First Therapy Session Today- What to Expect??

[EmmaP]

Hi Everyone,

I have my first therapy session today with the psychologist after being on antidepressants for a week now. I'm quite anxious and not sure what to expect. I am a planner to an OCD extent and am after some idea of maybe how it will go or what I should go with prepared in my mind or on paper. My GP faxed them my dot point list of what I wrote of how I have been feeling/experiencing of late. Should I prepare anything else? I have heard that the first appointment can be very draining and emotional, but I'm worried because I have to go back to work afterwards as I wasn't able to get the day off 😞

Any wisdom/knowledge/experiences you can share with me would be fantastic!

[geoff]

dear Emma, I am also an OCD sufferer and have been for 54 years, so I know how you will feel, it may seem to nerve wrecking, but what will happen is that he/she will just want to get to know you, and whether or not anyone else in your family has also suffered from this illness, and I assure you the time will pass very quickly.

Sometimes you can write down what you are going through with OCD and without it, so what they have to determine is whether this illness has total control over your daily work, chores and family life, so if you are nervous and I would expect you to be, then just be prepared for a chit-chat, and also explain to them that you have just started on AD's.

Is this meeting under the medicare plan set up by your doctor.

This first visit will have a great bearing on whether you click with this person, and that you feel comfortable talking to them, however it may take a couple of sessions to determine this.

I would really like to know how you are coping in your everyday life, and I say this because we don't really know much about you, although I see that you have posted 15 times, but I'm sorry I have brain drain and can't remember what people have said before, and this isn't because I have OCD, it's from a previous injury.

When you go back to work you would have been given a list of problems or ideas to think about, so take this as being a positive more, and if you have to wear a mask today then don't hesitate in doing so.

Please let us know how it went. L Geoff. x

[EmmaP]

Hi Geoff,

Thank you so much for your speedy response, I really appreciate it, and it has put me at ease.

Yes, luckily this is the one set up under the medicare plan. It is actually at one of the Medicare run psychologists, and apparently they read over everyone's files and determine who they think would best be able to help me, but I guess there are others I could change to if I don't click. I usually determine pretty quickly whether I click with someone or not, and If I don't I have a very hard time changing my own opinion (I guess this is one of my downfalls) but I'm glad there Is room for me to change if I don't feel its right.

All good! You post to so many people and help so many of us here on the forum so I dont blame you at all for not remembering! 🙂 I was recently diagnosed with Anxiety and depression and put onto ADs. I broke up with my previous partner at the beginning of the year after 3 years together, I lost my grandmother who raised me two years ago and my mother abandoned my brother and I when I was in high school. The loss of these main figures in my life have left me with some separation anxiety with my current partner. I also got kicked out of a house by two horrible housemates after 2 months of living there after breaking up with my ex for being 'too clean' and while I was living there I was having terrible anxiety about going home because I didn't want to have to face them. I have moved into a stable house since and so home life has improved greatly. Since starting medication I am doing better in everyday life (due to a sunnier outlook and sense of improvement on the horizon) and of late I feel that the relationship with my partner has improved (she has Aspberger's and BPD so it can be very hard when we are both in a dark place). I am still struggling to concentrate at work, but they said this could be a side effect of my new medication for a week or so. Its still pretty hard to get out of bed of a morning but it seems to be getting easier.

I'm finding it really positive being able to talk with people and offer advice and being able to share my story on here and I'm finding this is helping my positivity.

Thanks again for your advice and wise words and I will definitely let you know how it goes. I think this afternoon the mask will have to be worn to get through work until I can get home and relax and 'self-soothe' for a while. I'm exhausted!

Thanks again,

EmmaP x

[EmmaP]

Hi Geoff,

Quick update on my experience with the psych. It was a very positive experience. She was a lovely younger lady and she just let me tell my long and complicated life story and why it was that I was seeking help. I felt like she listened very well and took it all in and asked the right questions. She even said that I was 'inspirational' after expressing that I just want to help people in life. I felt like we connected very well, so I feel very lucky to have found such a good psych first time around! She taught me some diaphragm breathing and gave me a CD to listen to that have relaxation exercises on it. I see her again next week and then after that I have to move to seeing her monthly due to work which I'm not happy about, but still thankful that I get to go at all. Feeling very positive that this will all lead to my road to feeling better.

Thanks again for your support in this 🙂

EmmaP