[KittenLover125]

I've had problems with anxiety from a young age. However, I personally think there's also a reason as to why the anxiety became increasingly worse (bullying in school, both physically and verbally). However, my parents are essentially forcing me into therapy, claiming that because they are professionals they know my feelings better than my own. Keep in mind I have only seen this therapist 3 times. I'm currently having some un diagnosed GI problems (for now) and it's actually consuming my life. I admit, I have not been to school in a month. The therapist is implying that my medical problems are pretty much nonexistent, simply because some tests have come up negative. But what she does not seem to understand is that the pain and the fainting is actually, well, kind of painful.

During the sessions, I have tried to bring up the topic of the past, yet she does not seem to take any of it into consideration.

Possible trigger:

I spoke to her about how when I was much younger I was tied up and whipped, on school grounds, with a speed rope. I know for a fact that it was an event that left me damaged for the 8 years that followed.

But in response to that, she said, and I quote, "Well, that's in the past. So it doesn't matter anymore." She repeatedly tells me that she is going to get my parents involved in everything despite the fact that she has promised to keep everything confidential unless my safety was to be in danger. Every time I leave her office I break down at home, usually consumed with anger at her indifference or wanting to do something impulsive.

Anyone's thoughts will be seriously appreciated, and I apologize for the lack of structure in this post. I can always provide more details if anyone's confused.

Are your parents willing to help you find a different therapist? This one sounds clueless. Your GI problems, if the tests are negative, would seem to relate to your anxiety and stressors from bullying, etc. It's hard when you're underage and don't have much control over who you get help from, but if your parents can come around to changing therapists or if you have an adult ally (teacher, school counselor, neighbor) who can talk to them and maybe recommend another, that might be one way to go.

Don't give up, though. If not now, when you're a legal adult, find a good therapist and create a good life for yourself.

I agree that you need a T who will keep things confidential for you. Can your parents understand that this is important and necessary for you to enable you to open up to a T? Sorry about your health issues, I have health problems too that are also misunderstood by my T.

[JustShakey]

(((KittenLover)))
I agree that your GI problems are likely causes by stress and anxiety. My body does the same thing - it happens because I numb my emotions and my body 'lets it out' in that way.
The breaking down at home is likely a delayed response to what you are feeling, perhaps numbing, while you are with your T. It's actually not a bad thing, though I'm sure it feels horrible. It's a release. Better to let it out with crying etc. than to stuff it into your body.
I know it's hard to feel like you have no control over your own therapy. It's such a personal thing and the threat of parental involvement must feel really invalidating. I know it would for me. Maybe you could try bringing that up with your T?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[dj315]

You absolutely need a different therapist. The only thing that helped my anxiety get better--I was having multiple panic attacks almost every day and had horrible GI symptoms that were ruining my health like you--was when I started being honest about my past and my therapist didn't try to squash it just because "it was in the past". You need someone who will let you process it. It can be a very long process, but it has to be done for it to get better. Not to mention a therapist should respect a client's wishes to keep their family as involved (or not involved) as they want--Unless you're planning on harming yourself or someone else obviously, but it doesn't sound like you are. I don't know how old you are or how much of a say you feel like you have in choosing a therapist with your parents and everything, but I would try to be assertive in this. And then like licketysplit said, once you're a legal adult try to start making your own choices that you feel like are in your best interest. It's easier said and done though, I know.

[KittenLover125]

Oh, I forgot to mention, I was diagnosed with GERD when I was much younger (8 years old), way before the bullying and anxiety was ever an issue. It was never well controlled (mostly relied on antacids), and has only gotten to the point of dysphagia this past month, which has resulted in what I think is rapid weight loss. I mentioned this to my therapist, and the conversation went like this:
T: "I don't think you lost much weight."
Me: "I'm the same weight as I was when I was 11, my doctor checked my medical records."
T: "That's long term weight loss, that doesn't matter."
Around here, I was getting kind of annoyed, and said very simply, "I've lost more than 10 pounds in less than a month. I'm talking short term weight loss," which she responded with "I don't know, I didn't check your medical records." And that was the end of it.

Also, I feel like my therapist is a bit... Controlling? She doesn't exactly fully grasp how complex my personality is, but has already begun giving me tasks. While I realize this can be normal, she's told my mom that I should get a tutor (despite the fact that school is really not that academically challenging), asked my mom to get details from my school AND choir for her, and told my mom to send me out the house because, I quote, "she doesn't have any medical reason to stay at home." I've got no problem with hanging out with my best friend, but because he is male and I'm female, my parents always seem suspicious when I want to spend time with him, and so are his parents. (We are not dating nor do we have any intentions to.) This has made me less eager to meet him, but we still remain very close through video chatting (even when I was across the world for a month, we managed to talk every single day despite the time difference.)

Sorry this is so long, but lastly, I have trouble standing up from a sitting or lying position. I get dizzy and my eyesight goes blurry, and I usually collapse. I've got a lot of bruises on my legs and butt (hehe, I said the word butt. Yes I can be immature ) I'm apparently just unlucky enough to be one of the adolescent girls to have postural hypotension, but I think I'll grow out of it, so I'm not worried. It's just annoying, because a. It hurts, b. it's embarrassing, and c. Some people get very alarmed when they see it. Makes it hard for me to function normally, and my T doesn't get why. My parents don't want me to change therapists because they believe that just because she works at a good hospital, she's a good match for me. They have told me that I am the one who's not thinking straight and that a therapist will "fix" me. Grr.

Also, thank you thank you thank you to everyone who responded!

Wow, where to start! Anxiety (and depression too) often occur along with GI problems. There are serotonin receptors in the gut just as there are in the brain. You can google "gut brain connection" and find plenty of information about it.

I don't understand why your GI problems aren't getting treated. I do understand why they have to look for a diagnosis up to a point, but if they don't find one and you have anxiety problems, surely they will treat the symptoms?

I had GI problems in my late teens, really even before I was having anything more periodic anxiety problems. It's not a new problem.

As to the "that's in the past so it doesn't matter any more".......just wow.

It does sound like you need a different therapist. Even if you don't really want to go to therapy, if you have a therapist you can trust, you can look at it as an opportunity for personal growth.

Hugs.

[Ididitmyway]

Hi KL,

I am sorry you are stuck with the therapist who doesn't seem to know what she is doing. Like others, I would strongly suggest you to talk to your parents and to ask them to find a different T for you. Since they insist that you have to be in therapy, the T has to be someone you can trust and who can build rapport with you, otherwise the therapy won't work, and this is something that's important for your parents to understand.

I had a friend, who insisted that her teenage daughter should see a therapist, but who also understood that the therapist has to be someone her daughter can trust. She told the girl that they would keep looking until they find someone she likes. So while she insisted on her seeing a therapist, she respected her right to choose the therapist.

Talk to your parents nicely and explain that you need a therapist you can like and trust, otherwise therapy won't work. Good luck.