“The Whole Point Is to Accept and Move On”: SA Opens Up About Therapy Not Working

• A woman on TikTok opened up about her mental health journey and how therapy has been going for her
• Liso Qwashuqwashu sighed after she realised that the steps she took to deal with some of her health issues were not working 
• Social media users related to her struggles and tried to comfort her by sharing their stories 
• Briefly News had a word with one of Mzansi’s qualified psychologists to find the reason why most SA women did not feel hopeful about going to therapy

Mental health finally stopped being a taboo topic after many people came out to talk about their debilitating struggles.

Depression and anxiety are the most common illnesses among the youth, and they’ve managed to convince each other to seek professional help over the years.

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Lady opens up about therapy not working 

A young lady was disappointed by her lack of progress after multiple therapy sessions and came to the realisation that she would never heal:

“During my session with my therapist, I realised that I will never fully heal, not in a bad way; it’s mostly just acceptance.”

Liso explained that her trauma was too much for chatting sessions with a psychologist and decided to take in all that she had been through, process it and move on.

Watch the video below:

Mzansi reacts to lady giving up on therapy 

A clinical psychologist, Vuyolwethu Tuluma, explained the benefits of staying the course during a tough time:

“In the first stages of therapy, a few key components set the foundation for the healing process. Here’s an overview of what to expect and some ways a person can gauge their progress, along with the benefits of engaging in therapy.”

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Here’s an overview of what to expect and some ways a person can gauge their progress, along with the benefits of engaging in therapy:

Initial Stages of Therapy

Assessment and Goal-Setting:

“Therapy typically begins with an assessment where the therapist gathers information about the client’s background, current struggles, and goals for therapy. This step is crucial for understanding the client’s unique needs”.

Building a Therapeutic Alliance:

“A strong, trusting relationship between the therapist and client is essential. The therapist creates a safe, nonjudgmental space, which encourages open dialogue.”

Exploring Patterns:

“ In these early sessions, clients may begin exploring patterns in their thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. This might include examining past experiences that have influenced their current perspectives.”

Identifying Skills and Coping Strategies:

“The therapist may introduce tools or skills that help the client manage symptoms, such as relaxation techniques, grounding exercises, or thought-stopping methods.”

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Social media users opened up about their mental health journeys in the comments section:

@Andisiwe Gogo explained: 

“It means you’ve healed. The whole point is accept and move on.”

@xola_cola shared: 

“I knew I would never heal when I started switching my story up because I felt like I was exposing myself.”

@Ruby said: 

“I even stopped going because I felt like I was a burden to the poor lady because there was no change.”

@Smurfy .🥹❤️confessed:

“I stopped going because I was lying the whole time.”

@Unknown lost hope: 

“This happened to me two years ago. There is no therapist who could save me now. I’m damaged for good.”

@Noni was ready to call it quits: 

“I realised this yesterday, and I need to send that sweet lady a goodbye email.”

SA youth express depression over adulting

Briefly News also reported that a young South African lady shared a TikTok clip that expressed how exhausted she was with having to figure life out. Nosithemba captured a moment that showed how defeated she was as she sat in bed watching movies on her laptop and eating junk food.

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More South African youth came forward to let her know she wasn’t alone, and they shared their stories in the comments. Briefly News spoke to a trusted clinical psychologist, Vuyolwethu Tuluma, to find ways to deal with depression.

Source: Briefly News