Intoxicated in session

stopdog, that made my day~~!

A couple of times within one week I took a klonopin before session. I was determined not slither into emotionality. I wanted to approach my issues with clear and analytical mind. I wanted to be in control. I wanted to be on top of things. I wanted to face my demons with a kind of determination and I felt that by getting emotional, I wouldn't be able to easily tackle them.

The following week I told my T I was "under the influence". She didn't tell me not to do that but she requested that I inform her if I do it again.

When I've called her before session at a later date asking if it wouldn't be better to take some klonopin so I can get through session, she advises against it. She tells me it's my choice but she explains that most progress can be made when we allow ourselves to feel our emotions.

How alcohol or recreational drugs affect therapy, I have no idea. I suspect they're a bad idea also.

In my case, I really was not not thinking about it. I meet this friend about once every few months for lunch and we have a beer. I did not put beer, no food and therapy together that day. In order to keep my pre therapy anxiety down I usually try to be with people just before the appointment because it keeps me from being able to focus on how horrible it will be. I was not intoxicated or even really very buzzed, I had only had two half pints of beer in a two hour time frame, but I was certainly more relaxed than usual and I did smile. Something I rarely do around the therapist. The therapist I see has actively tried to get me to take something to ease the anxiety over just getting into the office.

The one session that I went totally drunk- I remember just sitting there crying the entire time in session. Don't remember anything else but crying. But T didn't know. I don't know how she didn't smell the vodka on me. But as I said-it was a dumb idea and I would never ever do it again. I might eventually come clean about it to her though, just to clear my guilty mind about it.

I had a shot of tequila and smoked before I went to my last appt with T. I was still completely sober though so it didn't matter.

I had a client show up falling down drunk to a sentencing hearing for a DUI. Literally falling down and I had to help her stand there in front of the judge. My judge also would not give me a continuance. My client was supposed to get probation, but ended up with jail time. Starting right that minute.

If a client showed up under the influence of alcohol or was heavily under the influence of any type of medication where they were impaired and I noticed, they get sent home, immediately, with a cab called and keys taken.

So many ways that being intoxicated is worse than doing so with a therapist.
I sometimes thought how much easier law would be without clients. I would not be surprised to find that therapists are the same way.

with mT - I haven't been! he has been when i was on the phone once

Wellll..... my 'normal' state is impaired...
Then again, really getting into the session and opening up also feels impaired..

Early in my 5 years of therapy, I took Xanax before a few sessions. I told her and she was just curious about why I would do that. I was way too uptight and wanted to loosen up to engage more. My sessions are in the evening. At one point I thought I hit on the perfect combo - Xanax to chill from my day plus a cup of coffee to make me talkative. Oh yeah, brilliant.

sometimes my anxiety is through the roof and the closer the time gets to the appt. the worse the anxiety, xanax is what helps with my driving there. i would be in a wreck if i didn't take it!

Why take their keys??

[edited to add: I just realised that you meant car keys, not house keys.]

I've read that when one alter drinks, the others don't necessarily get drunk.
Is that true?

I went hopped up on percocet once. I had had surgery a few weeks before, and I took 2 to see if it would help me open up. It did. He mentioned at the end of the session that I was "much clearer than usual". lol. I never told him.

Maybe she should have a drink.
Just kidding.

Wouldn't it be contempt of court to show up drunk?

I have gone a few times after having a glass of wine with lunch, guess that doesn't qualify as intoxicated. I'll have to admit that I really want to try going in with a bit of a buzz, just to see if I would be more open. If I knew that t would not notice, then I would do it.

Stormy-you take their car keys away if u make sure they get into the cab and the cab drives off? When are they able to retrieve their keys? What if they have work the next day?

I agree taking them away is a good call-but I'm more wondering how they get then back prior to the next session.

We have an emergency contact on file that we get a hold of to come get their keys and someone paired with them to take the keys and vehicle to the client. If we cannot get a hold of the emergency contact, we have a manager from another program we work with that does home based visits go by their home early the next morning to give them their keys and transport them back to get their car.

I hope you weren't working on a DUI case?

I had a couple drinks back when I was an independent contractor and didn't have any work that day and could walk to T's, etc. but I told her right away (I don't always like the feeling of intoxication) and she asked me if I thought we should continue and I said, "yes" but felt she was a bit disapproving and never did that again.

I would never show up for session impaired. I think it would be a waste of time and money. But I feel it would really show major disrespect for my T. And I actually have tremendous respect for my T. I do not like for my patients to show up impaired. It takes the focus off of their physical complaints and makes me focus on " why did they come in f%@ked up???"

I'm too afraid to find out.
I'm pretty sure I'd be sent home... and then the session after be battered into the ground about it.