CBT again, is it really worth trying

[Alabasterlyn]

I've had anxiety and agoraphobia since the early 1970's, so a long long time.

About 6yrs ago my GP referred me for CBT and I was given a year of weekly appointments just down the road from where I live. I have to say I didn't feel I improved at all during this year as I found it so hard to just get to the place to see the psychologist that pretty much everything she said went in one ear and out the other.

The last time I went to see my GP for my medication review she said how sad it was that I was still pretty much housebound and would I like to try therapy again. I agreed at the time as it seemed to make sense. However now I've heard from the therapist and it's CBT again but just for 6wks and about 3 times the distance that I had to go last time. I know already that I am going to find it really really hard to just get there and the thought of having to stay there for an hour is already making me anxious. It also turns out the sessions coincide with the only day a week that I look after my granddaughter and I really can't let my daughter in law down for 6wks as she could end up losing her job.

To top it all I just got a huge form today from the DWP regarding my NI contributions that go hand in hand with my DLA apparently. So I am sitting her with that horrible lump in my stomach worried sick that they are going to either ask me to go for a medical or even stop my money

[clare90]

I know how you feel, I've tried CBT once before and it didn't work for me either, and I got a phonecall on Wednesday to arrange an appointment to see a new pyschologist.

Give the second set of CBT ago, it is worth trying. This time it might be better. You could explain your worries about the old CBT you tried to the phsychologist? I am definetley going to mention my worries to mine.

Good luck and don't give up.

xxx

[Lotte]

CBT can be helpful to many people, but I guess it depends on what the diagnosis is. I often wonder if GP's send everyone off for CBT. Interestingly enough when I returned to the UK in August and asked to be referred for therapy the GP asked for me to see a psychiatrist not a CBT therapist.
He had a reply from the mental health team offering me CBT (which like you I had had for over a year with no results and dreaded getting to the appointments each week)
When the GP looked at this offer for CBT he said "they always send people for CBT, uuuurgh"and wrote back to them insisting on me seeing a psychiatrist. I did get an appointment and then had to move to another county and am starting over with a new GP, they are also offering me CBT, uuurgh.

I have a diagnosis stating that I need trauma based psychotherapy, yet this seems to go un- noticed. I do wonder if CBT is 1. cheaper and 2. if there are enough psychotherapists/psychiatrists for all of the patients?

I'm sticking to asking for the treatment I know I need. I was lucky enough to have 3 sessions with a psychotherapist in the Netherlands and that helped me alot more than the CBT.

But, like I say I guess each person is different.

Sorry to hear that you have had agoraphobia for so long. I have been suffering since about 1998 and thought that was tough enough :(

[pink daisy]

Hi.. I am having cbt also and hypnotherapy
and my friend who also has agoraphobia is having cbt
the thing is you have to be at that stage when u really want life!! we all say we want to get better etc, but cos we have been like this for years its like our life now and its si hard to take that first step.

my friend couldnt walk to her ened of her street 5 months ago. and now she can walk 20 minutes from her house,

she has done this by walking everyday i mean every day or more
walking to the furthest point where she could each day untill it got into a routine. so for what ever anxiety issue u have u have to do the same, Its no point us sitting in and saying oh i want to get my life back bla bla bla cos it wont change at all.. so u go and get taht cbt and u follow everything do excersises each day. even if u feeling poo do some of it this is only the way u will get your life back!!! if you want to get better u have to get in to a routine of doing the excersises each day to beat this.

Im also doing my excersises each day now and its getting easier each day but god its hard!! but i want my life back

[pink daisy]

Ive had agoraphobia since i was 13 I am now 30 so have had it along time too.

buy the cbt book for dummies of amazon uk and u can buy the workbook also
you can do it on your own untill u can get an apointment

just walk to the place u can everyday i bet u it will get easier than u can make another step forward!!

[psychocandy]

CBT can be helpful to many people, but I guess it depends on what the diagnosis is. I often wonder if GP's send everyone off for CBT. Interestingly enough when I returned to the UK in August and asked to be referred for therapy the GP asked for me to see a psychiatrist not a CBT therapist.
He had a reply from the mental health team offering me CBT (which like you I had had for over a year with no results and dreaded getting to the appointments each week)
When the GP looked at this offer for CBT he said "they always send people for CBT, uuuurgh"and wrote back to them insisting on me seeing a psychiatrist. I did get an appointment and then had to move to another county and am starting over with a new GP, they are also offering me CBT, uuurgh.

I have a diagnosis stating that I need trauma based psychotherapy, yet this seems to go un- noticed. I do wonder if CBT is 1. cheaper and 2. if there are enough psychotherapists/psychiatrists for all of the patients?

I'm sticking to asking for the treatment I know I need. I was lucky enough to have 3 sessions with a psychotherapist in the Netherlands and that helped me alot more than the CBT.

But, like I say I guess each person is different.

Sorry to hear that you have had agoraphobia for so long. I have been suffering since about 1998 and thought that was tough enough :(

NHS seems big at the moment on CBT. This is what the NICE guidelines recommend. Like you say though, I dont think its right for everyone.

Also, in some areas the waiting list for CBT can be huge !!!!!

[PHOBIA MAN]

I've been tapped on the hand by administrator for being a tad too fourthright about CBT so all i can say is "if endlessly talking for weeks worked, I'd be doing it to help people"!
I use hypnotherapy and nlp its faster and way more effective, but as with any therapy you must want to get better, I'm sorry if this last bit offends but i do see people who "kinda" wants help and all us therapists (inc CBT) struggle with it,
NHS are soooo into their darling CBT but the only real benefit tends to be the therapist, after all it's a job for life eh?
I throw down the gauntlet to any CBTer for speed and efficacy, against my methods.
I take about 1-2 hours on a phobia, they take weeks, sometimes never any benefit, the only time i can't do anything is if the sufferer doesn't help me to help them, what can i do then?
better stop there, talking about cbt gets me a bit passionate and that gets me into trouble with admin.

[bottleblond]

Phobia Man

I have never once been offered hypnotherapy on the NHS. Does it exsist? Maybe the NHS offer what therapies they have available to them.

The only thing hypnotherapy did for me was empty my purse.

Sorry if that offends but it's the truth.

Lisa
x

[Alabasterlyn]

I don't think there is anyone out there who actually doesn't want to get better. However I think there are possibly some people, and I probably include myself here, that just find it hard to endlessly find the energy to keep on pushing those barriers out. When every day is a battle it's extremely hard to find the energy needed to go out all the time when you feel so ill physically that you just want to go home and go to bed

[nomorepanic]

Phobia Man - are you saying that you can cure panic attacks and/or anxiety in 1-2 hours or are you talking about specific phobias?

Whilst I do like Hypnotherapy for its relaxation it is also very expensive and not everyone can afford it to be honest.