For context, I’ve just attended my second psychologist visit for self esteem issues and rejection issues in a polyclinic and for some reason, I’ve been feeling more down than since before I went to that visit. My first visit was just talking and going over all my issues to an intern, but now in this second session I got to see someone who held the title of Psychologist. I mostly just went over all my issues again to him and potentially raised the issue of me having ADHD or neurodivergence in addition. He did sign me up for one proper ADHD screening in a few months, which I’m rather thankful for but other than that, I wasn’t left with much instruction or direction other than seemingly surface level advice for issues that I had. I most definitely listened to him there but I’m still having a catastrophically difficult time trying to accept it, and now I just feel overall worse after that visit. Is such a feeling normal for the first few visits to a psychologist for talk therapy and such?
For further context, I have just started increasing an SSRI dosage by a few miligrams by request of my psychiatrist so I could also be experiencing increased frustration and such as a side effect. I also have been forced to drop my uni counselor after he expressed his dissapointment with my lack of progress despite both of our efforts, so it might be a possibility that I’m just demotivated (for lack of a better word) to look further into the benefits of talk therapy. Just need some advice on this type of thing because I really don’t wanna go back to rock bottom again.
Hi @joyfulalpaca6470 thank you for sharing. That’s a lot happening at once, and it makes a lot of sense that you’re feeling worse right now rather than better…
To answer your question: yes, it is possible to feel worse after therapy session and that’s quite common. The act of going over painful material repeatedly with someone new can stir things up without yet giving you the tools to process them. It’s a bit like cleaning out a wound before it can heal; hurting more before it gets better.
Not to mention, on top of that, you’ve got a few things compounding each other right now. The increase in SSRI dosage could possibly increase frustration and cause a temporary dip in mood. And the situation with your uni counsellor is quite hurtful. Having someone express disappointment in your progress, even if well-intentioned, can feel like a confirmation of the exact fears that brought you to therapy in the first place. That kind of experience can make it harder to trust the process.
But the fact that you’re aware of all these factors and are trying to make sense of them is worth something, even if it doesn’t feel like it right now!
Just a little suggestion here, it might be worth raising this to your psychologist at the next session. Be honest with him and let him know that you left feeling worse and that the advice felt surface-level for the depth of what you’re dealing with. A good psychologist should be able to take that feedback and adjust accordingly. You’re allowed to advocate for what you need from the sessions, and doing so isn’t a sign of failure, that is exactly what therapy is for!
In the meantime, before your next session with your psychologist, should you need someone to talk to do feel free to reach out to Mindline @ 1771 or WhatsApp to 6669 1771.
Is there a good way to word it when I talk to my psychologist about the surface level advice? I’m not good at talking to others so I’m afraid how I word it by myself would intentionally or unintentionally come off as rude and awful.