Bad experience this morning, now so scared

[Carol27]

Hi, my husband and myself went to see a counsellor this morning, i told her what had happened to me , coming off medication to quickly and having high anxiety, panic and a really bizarre thought that terrifies me. She said she had never had anxiety and no one really knows how the brain works and she didn't know if bizarre thoughts are part of anxiety. Then she scared me so much by saying i may have to accept that the thought might not go and i would have to learn how to live with it, she then saw the furious look on my husbands face and i immediately panicked and burst into tears and she said ' oh dear i think i've said the wrong thing', with that she said she had someone else to see and left me like that, i have been in a dreadful state since, can anyone help please, love Carol x

[Trapped]

What do you know about this counsellor? they are like gp's some of them, in that they counsel generally, others are specialists such as the trauma counsellor I saw. I would look into this ones credentials..........

[lk1]

Oh my days, what sort of councellor would do that.

[gtrgrl3369]

I am so sorry you had a hard time this morning. What she said was so wrong. I have had OCD for years upon years so I know a thing or two about the thoughts you are having. Most people with conditions like ours have thoughts that scare them. Overcoming that particular thought requires you not to fear it anymore. I know it sounds hard to do but the more you try and push the thought away, the longer it stays in your head. Confront the fear and then close the door on it. I am not saying it wont come back, it might but hopefully you wont fear it and it will go away sooner. As far as she doesnt know what makes our brains work, our brains dont fire neurons like other people do. They dont bounce off the walls like they are supposed to. They stop short of their destination. Please dont be scared. You can do this and it sounds like you have a supportive husband. If I can help, please feel free to write me.:hugs:

[Brigantia]

:hugs: Poor Carol!

I think I would make a complaint about that particular 'counsellor' . . .

[bab]

gtrgrl has it spot on - the more you try and push the thought away the more it will come - and if it does come just let it come in and dont be scared of it - it doesnt mean you are going mad or will act on the thought. The councillor you saw is obviously not good at dealing with anxiety but you werent to know that. put it down to experience my love. Have you tried cbt or can anyone recommend a different councellor.

[lk1]

Give me the address i feel like smacking her in the face

[suzy-sue]

How Disgusting!!hope You Didnt Have To Pay For The Priveledge Of That Incompetent Bitch"s Drivel? What A Load Of Rubbish. Luv Sue Xx

[Anxious_gal]

if someone told me that I'd be scared too. i often get weird thoughts and feelings I console myself with "it's just anxiety it will go away"
so I totally get how she must have freaked you out.
seriously it may help seeing a professional who know about anxiety. it will help calm you.
there's so many things that happen as a result of anxiety. it might help you to know that most of your symptoms are just caused by anxiety, they wont last for ever and there are ways of dealing with them and over coming it all

[alias_kev]

As other have said this counsellor might be good at something but is clearly completely inappropriate - and uninformed - on the whole mental health, depression, anxiety, stress area.

The whole basis of most modern theories and therapies that evolved around BT and especially CBT, is the concept of "irrational beliefs" or "irrational thoughts". The "belief" is there as its usually broader than a single idea/thought. We tend to have bad beliefs that are exagerated and so either stress or scare or depress us. These beliefs can easily manifest themselves in specific thoughts.

One discussion of such beliefs according to Ellis (REBT) is here: http://changingminds.org/explanations/belief/irrational_beliefs.htm

Its possible to write them in clearer language but I can't google an example at the moment.

If you feel able to share your bad thoughts or even just some of them, people may be able to give you more feedback.

You really need to see a proper stress, anxiety or mental health counsellor, someone with experience in CBT would be the normal thing. With some primary health trusts this is the first (or only) therapy offered for anxiety. If you can tell us your county or town I might be able to google some more advice.

I'd have expected you to get more understanding from a debt counsellor in all honesty as they see people with problems all the time. Yours appears to have been some sort of happiness counsellor!!