[Standup2me]

My Pdoc wants me to try therapy

I don't know if I want to.

I am afraid. I don't know what to expect.

All advice appreciated

[ManicIcarus]

Originally Posted by Standup2me

My Pdoc wants me to try therapy

I don't know if I want to.

I am afraid. I don't know what to expect.

All advice appreciated

Finding a good therapist is like finding a good friend. You find a therapist that you can trust and work with, so you can get comfortable talking with them.

Don't be discouraged if you don't find someone who fits that description the first time. If you don't connect with your therapist, try another.

If you can, give it a shot.

Originally Posted by Standup2me

My Pdoc wants me to try therapy

I don't know if I want to.

I am afraid. I don't know what to expect.

All advice appreciated

Why are you afraid? Have you discussed your fears with your pdoc?

[Victoria'smom]

Well, with my therapist go through the last two weeks my moods, med changes,and things like that then whatever sticks out to her or whatever I want to ***** about.

[wildflowerchild25]

What exactly scares you about it? There are many differn kinds you can try if you don't want to do traditional talk therapy. Some people don't want to sit there and rehash old traumas, and in that case you can try CBT or DBT instead.

I go to therapy about once every three weeks. I don't like to see her more often because I get overly attached. But she's an impartial party that I can trust to set me straight. Like right now I've been thinkingy husband is using my medication to control me. I'm anxious to talk to her because she will be able to tell me if that's rational or not.

[swheaton]

I love my therapist. In just a short time, I've learned a couple of great coping skills for my anxiety. It is self directed in a way; she asked what we should start working on next and I picked the anger and grief I have with my moms death in 2009. I know it's going to open a huge can of worms, but I'm excited to finally talk.

A therapist, a really good one, will gain your trust and help you. Don't be afraid.

[Standup2me]

The fear, I think, is coming from trust issues...I tend to get bouts of
paranoia

The fear is also coming from not wanting to know what is inside my head

It might sound silly, but what is the objective of going?

Pdoc is pushing hard for me to get into therapy

[wildflowerchild25]

I think the objective is whatever you want it to be. For me I want to develop better control of my anger. I also want to work throug why it is so hard for me to accept that I might have a real condition and why I don't accept consistent treatment.

For others it may be to simply gain new coping skills or to change negative thinking.

[Victoria'smom]

It might sound silly, but what is the objective of going?

Original reason
Me: to deal with mood swings with out Medication, to stay out of the hospital
Therapist: to find out why my file says psychosis and see how bipolar effects my life
-------
Then
Me: stay out of the hospital
Therapist: get me stable, and accepting meds
------
Multiple goal changes
--------
Current goals
Me: stop my paranoia from destroying my life, prepare for move.
T: teach reality checks,

[Standup2me]

I see the P.doc tomorrow....so...when he brings up therapy..I am going
to ask him a lot more questions about it

You are all convincing me to give it a try

[Victoria'smom]

Is there any questions we can answer?

[doyoutrustme]

Originally Posted by Standup2me

I see the P.doc tomorrow....so...when he brings up therapy..I am going
to ask him a lot more questions about it

You are all convincing me to give it a try

Does your psychiatrist do psychotherapy?

[littlemiss44]

Therapy saves my life. It's like a life saver. I'm able to process current or past issues safely. I get alot out of it. Dbt therapy works great along with therapy. I can tell my therapist thoughts I'm having and she can tell me if they are rational or not. Give it a shot. You'll find alot of relief and able to process what is going on in yr life. Good luck!

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

[LacunaCoiler]

I totally feel you on the trust issues. I have HUGE trust issues and to top it all off, I'm extremely paranoid when off my meds. And this was the number one reason I fought my girlfriend and my pdoc for a year and a half on therapy. After the first two therapist that in my mind I couldn't trust because they were all in on it (I can't remember what the it actually was now) I finally found my current therapist. It took me about 7-8 sessions before I finally began to trust her and share bits of information here and there. She was so patient with me and that's something I love about her. She'll question and pry but when she see's I'm not handling it or tell her that I don't want to talk about it she'll drop it but she does note it so we can go back to it at a later date.

