I am a therapist-been one for 11 years, although because I am 58 most think that I have done this forever. I am blogging because i have noone to bitch to-about the mental health system-about crazy therapists-about "recovery" BS-I feel like i am the only one who sees the madness that people grab on to just to feel like they are OK-I see about 20-30 people a week-most forever-(4-5 years)-mostly because their insurance pays-if they had to pay-I would see maybe 2 or 3 a week-it's just not a priority (like hair or nails)-almost all the people I see are lonely-they need a friend and I am it-sad-they tell me about their lonely lives, their boring jobs, their miserable families or lack thereof-and I listen-the most amazing thing about most of them is that they notice nothing about me-I had a face lift 4 years ago, I came back to work 2 weeks later, a little swollen and red-no comment-I had surgery this year-out 2 weeks-noone even asked where I was-I could be a blow-up doll that nods every once in a while and they would be perfectly happy-the most amazing thing is that I have still not fallen asleep-close-but never-I try so hard to be THERE-but-anyway-I guess I sound burned out and I guess I am-mostly I like the people I see-mostly I care about them-but mostly I know I am totally unable to change anything in their lives-I used to be very invested in their change-not any more-it's too draining-

The truth is that I have heard some fantastic stories-hollywood movie type of stories-a variety that would blow most people's minds-I used to freak out and want to share these with peers and family, but now it's just ho-hum-

If you have a story, let me know and I will see if I can top yours-DebDoc