Moved out, moving forward.

[Horizon]

This past week I moved into an apartment. I receive SSI and am currently unemployed, so I'm paying what I can and my parents are helping out.

Naturally, they (and I) are concerned about my ability to function living alone, though I am only about ten minutes away from them. So far I have had problems regulating my food (bingeing) and having my blood sugar too high (Type 2 Diabetes), but that has been about the only issue.

I won't see my new therapist until next month, but I really think I am ready to be done with therapy (23 now and have been in therapy since I was 11). If I terminate the therapeutic relationship now, it's not like I will have invested a lot in our sessions, unlike my previous therapist who I saw for 7 years until we plateaued. I have many reasons for not wanting to see her, and I have reasons for believing I no longer need therapy. I would still continue seeing the psychiatrist.

I've moved out, I'm experiencing some form of independence for the first time in my life, I'm involved in community theatre again, I haven't been hospitalized in over a year, I am thinking about part-time employment if things are still stable toward the end of the year, and I really feel that my life is moving forward and I am as stable as I will get.

It's difficult to adjusting to living alone, but I'm doing well with it. Managed to get groceries, etc, and I'm keeping busy with rehearsals at night.
All in all, things are going well recently. So when I see the therapist next month, I will probably just tell her we're done and thank her for her time.

I guess I'm posting to see if anyone has reached a point where they knew they were well enough to terminate therapy, or if anyone has advice for living alone while having a mental illness. I'm not afraid in my apartment as far as the neighbors, etc, but I am left with my thoughts and worries, and what have you.

Sorry this was so long, thanks for reading.

[Avalon]

I can't say that I ever made the decision to terminate therapy...I just knew it never helped me. But I think you know when you no longer need that support network for the most part...if you don't feel you need it then you probably don't. I left home at 18, on my own and moved to a whole other country and it is probably the best thing I ever did.
I still have the occasional hiccup but being on my own helped me in so many ways.

[Horizon]

Thank you for your reply!

I truly do think I'm ready to terminate therapy.

When I left a long-term program, they told me I was leaving because I wasn't ready to face my problems, when in reality it was because of how horrible the program was and how it was run. And when I left a specialized hospital for DID, I was once again told I was just running away from my problems, when it was just that the hospital wasn't helping and I did not find it necessary, and whenever I told them nicely (while crying) that I wanted to leave, they would medicate me and drop me on my bed and I'd miss half the day (every day).

Hopefully I won't hear the same old "You're running away from your problems/you're just not ready to face your issues."

[Freak3142]

I have no idea about what SSI is. However it sounds like you know what you want and I think if you do hear that your running away from your problems then ask them what are you running away from. Be strong when telling your therapist you want to leave therapy.
I might suggest you don't go in and say right I don't want any more therapy but you actually sit down and explain the coping strategies you have for dealing with stress and then explain how you feel about therapy.
The good thing about therapy is that you can always go back if you do struggle, there is nothing wrong with trying to live without therapy. It might be worth saying I want to try without therapy but you would like an appointment in 3 months then your still on their books and if you do struggle you can go back easier and they will see that your serious about trying it on your own and that you understand your prepared to go back to therapy.
If they are any good then they will offer you support and wish you the best but remind you to come back if you need too.
When I moved out of home (kicked out) I really struggled because I refused any support and refused to admit I wasn't coping and it wasn't until I hit rock bottom that I accepted help. It was the quiet times I couldn't cope with. It wasn't until I got myself plenty of hobbies to keep me busy that I coped with being on my own.
Good luck with it all and if you think your ready to leave therapy then it is worth a try as long as you make sure you don't feel like going back to therapy is failing if you do need too.