[Serious] Are you in therapy?

[zwanzig]

Are you in therapy? Have you been in therapy before? Has it helped you at all? 

I've been thinking about it more and more in regards to my deconversion. It's only been a little over a year since I became atheist but I have a hard time with getting emotional in regards to certain concepts and ideas. I have a lot of bitterness towards religious people and ideas but it's all heavily tied to reactions to what happened to me. I don't know. I don't know if it's something I just need to wait to get over, like time and distance will calm me down. Or if I can't move on because I'm just not processing it on my own very well. These atheist communities are great and all but I'm not sure it's the best place to deal with my religious trauma.

[Duty]

Existential Therapy may be of some help here, therapy of an atheistic type. Good luck 10. 

[zebo-the-fat]

Never seen the point of it! (don't know anyone who has had it)

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Have been, after the death of my father. Saved my life.

Boru

[zwanzig]

Have been, after the death of my father. Saved my life.

Boru

I'm not necessarily in threat of losing my life(not at the current time, anyway) but the function of my life and relationships is definitely affected by this bitterness. Everyone around me offline is either Christian or Mormon and although my family and I have agreed not to argue or try to convince each other of either side to preserve our relationship, I find myself occasionally triggered by things they say and assume based on their religious views. Most of the time it's political but their views are informed by their belief in a God and I find the entitlement and taking for granted of Christian superiority to be aggravating. I just can't help myself sometimes and it's been a dog with a bone situation a couple times in the past 3-4 months where I feel badly once I realized how I've been behaving towards folks I love. And I get triggered here and at the other place all the time when certain arguments are made or aspects of belief come up.

I just think even a year past, possibly I'm still way too sensitive and might need to talk through the core issues(my victimization, the brainwashing I went through, the lingering guilt that feels pointless but is still fucking there, etc.), rather than beating up on loved ones and internet strangers.

[brewer]

Have been, in the past, but it was for things I did to myself. (poke,poke,glug,glug)

@Ten you sound a bit raw yet, time will fix that. Try to see the wacky monotheists for what they are............ wacky monotheists. Plus some humor and sarcasm thrown into your interactions with them might be good for the psyche.

[Angrboda]

I've been in therapy off and on for years. I'm very resistant. I find that it can help, but often not with the things you wanted to change, which can surprise you with their stubbornness. So, long and short, it's helpful, but I always think it could do more than it actually does.

[The Grand Nudger]

I think the rule is that if you start to think you might need to try therapy, you should try therapy. You're definitely not going to get that here. This place is for dick jokes and pictures of our cats.

I had to finish a block of therapy back when I got hurt. I don't know that it helped me much, my issue was physical not emotional trauma (or so I liked to remind her), but it was nice to talk to someone and I suspect it helped them monitor my recovery. Ended up marrying the girl. Terrible mistake, lol. Probably could have used some therapy for the fallout on that one.

[Silver]

I'm a prime candidate for therapy, but I've never been.

[arewethereyet]

I have been to therapy for specific issues. The first time was really a grief counselor when my first husband died. My doctor thought it was a good idea and he was right. Just a few sessions. The next time was when I decided to make a break from my mother about 15 years ago. A friend had been going to a therapist to deal with leaving the JWs and really liked her so I went to her as many times as our insurance would allow. She was a great help.

Sometimes having an unbiased third party help you look at things from a different perspective can be very helpful.