When I noticed I was coming undone, I decided it was time to go to a psychologist. Since Freud invented psychoanalysis, there have developed a gazillion of branches of psychology. That's why I decided to try as many as possible. So I came to a psychoanalyst, and he's like, "Lie down on the couch, please, share your free associations with me." Well, I lay down – and truth be told, I'm good at lying on the couch. Then I went to a Gestalt therapist. He asked me empathically, "What do you feel?" and encouraged to live here-and-now. I realized that it was not my cup of tea and went to an art therapist. People were convincing me that art therapy was not a real therapy at all, but it didn't stop me. During an art therapy session, I painted my feelings and made my subpersonalities from modelling clay. It was fun, but it was unclear how this could help me. So I went to a cognitive-behavioral therapist, who discovered I had three phobias. I was afraid I would have to quit smoking and went on. A family therapist told me that my symptoms are not mine at all, but the symptoms of my family and began to paint my family tree. It was much fun, too. With a Jungian psychologist, we explored my main archetypes.
And then I got to an existential psychotherapist. He told me that we all come across four “ ultimate concerns of life” – death, freedom, isolation, and meaninglessness. The way and quality of life depends on how we solve these concerns. I started attending this therapist on a weekly basis. From all of my heart I wish you to find a psychotherapist who truly suits you. It's priceless!
