Choosing a therapist???

[Salford66]

I have been to see two therapists lately, one said she didn't think I had anxiety and would get back to me.......she never did. The other did not talk at all, just listened........not for me. I  spoke to another therapist today who has experience in Panic Attacks etc. she told me about a workbook and that I would 'have to/must' do the things in it. I have this workbook and it's things like........go to a movie, get on a bus........ I am the type of person that if I am not feeling up to it I won't do it. For me the less attacks I have the more confident I become, so, when I am feeling a bit wonky I'll save the errands for the next day and that works for me. Any input greatly appreciated.

[Salford66]

Yes, I do that too. I'll drive around the block a coupe of times until I get used to being out. If I need to go to the supermarket I'll try once, twice and then do it. What a life.

[velvetvenus]

if you are not comfortable with your new therapist find another one, you have to be persistant. but i do agree you first have to try what they tell you in order to see if it works. you have to test yourself and go back to the therapist with the results, but you do have to try. i  have to make myself  get out of the house if just to go to the gas station sometimes, even when i don't want to. sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn't but at least i've done what my therapist suggested and am fighting the disorder. i also agree you need to not feed into your disorder, you have to fight it, not make it more comfortable. good luck and keep fighting.

[Paxiled]

I'm assuming she's going to teach you CBT first before you get to the exposure part.  How well you will do depends on your attitude, how intense your panic is, how much you bond with the therapist, whether she's going to accompany you at first, etc.  A lot of CBT people will also require someone who is intensely anxious to go on medication to ease that, though some are exactly the opposite.  And you level of depression is important; if you suffer from it, you'll need to deal with that first so it doesn't interfere with your motivation.  There's a free website called, I think, Don't Panic, which is also the name of a book on CBT.  It might help you get started.  Good luck.

[MrGreen]

The therapist who wants you to do things is the best of them all. It is the right approach. You have to meet the condition half way, as such. Medication is only part of the answer. Hard work and hard times is the other part of the answer. Never easy at all. But the more you expose yourself to to your fears the lesser they become. Frightening when you are first asked to try it. I know that all too well. But the fight is worth it. When you get your life back. As it is you are doing things to suit your condition. Working around it. Not putting yourself in harms way at all. By doing that you will never know if you can do certain things again. Hence the therapist would like to see you go out to places you would avoid as a rule. Then probably grade your level of anxiety. This done over a period time, with the hope that the level of anxiety gets less each time. At first it will be high. Maybe a 9 out of 10. That is common. Just the way they work. And I hope you see sense to stick with it. Because the reward will be great at the end of it all.