[Simcha]

Yes, I throw things in his office sometimes.
It's not my fault he was in the way... okay, well, maybe I aimed at him.
He's lucky it was just a couch pillow.

When you have ADHD, therapy is sorta like camp! But... then you go all off-topic and derail and freak out all over when your anxiety takes over...
wee!! :Head-Spin:

Oh yes, I pay for it later in session, through the backdoor as I like to say--damn secondary anxiety disorders and their susceptibility to T's pickax.

He's a sneaky bastard sometimes. :icon_twisted:
But I must confess, I have grown fond of T. I have never been able to talk to someone who is as understanding as he is (and I've had other ****** therapists that don't hold a frikkin candle and I'm surprised graduated at all). And I like that I can tell him directly when I don't think he understands, no offense taken. How rare.

I can say to him---"hey T, your a sneaky bastard." and still have complete respect for him. Not every T can do therapy with ADHD adults---believe me, they are a special bunch, and quite rare. I am damn lucky with this one. If you have ADHD and anxiety disorders (heck, if you even just have ADHD and are cognizant of your ADHD behaviors/thoughts/symptoms, most ADHD people aren't that aware, IMO). Ignorance, is not always bliss now is it?

For the safety of T, T's office, self, and random strangers, I will however make an effort to take my ADHD medicine BEFORE going to session.

(((((((((((((((( simcha )))))))))))))))))

It is awesome that you are so fond of your T. And I love that you can tell him when he doesn't understand you and he doesn't take offense. I think having a T that we like and respect and can disagree with makes a HUGE difference.

I often have the urge to throw things in T. I remember once that I desperately wanted to throw a book at him (by Irvin Yalom! lol) and I told him and he offered to move so I could throw it at his chair (uh, no, I want to throw it at YOU, T!). At my most recent session I told him I wanted to throw my (full) water bottle across the room and he gently reached over, took the water bottle, and replaced it with a nice, soft pillow.

Good to see you over here on the new boards!!

[Kiya]

Hehehe... Wow - you are lucky. I am also lucky. Out of all the scary, freaky T's in the world, I am beginning to see just how lucky I am. T tells me that I can tell her she's wrong or doesn't get it - but I'm not there yet. I can't. I can't even throw things at T when they want me too. Last t did want me too - any time I was offended by things she said she wanted me to throw a soft ball at her. No way. Finally i did get to the point where I could mime getting one and throwing it... and she would mime getting hit with it. heh. Glad you have such a great t =)

[Simcha]

Originally Posted by earthmama

(((((((((((((((( simcha )))))))))))))))))

It is awesome that you are so fond of your T. And I love that you can tell him when he doesn't understand you and he doesn't take offense. I think having a T that we like and respect and can disagree with makes a HUGE difference.

I often have the urge to throw things in T. I remember once that I desperately wanted to throw a book at him (by Irvin Yalom! lol) and I told him and he offered to move so I could throw it at his chair (uh, no, I want to throw it at YOU, T!). At my most recent session I told him I wanted to throw my (full) water bottle across the room and he gently reached over, took the water bottle, and replaced it with a nice, soft pillow.

Good to see you over here on the new boards!!

LOL thanks so much for the insight into your sessions with your T---LOL
I plan on sharing things from my T sessions more than I used to on the old boards (Doc John is right-this server is much better). I tend to lose focus so posting can be a challenge for me :Turning:

I've been pretty angry in session sometimes, wanting to smash things and really using restraint--- but I haven't told him these things because I don't want to scare him or make him worried about me. Usually those thoughts are transient and I think nothing of it after I leave. I've been told that people with ADHD are much more prone to such thoughts.. lol. I think T knows far more than he lets on sometimes, which is fine for me. The less I have to explain the better.

I've started to really trust my T, even if I do get mad at him from time to time. Sometimes, I don't know why I get mad at him, as he is only trying to understand and I don't always answer his queries. I'm making more of an effort now though, as the more I share the better I do in the long run (and often, short run too). Anxiety can get in the way of sharing and communicating. It's evil twin depression can do the same, but if you are fortunate enough to have a good T like mine, it's worth the "horror" of talking about the things that interfere with your happiness.

He offered me to play with his Tinker Toys once. I told him I didn't want him to have to clean up after my mess after I'm gone though...lol

[Simcha]

Originally Posted by Kiya

Hehehe... Wow - you are lucky. I am also lucky. Out of all the scary, freaky T's in the world, I am beginning to see just how lucky I am. T tells me that I can tell her she's wrong or doesn't get it - but I'm not there yet. I can't. I can't even throw things at T when they want me too. Last t did want me too - any time I was offended by things she said she wanted me to throw a soft ball at her. No way. Finally i did get to the point where I could mime getting one and throwing it... and she would mime getting hit with it. heh. Glad you have such a great t =)

((((((((Kiya)))))))))
You are right on about feeling fortunate to have a good T. I've been through bad T's years past, and read/heard about/seen horror stories from other people, including here on the board. That makes me feel extremely fortunate, and makes me remember to not waste our time together in session by my wandering mind. T also stops me of after about 3 minutes of wandering unfocused rambles of course, lol.

