When do you give up a support?

I guess when you feel that you can handle things on your own without any major negative repercussions. You could probably start weening off the counseling and medical treatment and see how things go. If you start having problems again or develop new problems, then you can always go back and get more treatment, right?

I think that it all depends. If your on a certain medication, you may find that vitamins help a lot better, or help sufficient enough or equal to the prescribed medicine. Counseling it may be that you've talked your heart out, and whether or not the counselor realizes your problem, you do and feel you can deal with it now that you know... Or maybe it's something you must continue ever so often anyway just to talk to someone...

Hi Dawn. This is a question which demands as many answers as there are people, but I'll presume we are talking about a well-balanced, intelligent person who is well able to weigh up the pros and cons, look at the situation, make an honest appraisal and do the right thing - someone like you. When counselling comes down to boiling your cabbages twice, like the cabbage, it should be thrown out. Speaking as a counsellor, once everything is out in the open, alternatives are discussed and questions answered, apart from an unbiased listening ear, there isn't much more that can be achieved. With regards to medical treatment, this would depend on the medical condition. There are some medications it would be dangerous to stop (blood thinners for a thrombosis-prone patient, diabetics, asthmatics etc) On the other hand there are myriads of medications which could easily be stopped, and many that can be stopped, depending on the condition of the patient and the attitude of the patient. I doubt if anyone would deny that more medicines are consumed than is necessary and that in many cases these can be replaced with a better diet and natural alternatives. In all cases, the person's attitude probably determines the change, and sometimes this would be after consultation with the doctor to ensure some things don't need a gradual withdrawal. When a sensible person decides to take control, the outcome is usually an improvement. Attitude determines altitude.

about the time the doc says I'm enough better to not need him/her

I think if it were up to me, I'd use the method of intermittent braking. Would stop gradually, and it's like stopping smoking. Gradually, slowly and then fully stop. So I think that this counseling thingy and medical treatment need to be taken in with the mindset that they are going to be temporary.

I have been through this several times and I always found that when I felt we were going over and over the same things it was time for me to stop paying for someone to listen.

When someone feels like they don't need it that's probably when it's time to stop....I have known a few people in counseling though that go on and on...and I have heard that some counselors don't find resolution because they also become addicted to their patient....and the money it brings into their business...but medically....that would be a bit different...take your meds for as long and the doctor says....or it might return.....etc

hi dawnald I think that depends on the medical treatment.some of us are on support so to speak for the rest of our lives as we need the team of doctor, diabetic nurse, and pharmacist to keep us on an even keel and our blood glucose where it should be. No wonder they call it a chronic disease. the truth of the matter is we are our own best counselor as we are the ones who decide to eat right, exercise right and take our meds as prescribed. Our diabetic friends are the best support one could find too. we learn to help each other to the newest things for diabetics and share all the new information we can find.

That’s a good question and I have asked it many times myself! I see a psychologist and I take medication for depression. I haven’t been seeing the counsellor very long, I have booked six sessions with her ,I have four more to go and, because I don’t expect my life to be ‘fixed’ in a few hours I imagine that the six sessions will be enough. My doctor prescribed meds for me because I have been feeling lousy for most of my life and she suspects that I may suffer from depression. I feel she may be right because I feel so much better taking the tablets. My G P thought I would benefit from someone to talk to and so far so good but I realise it is not something I will do forever; I can’t afford it for one! I suppose you know yourself and by making the appointments further apart you would know that you can cope on your own again; I would imagine it would vary greatly from person to person.

I don't know about that one. I have often wondered how a person in a support group decided that their time there is not needed anymore. I think it would be like a meication of sorts. Maybe someone would go less and less until they don't have to anymore.

Dawn- I suppose when you find that nothing is working even with treatment and that you are ending up with the same results. I would say that if it is related to your actual physical health it may best to consult another doctor who may find a different treatment plan that actually works. I'm not a huge fan of toss it all up in the air, go off all meds, and pray everything is fine. If it is spiritual/mental I would say that if you have done everything counseling has suggested, been honest with your self in said counseling, and the issues are still not going anywhere it is time to move on. It would very much depend upon what the issue was, but let us say it is marriage counseling. If both parties are unable to resolve their differences, and are making life difficult for each other then it is time to move out of the relationship. That would be fair to both involved. Namaste-Anora

Giving up support totally will result in withdrawal symptoms. You need to do it gradually under the guidance of your counsellor. In fact that is one of the steps in therapy. The very fact that you are getting the feeling that you no longer need support is a right step in the direction of standing on your own legs.