[haunted]

Tomorrow I have my first session with a psych doc. My head is spinning, my stomach turning and I have no clue why I'm such a nervous wreck. This is supposed to be a good thing right? I have so many things I want to get out, I've written some stuff down but I feel like it's all going to fly out the window! AAAARRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ECHOES]

Deep relaxing breaths... you're going to be fine. It's absolutely okay to be nervous.

Are you going to be seeing a therapist or a psychiatrist (for medication)?

[haunted]

A psych for meds, don't know yet if I'll be seeing just her or someone else for therapy. I'll try the deep breathing though with my luck it'll cause me to hyperventilate

breath iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn ooooooooooouuuuuuuuuttttttt.....



you'll do fine. It's your first appt, no one is expecting you to perform or go over the top. i hope it goes well.

(((haunted)))

[haunted]

Thanks everybody. I know I'm all worked up for nothing and I'm breathing. Slowly. Hopefully I'll have a positive update.

[haunted]

well, I think the appt. went o.k. I'm not really sure. I was put on effexor for the depression. She said that she wants me in therapy to learn how to relax and how not to beat myself up over things that can't be changed. However, she wants to wait for another month to see how the meds work. This confuses me. I think I can deal for another 30 days, heck I've been dealing with it my whole life but I really did think I would be in therapy before that. Any thoughts?

[splitimage]

Most psych drugs take a few weeks to kick in, so the 30 days is probably to see if the effexor is working for you. She may want to see how much of the beating yourself up is a symptom of the depression that responds to meds.

Good luck with the effexor.

--spltitimage

[Perna]

Another point is that therapy going well can depend on meds going well; the meds can help you during therapy to pay attention and focus on what's important, etc.

[sunrise]

haunted, good news your appt went well. You could use the month until you start therapy to research and look for the T you would like to see. It can take a little time to identify one that you wish to see. Then make the appointment. Sometimes the first appointment is not available immediately, so you could even schedule next week for several weeks in the future. Then you will be all set when the pdoc gives you the green light.

i had to wait 3 weeks i think once i called for an appt. So yeah, like sunrise said, start now. And honestly, ask T's if you can meet them briefly, some will, some wont. without a fee i mean. Either way, meeting a T for the first time isn't exactly starting therapy. It took a couple of appts before i felt like we were doing anything more than "hi." It's all very formal in the beginning.

So, get online and check out what T's are in your area... find out what you can. Ask about orientation, billing, policies, age/gender if it matters to you... think of a list of questions to ask a potential T. A month will go before you know it.