Posted by Dinah on August 16, 2005, at 23:17:27
In reply to Re: Starting therapy next week » Dinah, posted by Ilene on August 16, 2005, at 22:11:34
He primarily does CBT on a relatively short term basis, because most of his work is through insurance companies, and that's their preferred mode. So it's CBT homework, which will vary according to your diagnosis, but might include noting and journaling your "negative cognitions" or noting what was happening prior to a dip in your mood level. I can't really remember, it was so long ago. :) BTW, I stunk at homework and he gave it up relatively quickly. He substituted a more conversational style.
I don't deal really well with the sleepiness, I'm afraid. I tend to fall asleep, or I take a Provigil which I've been prescribed since my neurologist believes I have narcolepsy or at least idiopathic hypersomnia. My therapist's contribution to coping with it would include giving me ways to keep from getting upset enough to fall asleep. Thinking of being fussed at in a way that was less upsetting to me, for example. But first you have to learn to identify the triggers and your patterns of response.
Just realizing, for example, that I felt sleepy because my husband had fussed at me helped me a bit. I never like not knowing why I do the things I do.
However, I must confess that I just don't give up my old coping skills all that easily. I gave up some of the more destructive ones, but I substituted it with more and more falling asleep or zoning out or other skills that are less destructive on the surface but that long term will do me a lot of harm in terms of my job and my marriage. And I just seem to distort whatever he offers me into just more ways to do what I'm already so good at. :)
But that's me. I'm a stubborn soul.
poster:Dinah
thread:542630
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20050813/msgs/542761.html