When you've had personal experiences with bad therapists and psychiatrists, or you were unfortunate enough to be trapped in the system and slapped with a diagnostic label (that is likely not even accurate in that case) and not really treated for it, it becomes quite scary to want to reach out for help in dealing with already scary and sad emotions/behaviors that you deal with in life. No one is a number, and I despise professionals who label their patients by their diagnosis-i.e. "he's a manic depressive", she's a histrionic", etc. No one can be defined by some diagnostic label (especially considering the DSM and ICD changes form every few years anyway, and thus, is not entirely reliable). I saw this all too often when I worked with psychiatric patients in the hospital for a time. Makes me ill to think of how patients are treated and regarded by "professionals" where I used to work.

Kiya, I know that eventually you'll take that step to be able to tell your T (who I think is absolutely fabulous by what you've relayed to us about her) if you don't think she understands something. You'll find it to be very therapeutic (when you have a good T like mine and yours), and it furthers the connection between you and T. It will probably make you more comfortable in expressing your emotions in a healthy way, and really solidifies that you are a worthy person and should be understood--not some sort of a freak or personality or whatever label you have been essentially taught by the world and the system to consider yourself as.

Your T is wonderful Kiya. Open up with her, tell her when she doesn't quite get it, and then rephrase it so she does understand. I guarantee it will be appreciated by her.

[chaotic13]

I want to throw things too! Damn, you guys get to throws stuff, color, play uno... I am jealous. I'm stuck squirming on the ugly couch. I do occasionally get to peel the label off my water bottle.

[Simcha]

Originally Posted by chaotic13

I want to throw things too! Damn, you guys get to throws stuff, color, play uno... I am jealous. I'm stuck squirming on the ugly couch. I do occasionally get to peel the label off my water bottle.

LOL

I don't get to play Uno (I don't think I could pay attention enough to therapy with that anyway) during session. I say take the pillow off of the ugly couch and give it a good toss at T. It could make for an interesting, fun session!

[chaotic13]

I do also get a chance to do my Thumper impression as well. I think I was a tap dancer in another life.

Simcha... I am too ****-retentive to be throwing things in therapy, except for the f-bomb of course.

[Simcha]

Originally Posted by chaotic13

I do also get a chance to do my Thumper impression as well. I think I was a tap dancer in another life.

LOL (((chaotic13)))

I'm not brave enough even if I wanted to do a Thumper impression!!

I'm content with my random urges to throw soft things at T when it strikes me. He's never offended. Of course, I don't try to hurt T by throwing rocks at him or something. I'm pretty sure he would commit me at that point.
(T then holds unto the pillow/thing for the rest of the session for safety and so I stay on track lol).

Often I have a problem expressing myself. T appreciates when I do express myself in healthy ways, frustration included.

(((((((((((((((((( chaotic ))))))))))))))))))))

Just for the record, I have never ACTUALLY thrown anything in therapy. Wait - that's not true - I sort of threw THE UNO CARDS once. Not at T. But he was so happy about it. This just in: Earthmama shows emotions!! (besides fear - lol)

You too can throw things in therapy! Start with little pieces of the water bottle label. Work up from there.

[chaotic13]

Spitballs! What a great idea. I think I'll bring a straw with me. That will definitely take me back in time... I don't think my T would appreciate that. LOL

[sunrise]

Or if you're not able to throw the little pieces of label yet, you can slyly drop them on the carpet and grind them in with your heal. (Talk about passive aggressive!) Baby steps!

Originally Posted by sunrise

Or if you're not able to throw the little pieces of label yet, you can slyly drop them on the carpet and grind them in with your heal. (Talk about passive aggressive!) Baby steps!

LOL.

I wouldn't dare throw anything at my T... I still don't know her well enoguh to make sure she won't kick me out, yell at me, or stop talking until my hour is up.

Man, but what I wouldn't give to play Uno or something at the sessions while talking... I'll admit that it'll be hard staying on track, but I'll enjoy it more also.

[sunrise]

Originally Posted by sunrise

you can slyly drop them on the carpet and grind them in with your heal.

LOL, I love my little Freudian slip of a typo here!

[chaotic13]

I chuckled at that and thought it was intentional

[kate81]

Hi all,

I was just wondering if anyone happened to know a therapist in north-central New Jersey who works well with ADHD adults. I dumped my old T b/c I felt like I wasn't getting anywhere, and I haven't found a new one yet... Don't really know where to start in the search.

Thanks for any advice you can give!

[lifeblows]

Originally Posted by chaotic13

I want to throw things too! Damn, you guys get to throws stuff, color, play uno... I am jealous. I'm stuck squirming on the ugly couch. I do occasionally get to peel the label off my water bottle.

I know, me too! I never got to do anything that fun or rebellious in my sessions.

[lifeblows]

Originally Posted by sunrise

Or if you're not able to throw the little pieces of label yet, you can slyly drop them on the carpet and grind them in with your heal. (Talk about passive aggressive!) Baby steps!

Oooh, love that one!

[Simcha]

Originally Posted by kate81

Hi all,

I was just wondering if anyone happened to know a therapist in north-central New Jersey who works well with ADHD adults. I dumped my old T b/c I felt like I wasn't getting anywhere, and I haven't found a new one yet... Don't really know where to start in the search.

Thanks for any advice you can give!

I'm not sure what's available in NJ, but I'd check over at the ADHD forums and ask the guys over there.