Therapy is a good idea, but be sure to get the right therapist. Trust your instincts: if you don't think this person is right, now is the time to change.
Huge +1 to this. It sounds like they may need to switch therapists. I’ve had personal success with therapists that have expertise in CBT, DBT, and IFS.
OP may also want to explore mindfulness/meditation, which has been a huge QoL improvement for me.
Some resources I’ve found helpful:
- Book: Adult children of emotionally immature parents
- Book: How to meditate by Pema Chodron
- Website on DBT: https://dbtselfhelp.com/
- Book: The Antidote: Happiness for people who can’t stand positive thinking
- Meditation Apps: Waking Up, Headspace, Ten Percent. Also, if you don’t like one, try another. They all have distinct styles.
Seriously though, do therapy and hop therapists until one clicks. I read on here once “you can’t read the label from inside the bottle.” This type of work significantly benefits from a good outside perspective.
Also, OP, be kind to yourself and, as another poster said, allow yourself to just exist for a bit
Could not stress this point more. OP's therapist should be all over these issues, offering different tools, strategies, frameworks, etc. Good therapy actively solves problems. If your therapist is not doing this, fire them immediately and get a new one. Look for a cognitive behavioral therapist.
