CBT?

[LockedShut]

I've been referred for CBT in two weeks time. My GP tells me that this is the best thing for me. Though she didn't explain quite what happens. All I got was some leaflet explain the proceedure of seeking therapy, not what actually happens.

It's supposed to be an assessment meeting, or something like that. Can anyone tell me what I should expect to happen or to be asked?
xo

[nomorepanic]

Try all these

Psychotherapy/ CBT
CBT Questions (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=222)

CBT
Can u treat yourself with CBT at home ?? (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5406)

success CBT
Maxine's cbt progress. (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2308)
CBT (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5287)
Starting CBT (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5323)
Does CBT work? (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6671)
FW: I am getting there! (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7478)
CBT therapy for driving problems - my diary (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7162)
CBT - My diary (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=8295)

Therapy (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/NMPcms.php?nmppage=therapy)

As for what u are asked then ... this was my experience


I was there for about 1.25 hours and asked 6 million questions for starters. I thought I would write some of them down, as anyone else going for any sort of evaluation for therapy is likely to be asked the same.

Here we go with the ones I can remember being asked….

Age, Weight, Height, Living arrangements, children, length of time with partner etc, where was I born and where was I brought up.

Family History - Parents & brothers/sisters – alive/dead? age, state of health, history of mental illness, relationship towards them. Childhood upbringing ?

School – did I do well at school, was I liked, many friends? Qualifications I got etc.

Work – how long there, friends at work? what job I did? Am I happy, settled, fulfilled etc

How did I view myself, what was my personality? Was I ever moody, irritable, unhappy, sad.

How was my concentration and memory?

How did my partner view me – what did he think about my current issues.

Medications/Illnesses – What medications I have ever been on, what dose, how long, what illnesses have I suffered from? Any ongoing health concerns. How do I feel in general at the moment?

Food/ Drink – Do I have a good appetite, how much alcohol do I drink

Sleep – is it good, bad, problems waking up or not dropping off?

What changes have happened in my life the past 2 years – issues with work? relationships? deaths in family? any changes that have been significant (e.g new job or losing a job)?

What were my hobbies? What sort of social life did I have?

What history did I have of panic/anxiety/depression? What treatment did I get for it? Did it work? How long did it go on for etc.

What was I currently doing to help overcome my problems?

The only thing she didn't ask - which I was asked the first time I went for psychotherapy - was "how is your sex life"

She said that she was worried that the panic episodes whilst driving could result in the depression coming back (I have to disagree with this as I don’t think it is that bad that I am getting depressed about it that much). She suggested that maybe in the near future I was put back on anti-depressants to “prevent” the depression resurfacing. She wanted to prescribe Seroxat but would allow me to have Prozac instead because of the bad press about Seroxat and my opinion of it. I said I didn’t want to go down the anti-depressant route so we are going to see what the CBT can do.

She said that my previous history of panic/anxiety had never completely gone and even though I no longer get full blown panic attacks whilst driving I am getting small ones (sounds cute doesn’t it!!) that I am controlling in some form but not completely. Personally I would just call them anxiety attacks but there you go.

She suggested that I didn’t call anyone on the phone when I got these issues in the car, as I was not dealing with it. I did point out that I try to do it alone but sometimes was too overwhelmed so called Meg or Alex just to take my mind off it. She wants me to learn distraction techniques such as finding an object to concentrate on and describe it in as much detail as possible. This could be a signpost, something in the car, a car in front of me, a person etc. Driving back to work I hit road works and tried to put this into practice and didn’t cope particularly well so I need to

[LockedShut]

You have a bloody brilliant memory! And yeah, that's a lot of questions! So they ask general stuff, not any "do you want to kill your father/make love to your mother stuff" my friends told me about from psychology classes?!

I'm just a bit nervous. I still feel like I have to convince everyone, 'cause it took me so long to make my friends and family realise how low I'd become.

Thanks for your reply, Nicola! Wish me luck!! :D

[Wannabeloved85]

thats a fab reply nicola!
Becci x

[nomorepanic]

I hope it helps as some of the questions I couldn't remember the answers to at the time so go prepared!

Nicola

[LockedShut]

Nicola, it's amazing you can remember so much! But I guess I kinda know what to expect now, so I wont have to panic or worry. Cheers, hun :)
xo

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