I have psychodynamic therapy once a week. Its via private practice. My Psych doctor has mentioned additional therapy to help augment the counselling im receiving at the moment.
However i keep coming up against brick walls. Im being refussed DBT because i wont stop seeing my counsellor and my counsellor feels it would conflict with the therapy i currently receive. I agree with this to some extent as i simply cant dismiss 2 years of therapy, start all over again and run the risk of re-living all the **** with someone i dont like. (im sure many know the ordeal of finding the "right" person.
Ive been asking for some sort of CBT type thing. Basically constructive work to help me get out of the house, stop my panics and thoughts and anxieties and get my confidence back into functioning again in the real world.
The NHS cant help. They are seeing if i can have a social worker or somethign to take me out every few weeks. but this seems pretty lame.
I really dont know what to do. I know the kinds of things i should be practicing but i just cant motivate myself to do them and i really need help. My stupid brain just keeps destroying al my hopes.
I was wondering if anyone could recommend or suggest groups, therapies etc that could compliment my existing therapy and help me get my cognition back on track and help me to start functioning again.
Im really starting to belive that im going to be stuck like this forever and im scared to death.....
Ive been diagnosed with Dysthemia, Major Depressive Dissorder and GAD.
I used to be so high funtioning. Now i stuggle to wash *sigh*
that's pretty difficult because they do say that the therapies could conflict and i agree. especially with something like psychodynamic therapy. however, i used to do psychodynamic therapy and i do agree with you that often you need some help with more practical things too. CBT seems like a sensible suggestion for that but can be difficult to get on the NHS.
is there a way you could see your current therapist more frequently, or do you not feel this would be helpful? have you talked with her about help with the things you are worried about here?
perhaps you could get a self-help book and work through that with the help of a social worker, or perhaps more usefully, a community support worker who might be able to see you weekly. i used to be terrified of going out and desensitisation/gradual exposure really helped with that, with the support of a couple of people in my general life.
also, maybe try out MIND, they often have groups, and in my area sometimes the groups go out together, with staff. it's less full-on than a specific therapy and wouldn't conflict with your current therapy i don't imagine, because it's more "normal life".
what about body therapies? help with de-stressing and working on things, like deep breathing and relaxation techniques, these help many. or accupuncture, etc. (though whatever you choose, if you do, i'd still discuss it with your current therapist, as i am aware these types of therapies can often attempt to push out thoughts that your current therapy is trying to bring forward).
lastly, hehe, i'm sure starting DBT wouldn't be dismissing your last two years of therapy. the things you learned in that time are with you now. i can understand your fear of starting a new therapy instead of the old one, but i'm sure you could always go back to your current therapist if DBT didn't work out. still, if your current therapy is working for you, maybe it wouldn't be worth letting go of it at this time.
I don't really have anything new to say, just echoing Irene and whirlpools. It might be worth getting in touch with Mind to see if they can offer anything, even just some groups during the day to help you socialise.
A few people are currently doing this online CBT course called MoodGym which seems to be quite good.
Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes but when you look back, everything is different…
you once called your brain a hard drive, well say hello to the virus.
i agree with what everyone has said,
but i have tried the moodgym and
it is good.
take care
Louise x
“Never lose faith in yourself,
and never lose hope;
remember, even when this world throws its worst and then turns its back,
there is still always hope.”
Personally, the cumulative ongoing outcome of my work in psychodynamic based therapy is enabling me to start making steps out and about. Slowly but surely. But this is some years down the line, and I've still some ways to go. And I see my therapist 3 times a week. And I'm still working. So my situation's slightly different. I also see my GP once a fortnight, and she does 'booster'/reassurance stuff with me. Plus the support from Disabilities Coordinator and my designated support type manager at work - counts for a lot in taking slow steady steps forwards.
Hmm.
There's then this other option not already discussed here -
- be patient, hard though it is, and trust that the shifts will come in their own time.
My and my therapist's perspective on psychodynamic therapy is that it's about relationships - with yourself, with others, with the past-in-your-head. Working through this and building something steady inside does take time.
In the assessment today the woman assessor told me that i wasnt well enough to attend the DBT sessions anyway. >.<
Im really confussed and now im starting to question my own therapists intergrity. I dont know whether im being paranoid or what?
Im trying to tell these people how hard its been for me to admit i need help. My Psychiatrist said to me he realises how hard it is for me considering i know alot of what is needed already.
nope. you're not lazy. you wouldn't be asking these questions at such personal level if that were the case
DBT is great for some things, it has a kinder cousin called Schema Therapy and it may be that you and your therapist could organise some very focused work if you both had a look at Jeremy Young's book (the originator of the book). both are CBT in origin so you're on the right track anyways in finding out about CBT
psychodynamic therapists can train in EMDR too (ask can cognitive therapists), which is a trauma/body therapy that can be worked in conjunction with existing practice. it has a wide application and is rated one of the most helpful around. your therapist can get the training in around 10 months at around £1200 which could be good CPD for them (continuous professional development)
i hope that makes sense and is helpful. PM me if you wana ask any specifics
