dreading my cognitive therapy session
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Darren John
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Tue Apr 10, 2007 5:37 pm
i`ve been suffering agoraphobia for years now and have have every treatment going.three years ago i started cognitive therapy and my phobia was travelling on motorways which always ended up in me having a panic attack.The therapist on the first lesson took me straight on the roads and i thought i was going to be unable to do it but he went in the fast lane with me and was doing 100mph.To my great suprise i managed to do it without a panic attack.The following day thinking it was cured i went the same route with my wife and family and had the mother of all panic attacks to the point where is was scared to go back to cognitive therapy again.Since then my agoraphobia has got so bad i cant hardly go out the house without panicking.I decided to have a go at cognitive therapy again and was on the way to my appointment when i had another panic attack so couldnt make it.The therapist rang me and has said she would make an appointment to come to my house on tuesday at 11.30.I am absolutely dreading her coming knowing that she is going to make me face my fears.I know its the thing to do but my anxiety at the moment is getting worse day by day ahead of my appointment
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Guest
Darren,
Do you have this program? I'm just curious if you do or not. If not, you have to get it, work it all the way thru and watch your world open up. There is always a payoff of our behavior and we use our anxiety as a excuse to "not do" something that will take us out of our comfort zone. If you faced your fears and got over them, what else would you have to tackle and deal with that you've been avoiding ??? I feel your pain, been there myself. Thru this program you learn that anxiety attacks and panic attacks are nothing to fear. If they were going to hurt us or make us go crazy, we would already be crazy or dead. We're arent either of them so where to now?? React a different way ( talking positive to yourself ) while putting ourselves in a small anxious situation over and over. Constantly write down your negative thoughts and then write a replacement that is positive. This teaches our brains to think differently and positively. We have to train ourselves to think differently and it take a little work. The reason we get this way is our thoughts, whether we realize it or not we are spending our day with defeating, helpless, scary, demeaning and untrue thoughts and it's only going to make us anxious when we do nothing to deflate or diss them. Getting mad, scared or believing them just keeps us anxious. These thoughts are lies and they need to be treated as such. Try small steps at a time when going against your limitations and only do them when you have a clear understanding or how to talk to yourself during them. I have a feeling you're going to do well or you wouldn't be here looking for advice.
Do you have this program? I'm just curious if you do or not. If not, you have to get it, work it all the way thru and watch your world open up. There is always a payoff of our behavior and we use our anxiety as a excuse to "not do" something that will take us out of our comfort zone. If you faced your fears and got over them, what else would you have to tackle and deal with that you've been avoiding ??? I feel your pain, been there myself. Thru this program you learn that anxiety attacks and panic attacks are nothing to fear. If they were going to hurt us or make us go crazy, we would already be crazy or dead. We're arent either of them so where to now?? React a different way ( talking positive to yourself ) while putting ourselves in a small anxious situation over and over. Constantly write down your negative thoughts and then write a replacement that is positive. This teaches our brains to think differently and positively. We have to train ourselves to think differently and it take a little work. The reason we get this way is our thoughts, whether we realize it or not we are spending our day with defeating, helpless, scary, demeaning and untrue thoughts and it's only going to make us anxious when we do nothing to deflate or diss them. Getting mad, scared or believing them just keeps us anxious. These thoughts are lies and they need to be treated as such. Try small steps at a time when going against your limitations and only do them when you have a clear understanding or how to talk to yourself during them. I have a feeling you're going to do well or you wouldn't be here looking for advice.
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Guest
Is this the same counselor that you had last time? I would question the way that they handled the driving bit. From what I have read they should treat you in baby steps - like first have you drive around a parking lot. Next session, maybe go on a quiet street, etc. I would definitely ask this counselor to ease into your therapy! Good luck!!
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Guest
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Frank in Japan
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Wed Aug 16, 2006 2:40 am
hi scarymom
its a different counceller this time and on the phone she was very abrupt and to the point.She sounded like there will be no messing around and straight into it.I dont know if thats the way they have to deal with it but it sure put the frighteners on me baby steps sounds good lol i know that each time i have a panic attack its sets me back to square one so i hope i`m okay with the session
its a different counceller this time and on the phone she was very abrupt and to the point.She sounded like there will be no messing around and straight into it.I dont know if thats the way they have to deal with it but it sure put the frighteners on me baby steps sounds good lol i know that each time i have a panic attack its sets me back to square one so i hope i`m okay with the session
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Guest
Awesome Darren, you are on your way. I agree with scarycmom as well, make sure your therapist knows that this session is for you and helping you, show her this program too.
Session 3 is probably the most important and at times hardest to get but it seems as you have a headsup on it all
We're all here for each other so post away on you're experiences and tell yourself a million times a day that panic attacks are harmless..
Session 3 is probably the most important and at times hardest to get but it seems as you have a headsup on it all
We're all here for each other so post away on you're experiences and tell yourself a million times a day that panic attacks are harmless..-
Guest
I went through CBT many times, but I could not handle the form of CBT that your therapist uses. They are using exposure therapy, a form of "flooding". Many people cannot handle that. My therapist used a different approach called systematic desensitization. This is where you visualize the scary situation and replacing it with a calm relaxing scene in your mind. You also use relaxation techniques. Only then, when your mind can handle the situation, will the therapist take you to the actual scary event so that you can try it physically as well as mentally. Perhaps you may discuss this with your therapist as there are many types of CBT. Good luck to you! Bob.
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Guest
Different things work for different people but you sound a lot like me. If I knew I had to face that on Tuesday I wouldn't enjoy one minute of my life leading up to that!! Are you sure this will work for you. I don't mean to instill doubts in you but as the cd's say, you're supposed to be enjoying the "precious present moments" are you able to do that knowing what you have to face on Tuesday. I think therapists are great, but I am always cautious on seeing them for anxiety because most of them have never dealt with it personally and they think they can use some "tough love" on you to get you over it. Look how long you've been living this way, are you sure that you can get over it in a session like they're trying to make you do?