Is it ok if you go at your...

T app drunk?

my T said its weird but not a problem…

anyone had any experience of this kind?

I think its good to do at least once.

Eta - it was like truth serum for me. Im also a lightweight when it comes to drinking and rarely do it.

I have no idea what my T would do, but now I want to know. My gut says she would be pissed (American version) if I showed up pissed (British version), but maybe that's just my maternal transference talking. She would definitely want to talk about what it means, either then or when I'm sober again.

I went to 1 appointment with T and 2 appointments with Emdr T having had one of those nips, I am pretty lightweight so while not drunk I definitely was feeling it. I found it helped me put a wall up because I was in a very bad place and consequently upset with the therapist.

I spoke to T about it after the one time she asked me if it ever happened again to please tell her because it woul d effect the session and what we discussed. She felt they my processing and work would be negatively effected. She felt it would be better use of our time to discuss why I felt the need to drink before coming in.

I have never told EMDR T

My T’s initial reaction would be scared and he would want to know why I got drunk. I am pretty sure he would take my keys and tell me to find someone to come get me. After it sunk in he would be really disappointed in me. The rest would depend on what I drank. I am a crying drunk no matter what I drink but if I drink certain things I get seductive. My aunt gets very violent... so depending on how drunk you were and what reaction you have to alcohol T would need to respond to those behaviors as well. I don’t think T would be angry or terminate me or anything too extreme.

Nope, not for me at least, but I don't drink alcohol so......

No, I wouldn't for a couple reasons.

1. The main one is that I don't drink.
2. I am not sure the appointment would be as effective if you're drunk.

Nope.

1. That would mean I drove drunk. Not cool.
2. It would waste my time and money.
3. It would NOT have been received well at all by any of my therapists (for the above reasons).

But I'm not a drinker, so it was never an issue.

My T knows I often have a beer before session and is OK with it. I have a pretty high tolerance, and it's one beer, so it doesn't actually affect me much. It's really more a psychological thing at this point--he and I were just discussing that Monday, in fact (it started when I'd had a panic attack in session with ex-T and another with ex-MC, and that felt sort of like a waste of a session, because they spent their time calming me down, so it was like, "Well, if I have a drink, maybe I won't have a panic attack." It's likely more a placebo effect at this point). I think he did say once not to show up drunk, which I wouldn't. I'd be too worried about the lack of inhibition and saying something I'd regret. Plus if I was really drunk, it would likely waste the session. (I would be curious to see what my T is like when he's drunk, but that's a completely different thing...)

L just mentioned this yesterday as an example of when she would do behaviour chain analysis. She teaching me this skill and I felt she was insistent that I work on yesterday. She said she wasn't insistent and would only be in certain circumstances: showing up drunk, constantly missing sessions, etc. None of which I would do. I personally would suggest not showing up drunk. I feel it would inhibit ones ability to really work on issues.

This has been a really enlightening thread to read to see the various roles alcohol plays in people's lives. I only day drink socially (eating out or parties or I don't know...brewery tours) so it never occurred to me to show up to therapy after a drink. I guess unless I went straight from an event where there was alcohol served. I have gone to my therapist's hungover though (and told him so). He laughed.

I always got to my appointment early, sat in the car had the drink and then went to my appointment. Not something I even remotely advise but ai have done it.

Has anybody discussed the use of benzodiazepines right before a therapy appointment?

T ans I had this same essentially the same discussion we did with alcohol. I very rarely take them in general maybe, 30 tabs in a year if even that.

She explained that they could also effect our appointment so would want to know at the beginning of our appointment so she could tailor it accordingly

No, it is most certainly not okay.

As for benzodiazepines, I would never take them before therapy. For me, they numb me out purposely. They are only used for potential high stressors or anxiety attacks or breakdowns when I do NOT have immediate support. My ex-Pdoc told me that 1. They're addicting so use sparingly and 2. They do not allow your mind to process trauma and can actually make things like PTSD worse.

I take benzo’s somewhat regularly in a small dose. I have never actually shown up to a session drunk, I am not much of a drinker. I have shown up on a benzo though. Low doses take the edge off my anxiety without much of a side effect. Higher doses and I can get agitated and nasty. Pdoc said if they interfered with my work with T I would be off of them. So far they have not. If I take them before T though the anxiety is unrelated to T. It would be unacceptable to him that I was that upset about seeing him. He would immediately take a different approach or do anything in his power to help me feel safe and calm.

The 2 reasons you gave are exactly the reason I take them very sparingly. Both T and pdoc actually would like me take them more often.

I've always told T I never would, while at the same time harbouring a secret wish to do just that. It seems wrong and I guess I would worry T would refuse to see me drunk, plus there's a fear that I would get out of control and cross a boundary. But I'd still like to. I'm much less inhibited when drunk.

I would never show up drunk. I would never suggest it. I don’t drink at all.

I had a double whisky beforehand, about a month ago. Anxiety was through the roof and I had been drinking heavily in general, around that time.

I had an hour’s train ride to get to T, though, so it has pretty much worn off by the time I arrived. I did wonder if he smelled it at all...

I didn’t feel it impacted that session in particular.

I think he would be concerned if I showed up drunk, and then we would have to spend the session talking about it, which would likely be a waste of time and money.

I had about half a drink before therapy once. I also almost shed tears that session, and I thought my T didn't notice. When I admitted I had a little bit to drink, she goes "aha, that's why the tears were there!" lol. That would be my limit though, I could never go in drunk or even buzzed.