Question about CBT

Hi,


Treatment does take time, and that can be different for anyone.

From experience I would say to have specific for your therapy

and convey them to your therapist and then ask what their plan

might be. See how well they mesh together. You should get a

general sense if its helping you or not. Evaluate this, and if you

have not brought this up - do so. I believe that though it takes time

within a short time ( maybe as little as one session , maybe a

few weeks you should know if they are right ). Also, although

you should feel confortable with them, they are not there to be

your friend. Having a sounding board helps, but is not good enough

- they should give you feedback, challenge you.



Good Luck

Post Edited (ghosst8) : 10/26/2011 2:14:26 PM (GMT-6)

Hi and welcome! CBT does take an average of 10-12 weeks for improvement to start to be noticed. That of course seems like an eternity when you are suffering with symptoms, but it is worth the wait.

I actually went through two sessions of CBT, and remember in the beginning hanging on by my fingernails through the daily panic attacks. Coming out the other side however, I am now attack free, and managing my anxiety is something that I can do fairly easily...so it was more than worth it:)

If you feel that you need to start on medication to get you through, then consult with your dr. It could be that you are in need of something temporarily, and if it helps you to make the most of your therapy, then it is a good choice for you.

If you choose to just keep going with the therapy, then just hang in there, and know that it will start to kick in within a few more sessions.

Either way, you will start to feel better soon I hope. Again, welcome, and post anytime that you have a question, want to share, or just need some support:)

Take care,
Scaredy Cat

Scaredy cat gave you excellent CBT advice. It has been amazing how much it has helped me, help myself. I have not only learned to eliminate most anxiety and depression but it has also helped me build my confidence in myself immensely. I still counter my thoughts in the TEA forms four or five days a week and that is a small investment for the relief I have received and strength I have gained. If you have not already done so, read the CBT book by Sam Obitz entitled Been There, Done That? Do This! it's short and encouraging and has examples on the proper way to counter your thoughts in the TEA forms. Invest some time each day countering your thoughts on paper and in a few months you will feel so much better

You are so welcome Sarsi
I am concerned by a few things you mentioned in your note because what you said you are talking about with your therapist does not sound like true CBT. After the first session you really are not supposed to talk about the past as CBT is all about dealing with the present and learning skills to take you forward without anxiety and depression. How long have you been seeing her? A good CBT therapist will have you doing the exercises like the TEA form after just a couple of sessions and most people are starting to see some pretty good changes within a couple of months if they dedicate themselves to the exercises like the thought countering TEA form etc.

Have a nice weekend!

I wasn't getting any help from my first therapist so got another one and we totally clicked. I have them all anxiety including PTSD and agoraphobia and depression. It took me a long time to even line anyone up and I think you should be able to tell if you are going to get help pretty soon.

My Internist prescribes my medication and she is the one that told me to get into therapy. When I told her about the first therapist she said, quit wasting your time and find someone else.

Good Luck and Welcome.

sarsi, I hope you are feeling better by now. I do EMDR for PTSD which takes me back to my traumas and deals with them. We also do talk therapy. I'm assuming that's what you were doing vs the way everyone else here is describing CBT. I just thought that was a fancy name for talk therapy.

CBTgirl I hope you are continuing to thrive.

I'm better but every time my health problems flare up more than usual, it just throws me back into anxiety and depression. I wake up in a panic mode many days. Long story short my therapist says it's common for people to wake up with anxiety and the reason I am is I'm afraid I'm dying. She is right about that. I've felt bad for so long I don't see any hope for improvement in my quality of life. I am not suicidal. Every time I think I'm on the road to some thing that will help any of my health problems it doesn't turn out.

The last was a neurologist who had his nurse call me to say there was nothing to reverse the neuropathy in my feet. No reason for the cause or how to stop it from getting worse, etc. Plus to have the nurse call when she couldn't answer any of my questions was cowardly. I felt sorry for her. He will be getting hit with a typed list of questions at our next appointment in December. That's the only reason I'm going back to see him.

BTW I was approved for social security disability the first time I applied and they paid me a year back as well. The down side is they consider me highly unlikely to improve. I listed all of my problems, physical and mental, and on the bright side they will not be reviewing my claim for 5-7 years. I'd like to get better and back to work thus proving them wrong. But the way other's talk about how hard it is to get approved I am glad not to have to go through that grueling process anytime soon.