Is there a point to therapy if you don’t share everything?

Posted by supermana @supermana, Jul 10, 2023

I am a 14 year old girl who has been sorta diagnosed it’s anxiety- I have been having more frequent panic attacks etc. And I have been going to therapy, and I’m wondering if there’s any point to it if I’m not sharing everything with my therapist, things I’m not comfortable sharing with anyone?

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Helen, Volunteer Mentor | @naturegirl5 | Jul 11, 2023

@supermana Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I’d like to encourage you to keep going to therapy. It can take awhile before a person feels like opening up to a therapist. Having anxiety and frequent panic attacks is a difficult way to live. I know about this as I have anxiety most days and have had panic attacks in the past. What helped me the most was to find a therapist who I connected with and really listened to me. That emotional support was everything. It me awhile to open up too.

Have you told your therapist that there are things you aren’t ready to share? And that you might share those things later on? You can talk about why you aren’t ready to talk about these things instead of what it is. That discussion could be helpful too.

What do you think about my suggestions?

supermana | @supermana | Jul 11, 2023

In reply to @naturegirl5 "@supermana Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I’d like to encourage you to keep going to therapy...." + (show)

Hi Helen- I will definitely try that, and I think I will keep going to therapy:-)
Thank you for the advice.

femalepersuasion | @femalepersuasion | Jul 11, 2023

Maybe they can help you with what you DO share?

It's a process with trust. Don't feel like you have to confide everything all at once.

Helen, Volunteer Mentor | @naturegirl5 | Jul 12, 2023

In reply to @supermana "Hi Helen- I will definitely try that, and I think I will keep going to therapy:-)..." + (show)

@supermana It's so good to hear back from you. Will you come back here with any other questions or let me know how your feel after your next few therapy sessions?

dfb | @dfb | Jul 13, 2023

My experience has been that if I do not share everything that’s effects my mental health? It doesn’t go well,

If I do not trust my therapist enough to share honesty, I need a different therapist.

I wish you well!

elimseoj | @elimseoj | Jul 14, 2023

You say you are 14. Consider scanning Claudia Black's book IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN TO ME. That may help you even if, at first, it does not seem to apply. It may take years to be ready to share it all. Just keep at it.

supermana | @supermana | Jul 14, 2023

In reply to @naturegirl5 "@supermana It's so good to hear back from you. Will you come back here with any..." + (show)

Hi - just letting you know I had another session this week and I did feel a little more comfortable sharing a little more. This may sound cheesy but it sorta feels like a bit of weight has been lifted off me now that someone else knows:)
Thank you everyone for your feedback and support this means so much- it’s really helped:-)

Helen, Volunteer Mentor | @naturegirl5 | Jul 15, 2023

@supermana I'm so pleased that you came back to let me know you are feeling more comfortable with your therapist. It's not cheesy at all to say that a some weight has been lifted now that you have shared more with your therapist. It's like you are carrying a backpack with rocks in it. As you get more "out there" with your therapist, you can toss another rock out of your backpack and it gets a little lighter. I hope you will keep up the very good things you are doing for yourself. The road with that backpack could get bumpy at times but when you keep going the road will get smooth again.

How's that for a rather cheesy analogy (bumpy road and all)?