Going to therapy high (or tipsy)

qwertykeyboard · Oct 04, 2015, 10:37 AM

Anyone ever gone to therapy high? Any benefits? Have you considered this with your therapist?

Sometimes my T asks some complex questions and I think that id have some better insight if I were high, and perhaps have some "revelations."

On the other hand, people say that it would be a waste if they numbed out the feelings that they were trying to work on. But I think that it would be helpful if you weren't TOO high.

What is your experience?

AllHeart · Oct 04, 2015, 10:45 AM

I would love to go with having had just a "nibble." But I never will because I have to drive myself to and from.

Oct 04, 2015, 10:51 AM

An old T came to see me in the hospital (she worked at the hospital) when I was on a ketamine IV. I'm told that what I said didn't make much sense.

Oct 04, 2015, 11:26 AM

I go to T high most of the time (I get the bus, or walk there). I think it frustrates him, as it definitely numbs the emotions. But he also knows that I don't function too well without it, and that those emotions need to be made more handleable before I try and not numb them all the time!

He's made it clear that he really doesn't like it when clients come to session drunk, and so I've never done that. I have, on occasion, had a drink before a session, but thats usually because I want to piss him off if he's upset me in the previous session. (Cos, like, verbalising that would just be way too mature. *sigh*), and I know he'll be able to smell it on my breath ;p Its my silent and probably completely unknown to him, little protest!

atisketatasket · Oct 04, 2015, 01:05 PM

Not till lately - I'm on heavy painkillers these days. Since I don't normally talk or express emotions in therapy, which is one reason I'm in therapy, it actually made no frickin' difference.

HowDoYouFeelMeow? · Oct 04, 2015, 04:09 PM

Once on accident. I was chain smoking to numb my pain around then. I figured I wasn't allowed to come under the influence and tried not to smoke before seeing T. One day I had therapy at 9 am so I smoked last at 8 am thinking I'd be "regular" in an hour. I didn't feel high, but as soon as I sat down T looked at me and asked if I was high. I said no then quickly switched to I don't think so. She acknowledged that I didn't feel high, but said my eyes were red and glazed over, and asked when I last smoked. I started to panic that she would kick me out. She calmed me down and said that it would be okay for that day because we hadn't talked about it before. I kinda dissociated but am pretty sure she told me I couldn't smoke before sessions or she wouldn't meet with me. By her definition this was all morning before our 9 am sessions. I was shocked by the strictness because that was a long time for me at the time. I managed to mostly comply (had a few 4 am smokes times).

stopdog · Oct 04, 2015, 04:23 PM

The first one I see suggested I take a xanax from a friend (no specific friend -she just believes everyone has xanax lying around) or take a shot before going to appointments because of my level of anxiety. I did not do so - I don't think it a good idea to be impaired around those people. Too dangerous for me.
She asked me about smoking pot (which I have done) I said it made me giggle then sleep - she said seeing me giggle would be something she would like to see. I said I doubted it would be something she ever saw and we left it at that.

velcro003 · Oct 04, 2015, 05:59 PM

i actually considered this today. i might be more willing to open and up and "feel" my feelings if i had a drink before therapy. i walk there, so that wouldn't be an issue. it is a possibility for next week becasuse i've been feeling so ******.

granite1 · Oct 04, 2015, 06:31 PM

i have gone to T after taking a Xanax and sll it did was make it easier not to talk to her and just sit there .not something i feel would be productive unless she is still being the S hit head i have become use to these day

AncientMelody · Oct 04, 2015, 06:33 PM

I've never been high. I don't drink during the day. I drive myself to my appointments.....driving impaired would be pretty stupid for me to do. I have taken an Ativan prior to an appointment if I've had a really tense day but I don't get stoned from the Ativan or even sleepy.

The most impaired I've been has actually been from the anxiety itself. A few times early in my anxiety was so intense it would really rev up my adrenaline and also give me a bit of a euphoria. I'd feel some de realization and my skin would be a bit numb. A weird experience.

LonesomeTonight · Oct 04, 2015, 08:03 PM

I've had a beer before going to see my T or marriage counselor if I was especially stressed about the session. I was maybe slightly buzzed, though definitely not drunk. (I have spoken to both on the phone while drunk though...) Sometimes I think it would help if I could have a session while kinda drunk--might help me be more open to talking about some things. Wish we could have a marriage counseling session at a restaurant/bar we frequent, but our MC already thinks we drink too much, so figure that would be a no-go (we did meet at a coffee shop once, so he's willing to meet outside his office).

nutters · Oct 04, 2015, 09:09 PM

I went to therapy stoned just once and it did make me feel more relaxed and I'm pretty positive my T knew. Recently after a very sensitive topic I said to my T I don't think I can promise coming in here to discuss this topic further without at least a few drinks and T basically said just don't come in bad enough where you shouldn't be driving. That said, I have not been in therapy stoned again or have (yet) under the influence of alcohol.

Xanax I see completely differently and I do take it before going into session sometimes because my anxiety gets so bad but I'm not taking an abnormal amount.

Oct 04, 2015, 09:22 PM

I've gone in after a few drinks - wouldn't do that again. Not sure if she knew but it wasn't a productive session.

I've gone in on benzos, usually if I've taken them, I'm too distressed for much discussion.

The 3 weeks I went in high, my pdoc said I made the most progress.

I was surprised too...

divine1966 · Oct 05, 2015, 05:18 AM

I've never been high so I have no idea how would that feel. I don't drink much at all but when I do I get very sleepy so it wouldn't serve any purpose. I am rather hyper normally as it is, I act like I am on something to begin wth lol so I don't need to take anything ha

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ThingWithFeathers · Oct 05, 2015, 07:05 AM

Never. I have spoken with T on the phone and emailed while stoned, but have never turned up to a session under the influence. I do, however, take an extra tranquilizer when I have to see my mother!

lunatic soul · Oct 05, 2015, 07:12 PM

I have seen my T when I was on alcohol, when I was on xanax, when I was on tramadol, when I was smoked pot but I cant say I was high, he didnt even recognize I wasn't sober because Im acting pretty normal except when I took too much xanax I was really slow. When I did it, i did it to feel okay at session, it doesn't change anything in my behaviour or talking but when I take tramadol I become very talkative and sometimes I say things I didnt want to say but it doesn't change anything in my sessions because I'm honest also when Im sober. It didn't help me to talk about difficult topics but it helped me to feel lil bit better.
If I went to session really high my T would be mad and if I were really high he surely would recognize it and I don;t want to get in trouble.

nottrustin · Oct 05, 2015, 07:30 PM

I have never been high so definitely not in T. I have thought of having a drink or 2 before going to therapy. I never have as I won't drive after having a drink. I discussed the temptation with T. She said if I did have a drink before a session to please let know just so she can be aware.

That being said I HAVE talked to her on the phone when I had quite a bit to drink. If she knew I was intoxicated she never said anything.

junkDNA · Oct 05, 2015, 07:33 PM

ive talked to my T when i was drunk.. he knew i was drunk before i got there. this was in a treatment facility program so i was breaking the guidelines. ive never gone to see my T high but there were times that i was using when i was seeing him. i dont do drugs or drink anymore.

Daystrom · Oct 05, 2015, 10:48 PM

I went in drunk once. Was in a very dark place at that point. I stayed composed through the session but could hear my own words slurring and admitted at the start that I was sloshed. The experience brought out the pain more starkly than ever and I could see she saw it, and at the end of the hour she told me with concern in her voice that she was very glad I was coming in to see her. I was touched. But I was embarrassed afterward, and swore not to do that again.