Another reason I didn't want to go to therapy (and on some days still don't) is because I was worried about what I'd find if I opened up and began digging. I'll be honest, it's not easy sometimes and sometimes I just don't want to go back but I do because it's helping more than it's not. And other times I hate myself for what we talk about but she helps me with that too!

Though, everyone in my life says I'm doing better since I started it so that's got to be something.

[Standup2me]

doyou - no my Pdoc does not, he will need to send me somewhere else for it

areyou - how did you find a therapist that understands bipolar? Or is she a therapist for ...I am not too sure how to word this, so forgive the stumbling...
is a therapist more centered on brain connections to thoughts?

I've been fighting my Pdoc for 5 years on this

[Victoria'smom]

how did you find a therapist that understands bipolar? my therapist enjoys working in the mobile crisis unit and the ER so its really helpful to what I need.

is a therapist more centered on brain connections to thoughts? it depends on the therapist

[Standup2me]

Well, today is my Pdoc appointment

Maybe I might, perhaps, double-maybe let him know that
therapy would be okay

Maybe

[Standup2me]

Went to see P.doc yesterday

You all have convinced me to try therapy

Wish me luck

Good luck on the therapy. I hope you will find it helpful. My therapist does CBT, and it is helpful to challenge my powerful negative thoughts (if only for a minute).

[ChickyHines]

I think you would do well.. At least you can admit the fear .. Most make some other lame excuse -- they just don't have the courage

[AllyIsHopeful]

Originally Posted by Standup2me

The fear, I think, is coming from trust issues...I tend to get bouts of
paranoia

The fear is also coming from not wanting to know what is inside my head

It might sound silly, but what is the objective of going?

Pdoc is pushing hard for me to get into therapy

You could try CBT which usually does not delve into your deepest thoughts/fears and does not require revisiting your past at all. It focuses on the now, and minor changes you could make here and there to feel better.

Medication cannot do all of the work, no matter what mental illness a person suffers. Therapy is there to help us cope better with symptoms, acceptance, and living a more fulfilling life.

[Trapped25]

Originally Posted by Standup2me

My Pdoc wants me to try therapy

I don't know if I want to.

I am afraid. I don't know what to expect.

All advice appreciated

I totally sympathize with you on this one!! It is very scary to open up to a total stranger about very deep, dark feelings/thoughts you may be having. You will know right away upon meeting the therapist if you like him/her or not and if not, that is completely ok. Trust your instincts: if your gut twinges and you think to yourself, "This isn't right...he/she doesn't get me or where I'm coming from" then keep searching. Think of the therapist as your mentor who can help you reshape your thought patterns to help you feel less crappy. To provide some hope: I love my therapist and wouldn't know what to do without her guidance and challenges! Best of luck!

[marmaduke]

I've never had a therapist so I don't know much about that.

I do know that for many years I could not face facts, not admit the truth I ran away from it.
Then one day I remember it was my 40th birthday, my best friend rang to wish me happy birthday, she said ;

'This ain't no dummy run mate, this is the real thing'

That day was the day I decided I couldn't carry on like this any more and started a 'self help' course of therapy as I had no money. Read books, researched on the internet.
What was wrong with me, why was I so faulty?

I don't know if this is usual with therapy but I found that at first I felt much worse rather than better, as painful memories and realizations came to the surface.

I had to stop for a while as it was all too much.

Then I started again, with extra determination to change things.
And now, I feel much better many demons have been exorcized. I am in control now.

I have learnt much.
I learnt that my mother was a malignant narcissist (she ticks the boxes) this knowledge enabled me to forgive myself, to let go of shame and guilt. I now know that I was not faulty, she was.

Now I am (almost) normal, I do have the odd bad day still and I take an SSRI which helps me .

So I think therapy is a real good idea, it is very important to find the right therapist, one that 'gets you' if one don't fit, get a different one. The earlier you start the better IMO.
Be brave

[Standup2me]

P.doc recommended CBT, and gave me the name of a therapist who.
specializes in people who are bipolar, and those who are schizophrenic.

I might even call, on Monday and make an appointment

[Standup2me]

I did it.
I have my first therapy session tomorrow.
I'm a little scared (okay, I lie, I am a lot scared)

Thanks so much to everyone for being so supportive