Interesting therapy session today...

Ok. Interesting therapy appt today...

Have to say first of all, I absolutely love this therapist. He's thorough & we have a great rapport.

However, today was a bit disturbing and fed into my health anxiety & neurosis.

I had a moment of that "disconnect" feeling today at home before therapy. I was feeling tired and while it disturbed me, I brushed it off as being tired. I was telling him about it, as I've told him before, and he casually mentioned it's almost like a petite mal seizure & had I been tested for epilepsy/brain scans. I was like NO, I'm 43 & this disconnect/depersonalization crap has only ever effected me this year during my struggle with anxiety/depression & my friends moving. It's never affected my quality of life until the past several months.

With that being said, in my life, I've caught myself wanting to stare off into space. Like "spacing out." I had that today too. It's never interfered with my life and I never considered it abnormal. It's more like "spacing out." Do you all ever do this? I assumed most people do & don't give it a 2nd thought (unlike me who, while vulnerable, can freak out over any anomaly that's happening to my body, aka health anxiety). With epilepsy being on my radar just last week (which I was over & checked it off as health anxiety), I dropped it. UNTIL TODAY! Ugh! Now I'm freaking out. Not panicking but just upset. I still feel disconnected too which isn't helping.

He also asked if I'd ever taken standard psych tests with a neurological psychologist. Tests like the MMPI, Rorschach, IQ, etc. he said he likes to get a whole picture of the client & he likes all his clients to do this if they desire &/or if insurance pays for it. Just so happens the Psychologist he likes is on my list of accepted providers... lol.

I'm willing to take those tests, I like being thorough & appreciate he's being through. But I'm still rattled at the epilepsy crap! I don't want epilepsy :O

If you look up the symptoms of petite mal, they are similar to anxiety too. Not to mention, disassociation/depersonalization/disconnect are ALL symptoms of anxiety & I didn't get this junk til this year with my struggles.

So I'm just venting. I always welcome encouragement & support!!! <3

Sending Love-
Lisa

I don't know much about epilepsy but it sounds different to me than what you are experiencing. I would say if you can afford the different testing than go for it but try not to let it worry you. For me when I was still worried about physical conditions I got to a point that I felt like if it was found to be something physical than I least I had a concrete thing to say I had. Like I have epilepsy would be easier for me to say then I can't work right now because of anxiety. I wouldn't want either but I would make it through no matter what and so will you.

I say bravo to your therapist for covering all the bases. Be glad that you have someone so thourough. Read my story about Mayo Clinic and it might make you feel better. Sounds like you've got someone great on your side who just wants to be 100% sure.

LS.,

Our brains need a moment of down time every once in awhile. I have heard that this moment of 'spacing out' is good and even necessary .

I think that your therapist was unintentionally being an alarmist...but you would think he would know better than to make suggestions to a person with H/A!!

It sounds like a lot of what he wants to order is surperfluous...

...and I would only pursue these tests if my GP also felt they were needed.

You have had some pretty thorough physical screenings recently right? I think that I would stick with what your regular health care provider has done for you.

This is just my opionion....but I hate to see you go through a lot of extra tests and expense if your G.P. has already given you a clean bill of health.;)

Best wishes in whatever you decide to do, and know that you have our support!

S.C.

I truly think it was an "open foot, insert into mouth" moment for him as this was only my 3rd visit with him. We have touched on H/A but have yet to focus on it. I told him how I spaced out sometimes (have my whole life), & how I randomly get that derealization feeling (only the last several months during my struggles this year). He took that info and said "it almost sounds like petite mal seizures" & I was like "whoa, that's a fear of mine." He sincerely apologized for "souring" the session.

Him suggesting seeing a neurological psychologist was separate to his seizure comment. It was to take the intellectual tests I mentioned in the above post. He said he likes to get a whole picture of his clients and I kinda thought it was cool bc I've never taken them & made me think he really is a good therapist who likes to look at the whole picture when assessing the treatment for each client. He is calling my psychiatrist to get the yay or nay from them (bc many insurances don't pay for these intellectual tests- mine does lol). I don't even know my IQ so I'm curious about it all.

I'm still excited about seeing him & hoping to put this faux pas by the wayside.

Thank you for the continued support friends, I really appreciate it!!

Lisa

p.s.

I am only laughing b/c you wrote LOL after your comment, so I assume I have permission! ;p

A pregnant 10 yr. old, eh?!? (okay It has happened, but not under your circumstances)

It just goes to show how much power our anxiety can have over our reason...;) Too funny!

S.C.