CBT

[RadoVR6]

Has anybody got any experience on this? I have had a rough time lately due to anxiety issues going back to my childhood which I have managed to hide until now.
I spoke over the phone to the NHS helpline as it got so bad and they have indicated I need CBT.
I have booked an appointment for Friday and I was wondering what to expect.
Thanks.

[gazza285]

CBT turned my house bound autistic son into an almost normal boy. He hadn’t left the house for four months due to his anxiety when he started his treatment. He’s still a bit of a wonky donkey, but the CBT has a very positive outcome for him. Good luck.

[ozzuk]

RadoVR6 said:

Has anybody got any experience on this? I have had a rough time lately due to anxiety issues going back to my childhood which I have managed to hide until now.
I spoke over the phone to the NHS helpline as it got so bad and they have indicated I need CBT.
I have booked an appointment for Friday and I was wondering what to expect.
Thanks.

CBT can be an extremely powerful tool to help with anxiety. It doesn't so much focus on your past but more with giving you coping strategies and helping you understand what is going on.

[SimpleSimonSays]

It helped me too - in part because there was someone to talk to who wasn’t family, so I didn’t feel I was “burdening” them with my issues.

You might find that you don’t agree with all of it / not all of it helps / you think some of it is a load of old tosh, but go with the flow. The brain is a funny thing, you’re essentially trying to trick it into not flailing about so much.

Best of luck.

[HairyMaclary]

ozzuk said:

RadoVR6 said:

Has anybody got any experience on this? I have had a rough time lately due to anxiety issues going back to my childhood which I have managed to hide until now.
I spoke over the phone to the NHS helpline as it got so bad and they have indicated I need CBT.
I have booked an appointment for Friday and I was wondering what to expect.
Thanks.

CBT can be an extremely powerful tool to help with anxiety. It doesn't so much focus on your past but more with giving you coping strategies and helping you understand what is going on.

This 100%

I did some online cbt over the summer and it was very useful.

I've just started face to face councelling as the cbt teaches you better ways of dealing with thoughts but it didn't really deal with grief and ptsd from my childhood.

Beware its hard work and you may feel worse before you get better. I certainly did.

[ozzuk]

HairyMaclary said:

This 100%

I did some online cbt over the summer and it was very useful.

I've just started face to face councelling as the cbt teaches you better ways of dealing with thoughts but it didn't really deal with grief and ptsd from my childhood.

Beware its hard work and you may feel worse before you get better. I certainly did.

That is a good point, some of the sessions can be really hard - you're being asked to challenge the way you think, and I recall feeling very drained, usually though you end up feeling net positive in a session. My partner is a CBT therapist if you have any specific questions.

[RadoVR6]

ozzuk said:

That is a good point, some of the sessions can be really hard - you're being asked to challenge the way you think, and I recall feeling very drained, usually though you end up feeling net positive in a session. My partner is a CBT therapist if you have any specific questions.

I'm 40 now and my issues go back to primary school as I just buried it. I think it will be a long slog but I'm worried it wont work as it goes back so long.
Nothing triggered it, it's how I am but I shouldn't be like this and it should have been tackled years ago. It has affected 2 of my relationships as my second long term partner can't cope and it's all but over.

[ozzuk]

A good therapist will asses you at first session and will let you know if this is something they can help you with. Not fix, they should never promise that, but help you find ways to deal with thoughts/anxiety/issues.

[RadoVR6]

I had my first consultation yesterday and all went well. I felt relaxed with the counsellor and it felt good to talk to someone I dont know.
My first session is on Wednesday and it feels a weight off my shoulders to finally 'fess up about my problems after having them most of my life.

[cologne2792]

Yes, briefly about 10 years ago.

It only really took one session and promoted a shift in thinking and the creation of "virtuous circles".

It helped with anxiety and made me a lot more mellow just before my life took a battering - where it still is really.

But very helpful, yes.

[popeyewhite]

RadoVR6 said:

Has anybody got any experience on this? I have had a rough time lately due to anxiety issues going back to my childhood which I have managed to hide until now..

CBT will help with the anxiety, but if there's a deeper issue from your childhood causing the anxiety that needs addressing another form of therapy would be better. Otherwise the CBT will just be a temporary patch.