Re: CBT-Marita

[Guest guest]

Marita,

I know your post was to Cheryl, but I just wanted to say that I've

been through CBT, and it's a great form of therapy. It really makes

you take a good hard look at your thought processes, and helps to

change the ones that are self-destructive.

Personally, I loved going to therapy, and would probably still be

going if my therapist hadn't moved away. At that point in time, I

didn't really " need " it anymore, but that was probably 2 years or so

ago, and there are always issues popping up in life, especially if

you have a mental illness (I have bipolar II disorder), and/or

something like chronic pain....even just living life itself can be

crazy! I wish my therapist was still around here, so I could go

back for " tune-ups " when I needed them.

I know, the obvious thing to do is find another therapist, but it

was hard for me to find someone who " fit " in the first place. My

first therapist was an extremely " good " person, very religious and

all, and I didn't feel like I could truly open up to him because I

was afraid I was going to disappoint him. So when I started with

the new therapist, I was apprehensive, but we clicked right away,

and I felt like I could tell him anything and everything, and know

that he wouldn't bat an eyelash.

I still see a psychiatrist, because I take several psychiatric meds,

but I only have to go every 3 months for med checks. He's a good

guy too, but is pretty much just the diagnosis maker and script

writer. I need to talk to him about a new therapist, one that has

experience working with CP'ers. I don't want to end up with someone

who doesn't understand it, and have them dismiss what is a very real

and HUGE part of my life.

But anyway, I digress. I hope that Cheryl has some good links for

you, because CBT IS a very good type of treatment. Knowing her,

Cheryl will probably come up with some very excellent

information...she's great about that!

Take care, and I also hope you find out all you want to know about

CBT. Are you thinking of giving this type of therapy a try, or are

you like me, just wanting to know something for the sake of

satisfying your curiousity? I've " wanted to know " about so many

different things that if you looked at my bookshelf, you'd be

confused....it's a very, um, eclectic mix!

All my best,

Jen

[Guest guest]

Hi Jen,

>> It really makes you take a good hard look at your thought processes, and

helps to

> change the ones that are self-destructive. <<

That sounds great to me.

>> At that point in time, I didn't really " need " it anymore, but that was

probably 2 years or so

> ago, and there are always issues popping up in life, especially if

> you have a mental illness (I have bipolar II disorder), and/or

> something like chronic pain....even just living life itself can be

> crazy! <<

I'm sorry about the mental illness that you have. Personally, I was on

antidepressants for a few years, the psychiatrist diagnosed me with

" endogenous depression " after months and months of trying to figure out what

was wrong with me physically. I have tinnitus (ringing in the ear) and it

almost drove me nuts in the beginning.

I do believe that the tinnitus was the cause of my depression. Thankfully I

haven't needed antidepressants in 7 years and I hope I won't ever go back to

that dark place.

>>I wish my therapist was still around here, so I could go

> back for " tune-ups " when I needed them. <<

I used to see my psychiatrist once a month and even after I thought that he

wasn't really helping me, I really liked the guy and I had fun chatting with

him...:-)

I can imagine that it is hard for you to try and find a new therapist. Once

you get used to one that you like, it's hard to find another one to fill the

old one's shoes.

>> Take care, and I also hope you find out all you want to know about

> CBT. Are you thinking of giving this type of therapy a try, or are

> you like me, just wanting to know something for the sake of

> satisfying your curiousity? I've " wanted to know " about so many

> different things that if you looked at my bookshelf, you'd be

> confused....it's a very, um, eclectic mix! <<

I'm trying to get all the info that I can for my husband and am very open to

any and all suggestions. I just want him to feel better, that's all. He has

an appointment with a rheumatologist on Wednesday, I was really happy to see

him get in that quick, normally there is at least a month waiting period.

They happened to just have gotten a cancellation when the doctor's office

called to make the appointment, so that was pure luck. We need to get him a

diagnosis first of all so that we can approach this whole pain thing in the

appropriate way.

Thanks for your suggestions.

Marita in Montana