Dear Kait
Sorry to take so long to reply. Computer problems and several days running round like a mad thing.
I hope I did not come across as a nagging person or someone with unreal expectations. If you feel unable to carry out the suggested strategies then your psych should change the strategies. One size does not fit all.The psych I mentioned above wanted me to do CBT so I agreed to try it. As I said he was a shocking communicator and made the whole process of CBT sound bigger than Ben Hur. It was horrendous. I had to fill in forms about what was happening, how I felt, how upset I was and a whole lot more. It lasted a couple of weeks.
He had no alternatives so I struggled on with very little help. Even the topics I wanted to talk about were controlled by him. Not very helpful. The person I have been going to for 18 months had a different approach. He talked neuroplasticity, although not in those words, how to change my thinking and gave me word pictures of the process.
I respond to images, music, and poetry so this approach connected. I suddenly got it. Once you understand what is happening it's easier to take steps to change. Still hard work but with a goal in sight. It truly was wonderful. And best of all I had no need to fill in charts and work out what sort of thought I was having. It didn't matter. The salient point was that this thought process was adding to my depression and keeping me in the darkness. The focus was firmly on the way to change.
And I found I could change. The psych allowed me to email him with my "insights". I often wonder if he laughed at my first attempts. But he would email back and explain when I did not quite get the process going. I had emails telling me how much I had improved from say a month previously and he would point out the differences in my emails. This constant recognition and encouragement meant a huge amount to me and in turn encouraged me to keep going.
I suspect that if the first approach had not worked he would have found another. In fact we talked about this once and he said he used different approaches for each client depending on their needs. So this is why I say one size does not fit all. Can you talk to your psych about strategies and explain that those which have been suggested are difficult to carry out. Even if it means slower progress it is better than none.
I wanted to tell you about ADs but ran well over limit will talk again.
Mary
