On the therapy journey

[mocha delight]

I’m starting this thread to post about anything related to my treatment & therapy ect ect ect. Which I’ll start of saying I finally got a appointment with a psychologist on the 9th of September so over 3 weeks away. But not with the one me gp referred to as that psychologist unfortunately for me was not taking on new clients so I found one off the ‘find a professional’ from beyond blue of course and I did not no where else to go look. So already feel nervous & anxious about this appointment and I only made it today besides this psychologist is not one my gp recommended & referred me to. So now I would ever be grateful if anyone give me tips/hints ect ect ect of what to expect from my first ever psychologists appointment. What do I need to know? Now that most of you all have definitely gone through that first time psychologist appointment what kind of things should I ask/tell/mention? How many appointments average until I get a diagnosis? Do psychologists make the diagnosis’s? Does a gp? Or how do I get a diagnosis if a gp’s/psychologists don’t make the diagnosis? Ok yes I’m a complete newbie to trying to get a diagnosis but I just want to be completely prepared of how it works before my appointment. Did I mention I’m nervous and anxious?

[ecomama]

Almost there mocha! All good.

You may find that the psych will guide most of the first session, maybe maybe not.

I've used a notebook to list things I wanted to talk about, also how I felt about the session. But due to privacy in your home, maybe you could use your notes section in your phone to list things you want to talk about with your psych?

Now I see my Counsellor on certain dates that I put in my phone Diary, I put some notes into that "event" I've put there.

Hope this helps!
It certainly helps me get things out of my head and stop me thinking about them so much.

The psych might want to focus on your relationship with your mother. IDK.

Love EM

[mocha delight]

Only one day from tomorrow and I’m a ball of nervousness & anxiety. I’m seriously not going to get much sleep tomorrow night as I never do before appointments anymore not that I’ve been getting much sleep anyways for about a week/week & 1/2 already.

[ecomama]

See if you can Google some "grounding exercises".

You want to get well and sort this out, so it begins with you.

Our minds play all sorts of games with us when we're feeling anxious.
Ignore the silliness going round and round.

Eat well.
Go for a walk or exercise if you can.
Choose your outfit!
Listen to a Meditation clip tonight at bed time.

You may have to force yourself to do this but you will also be thankful you did all those things.

Be kind to yourself mocha, almost there!

You've done SO well!
EM

[ecomama]

Hey mocha

How did you go today?

I've been thinking of you and hope you feel okay?

Love EM

[mocha delight]

Well my first appointment with the psychologist went well today and it was like even from the first appointment that she could read me like a book with my emotions. And I kind of think I gel with her but it’s early days yet so only time will tell.

[ecomama]

Great mocha!

Do you feel more relaxed now about the whole "seeing a psychologist" thing?

You definitely sound more relaxed lol.

That's awesome.

If you get a good psych then yes, they've seen lots of situations similar to what we've been in, but you ARE allowed to communicate with her if she seems to be jumping to conclusions other to what you feel.

Well done you!
EM

[mocha delight]

Hi ecomama thanks for the reply yes I feel way more relaxed and what I meant by she can read me like a book emotionally is that she could tell I was starting to get a bit upset about something I talked about before I even realised it.

[ecomama]

Well she sounds like a very intuitive psychologist and I'm very glad for you that you found her.

How often will you see her for now?

EM

[mocha delight]

Well I’m seeing her again at the end of this month on the 30th at the same time as today’s appointment was and the receptionist wanted me to book in the next 3/4 appointments but I think I’ll wait until after this appointment I have with the new gastroenterologist as I’m very due to have my first endoscopy since being diagnosed with coeliac disease so once I know the date of that I can book in those appointments with the psychologist.

[mocha delight]

Well it took me hours to get to sleep last night despite being on prescription medication to help me sleep at night as I couldn’t stop thinking about everything from my appointment with the psychologist yesterday and when I did get to sleep I only slept very lightly.