and seduction.

Going to therapy will not increase a man's right swipe % on the apps. His DM response rate will also be unaffected by therapy.

It's unlikely that a man will go on more first dates as a result of therapy.

Therapy can be helpful for retention and extending interactions but has limited value in starting interactions/early phases.