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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dinah on November 10, 2003, at 11:24:02
Biofeedback guy didn't remember me from Eve this time. Don't know why he bothered taking a history.
He asked about dysfunctional thoughts and picked my "I goofed off all weekend and now I'll have to work night and day to meet my deadline." He wants me to forget what's already happened (no problem) and say "I want to work night and day to meet my deadline." Change one word from "have" to "want".
Yah... That'll work.
That's not a mere attempt at self deception. That's a really poor attempt at self deception. I'd have added in some visualization of my relieved self handing in the completed work product. Smiling bosses. The exciting challenge of stimulating work.
And still it's not very likely to work. As those of you who have tried to will yourself into love will probably understand.
Sigh.
And my galvanic skin conductivity whatever is still over twice of high normal. Higher this time than last time. I could have told him that. He wants me to try to fix that through breathing exercises. Sigh.
I've been doing breathing exercises, to good effect, for eight years now. If breathing exercises were going to do it, it would be fixed by now.
My muscles have very low tension. I mastered those exercises a long time ago too.
I can't decide whether to give it another couple of weeks or throw in the towel now as a total waste of time and money.
Posted by DaisyM on November 10, 2003, at 13:42:21
In reply to Not hopeful about biofeedback., posted by Dinah on November 10, 2003, at 11:24:02
It is really hard to be smart, well read and go through all of this, isn't it?
I don't know what to tell you. He doesn't sound like an effective teacher. Usually it is much more a systems approach - step by step to achieve the desired result.
The problem may be that you already have too much knowledge of the techniques, sans the machine. You know how to calm yourself -- your own techniques may just need a boost or augmentation. Is there another practitioner perhaps?
I'm sorry. I know how much you were looking forward to this.
-D
Posted by Miss Honeychurch on November 10, 2003, at 14:39:52
In reply to Not hopeful about biofeedback., posted by Dinah on November 10, 2003, at 11:24:02
The fact that the biofeedback guy didn't remember you would send up a major red flag for me. It may be worth investigating somewhere else.
Posted by mattdds on November 10, 2003, at 21:17:55
In reply to Not hopeful about biofeedback., posted by Dinah on November 10, 2003, at 11:24:02
Hey Dinah,
FWIW, I really wouldn't hold out too much hope for the biofeedback, as cool and interesting as the gadgets are. I'll try to find an article that I read once that showed CBT + biofeedback to be no more effective than CBT alone. It should really be seen as an adjunct.
I think you put it best when you said you could tell you were upset without the need of any gadgets. I don't think you need a "galvanic skin test" to tell you that. That sounds so much like the dexamethasone suppression test used back in the early 80's..."yep, the test shows you're depressed alright!". Thanks alot.
Doesn't sound like this guy is very sophisticated with CBT techniques either. Hmm.
Don't want to sway your opinion too much, but, hmm.
Hope you feel better,
Matt
Posted by fallsfall on November 10, 2003, at 21:28:12
In reply to Re: Not hopeful about biofeedback., posted by Miss Honeychurch on November 10, 2003, at 14:39:52
Dinah,
Did you tell him how you are feeling? Like you know most of this stuff? And that you aren't hopeful that you can just deceive yourself into bliss? What did he say?
This whole thing has gone really badly. It may be time to cut your losses. At least now you know the questions to ask a different biofeedback guy the next time??
Posted by Dinah on November 11, 2003, at 17:09:59
In reply to Re: Not hopeful about biofeedback., posted by fallsfall on November 10, 2003, at 21:28:12
All of you are right. And yet....
I had so much hope invested in this that I think I'll give him one more week.
He really didn't seem at his best (assuming he has a best). He didn't have my chart with him, just my latest readout and my diary. Maybe they couldn't find it. He seemed distracted and tense. (Needs to practice some CBT on himself?) He was late to the part of the session where he talks to me. And he was in the secretary's office by the time I got there a few seconds later, gulping down yogurt while talking on the phone.
Next time I'll try my hardest to tell him that I'm familiar with relaxation techniques and with CBT and can he offer something a bit more... how do I put that? useful? sounds a bit rude... I'll try to be honest about my doubts about continuing.
Or I could call around and see if anyone will let me do brainwaves. :D
Posted by DaisyM on November 11, 2003, at 18:48:29
In reply to Re: Not hopeful about biofeedback., posted by Dinah on November 11, 2003, at 17:09:59
Sounds like a good plan. How about: "Can we talk about advanced techniques, maybe something more sophisticated?" That way you assume he has advanced knowledge and he should like that.
Posted by Dinah on November 14, 2003, at 20:29:47
In reply to Re: Not hopeful about biofeedback. » Dinah, posted by DaisyM on November 11, 2003, at 18:48:29
OK, I've got a plan. If it doesn't work, this will be my last biofeedback session.
I'll remind him of the time limited nature of our sessions, and tell him that I want to make the most of what's offered. I'm going to tell him that in my eight years of therapy, I've learned a fair number of the relaxation and CBT techniques and that maybe we could have a quick review if there are some that he thinks I might not have learned or am able to put into practice. I'm going to remind him that I successfully used CBT to treat my OCD, but find that it doesn't work well for my current problems. I'll let him know that I regularly use the breathing techniques, and they don't have an effect on my skin conductivity at all. And I'll remind him of a couple of things he said in the first session that actually sounded interesting to me. That there might be ways of taming my flaming amygdala. And maybe some visualization techniques carefully tailored to the actual biological processes of being flooded with brain chemicals. In fact I think I'll mention that I do better with visualization in pictures rather than in words.
And I'll right it down in the large space I could have used for my homework assignments the first two days when I didn't do them because I was thinking I wouldn't return. That way I don't have to worry about remembering what I want to say while face to face with someone who makes me nervous.
Can anyone think of any refinements to the plan?
Posted by fallsfall on November 14, 2003, at 20:43:24
In reply to Re: Biofeedback plan, posted by Dinah on November 14, 2003, at 20:29:47
Sounds really good. Do you want to bring up brain waves while you are at it?
Good Luck!!
This is the end of the thread.
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