Personal story, part 2 - Therapy

A couple of weeks ago, I spoke to my doctor on the phone and we agreed on me starting some kind of therapy to regain control of my life. I was given a few choices of different methods, and among the options were CBT and IPT. Since a pretty messed up relation was the trigger of my depression (but not the *sole* reason) I chose IPT. It seems logical because I feel like my personal relationships are a bit messed up. I'm easily irritated among other people, I don't want to hang out with my girlfriend and I get really anxious in large groups. So the common denominator seems to be other people. And all descriptions I could find on IPT (Interpersonal Psychotherapy), it seems to hit right in the ballpark.

Or as someone who actually knows something on the matter describes it:¹

IPT is based on the idea that improving communication patterns and the ways people relate to others will effectively treat depression. IPT helps identify how a person interacts with other people. When a behavior is causing problems, IPT guides the person to change the behavior. IPT explores major issues that may add to a person's depression, such as grief, or times of upheaval or transition. Sometimes IPT is used along with antidepressant medications.

I'm not quite sure exactly how much CBT and IPT differ from each other, but as someone put it: IPT is for people who feel like the CBT-exercises are too similar to homework in school, or find them too daunting. Whether this is true or not, I have no idea. I can tell you that I have a close friend that tried CBT, and I remember thinking the exercises seemed kind of pointless and my friend haven't really progressed in that area. A lot of other problems seems to be better, but not the main issue.

Anyway, I'll probably make a post or two about the therapy. And yes, I'm working on the others posts, but there's so many other things bugging me right now.

'Til next time!

[1] - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/psychotherapies/index.shtml