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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Ilene on August 16, 2005, at 18:49:25
The therapist to whom my new pdoc referred me called back. I have an appt. a week from tomorrow. Now I'm all worried that this is going to be an immense waste of money and that nothing is going to help my TRD. I know therapy and meds is supposed to be better than meds alone, but my symptoms are so physical--feeling tired and unmotivated all the time, sleeping a lot--that I wonder how therapy can affect them.
Plus what I read on this board about the relationships people have with their therapists makes me very nervous. I don't want to feel dependent on anyone like that. Ack!
I.
Posted by javableue on August 16, 2005, at 21:00:42
In reply to Starting therapy next week, posted by Ilene on August 16, 2005, at 18:49:25
Sorry, but I've never heard of TRD before; what does it stand for?
Even if the symptoms themselves are beyond the reach of therapy, it can help you to find better ways of adapting to and coping with them. I don't know too much about your particular situation, but I know in my case I was quite pleasantly surprised. I saw my pdoc expecting nothing but a prescription and maybe, if I was lucky, a listening ear for a few minutes every now and then... well, after the medication he prescribed gave me side effects which made me nervous about taking medication at all and it became clear I couldn't afford therapy elsewhere, I started it with him, and while there's still much work to be done, things are so much better for me than they were back then. It's true, I am somewhat dependent on him, but then it's a necessary thing in my case, both because of my issues and because otherwise I'd have left prematurely by now. I have also, however, been in a counselling situation which helped me a good deal which didn't include dependance... so your mileage may vary.
Anyway, I'd encourage you to keep an open mind about it; therapy might not be the thing for you, and that's fine, but it could do some good if it is. Whatever you decide, I wish you the best of luck in your treatment and in life.
Posted by Ilene on August 16, 2005, at 21:25:26
In reply to Re: Starting therapy next week » Ilene, posted by javableue on August 16, 2005, at 21:00:42
Thanks for your thoughts.
I.
Posted by Dinah on August 16, 2005, at 21:30:21
In reply to Starting therapy next week, posted by Ilene on August 16, 2005, at 18:49:25
Well, you know the new therapist is CBT oriented. So at the least you'll learn some coping skills.
Don't worry too much about the dependence. My therapist reminds me that we're a self selected group who mostly found this board because we were attached to our therapists. Not everyone gets this attached. He says most of his clients are happy when he leaves town, because they get a break from homework.
Even if your symptoms are all physical, you can learn tips to cope with them. But the interaction of mind and body is pretty impressive. My husband fussed at me this evening and I went from feeling mostly ok to feeling overwhelmingly sleepy in moments. I wouldn't have even noticed the cause if I weren't paying attention. I'd have just noticed that I was sleepy.
Posted by Ilene on August 16, 2005, at 22:11:34
In reply to Re: Starting therapy next week » Ilene, posted by Dinah on August 16, 2005, at 21:30:21
> Well, you know the new therapist is CBT oriented. So at the least you'll learn some coping skills.
>
> Don't worry too much about the dependence. My therapist reminds me that we're a self selected group who mostly found this board because we were attached to our therapists. Not everyone gets this attached. He says most of his clients are happy when he leaves town, because they get a break from homework.
>What kind of therapy does he practice? What kind of homework is it?
> Even if your symptoms are all physical, you can learn tips to cope with them. But the interaction of mind and body is pretty impressive. My husband fussed at me this evening and I went from feeling mostly ok to feeling overwhelmingly sleepy in moments. I wouldn't have even noticed the cause if I weren't paying attention. I'd have just noticed that I was sleepy.
How do you deal with the sleepiness?Thanks,
I.
Posted by Dinah on August 16, 2005, at 23:17:27
In reply to Re: Starting therapy next week » Dinah, posted by Ilene on August 16, 2005, at 22:11:34
He primarily does CBT on a relatively short term basis, because most of his work is through insurance companies, and that's their preferred mode. So it's CBT homework, which will vary according to your diagnosis, but might include noting and journaling your "negative cognitions" or noting what was happening prior to a dip in your mood level. I can't really remember, it was so long ago. :) BTW, I stunk at homework and he gave it up relatively quickly. He substituted a more conversational style.
I don't deal really well with the sleepiness, I'm afraid. I tend to fall asleep, or I take a Provigil which I've been prescribed since my neurologist believes I have narcolepsy or at least idiopathic hypersomnia. My therapist's contribution to coping with it would include giving me ways to keep from getting upset enough to fall asleep. Thinking of being fussed at in a way that was less upsetting to me, for example. But first you have to learn to identify the triggers and your patterns of response.
Just realizing, for example, that I felt sleepy because my husband had fussed at me helped me a bit. I never like not knowing why I do the things I do.
However, I must confess that I just don't give up my old coping skills all that easily. I gave up some of the more destructive ones, but I substituted it with more and more falling asleep or zoning out or other skills that are less destructive on the surface but that long term will do me a lot of harm in terms of my job and my marriage. And I just seem to distort whatever he offers me into just more ways to do what I'm already so good at. :)
But that's me. I'm a stubborn soul.
Posted by Poet on August 16, 2005, at 23:25:14
In reply to Starting therapy next week, posted by Ilene on August 16, 2005, at 18:49:25
Hi Ilene,
I have an intense need to not be dependent on anyone.
I let my T help me to a point that I am comfortable with. I think she's fantastic at what she does and is a saint for putting up with me, but I don't want to be dependent on her. You need to let your new T know how you feel about being dependent. Go slow. Don't be pushed. Trust takes time to build, in my case, three plus years.Poet
Posted by Ilene on August 16, 2005, at 23:35:50
In reply to Re: Starting therapy next week, posted by Dinah on August 16, 2005, at 23:17:27
That's pretty interesting. Do you think therapy has been worthwhile, if you are just substituting one behavior for another?
I love to sleep. It's much nicer than being awake.
I.
Posted by Dinah on August 17, 2005, at 8:56:13
In reply to Re: Starting therapy next week » Dinah, posted by Ilene on August 16, 2005, at 23:35:50
Well, the old behaviors were rather overtly destructive.
Yeah, I think it's been worthwhile. I melt down a lot less frequently now, and it takes less time to recover. I'm overall more accepting of the less pleasant parts of life, and I get less intensely distressed by them. The panic attacks are virtually gone. I've broken that umbilical cord to my family of origin, and have learned to deal with them on my terms rather than being sucked into the old ways of relating.
I like being asleep more than being awake as well.
But... Isn't the fact that you think so an indication that therapy might be helpful?
Posted by Ilene on August 17, 2005, at 12:32:22
In reply to Re: Starting therapy next week » Ilene, posted by Dinah on August 17, 2005, at 8:56:13
>
> I like being asleep more than being awake as well.
>
> But... Isn't the fact that you think so an indication that therapy might be helpful?
>I've "failed" so many treatment regimens--over a dozen drugs, hospitalization, partial hospitalization, and ECT--that it's hard to be optimistic. I waver between wanting to give it a try and thinking it's a waste of time and money. I feel like I'm failing, rather than the treatments. I just realized--I'm afraid that if this doesn't help, nothing will, and my new pdoc will give up on me.
I.
This is the end of the thread.
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