Look in the Mirror,while you share your space with another. (Psychotherapy Counselling)

Member Name: maidmarion

Product:	Psychotherapy Counselling
Date:	18/06/02 (76 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: many

Disadvantages: none for me.

Yes that fundamentally is , what you are doing ,when you go and visit a psychotherapist.

I managed to get this therapy on the NHS ,I had experienced some awful symptoms following being in a triple pileup ,in which I thought i was going to die.

For several months after this,starting with a months convalscence ,I began to experience suicidal feelings accompanied by panic attacks .I couldnt work out what was wrong with me,I had never heard of Post traumatic stress disorder,until I spoke to the head of mental health services in my area,and described my symptoms to Him.

He said that was what I had ,and suggested I ask my Doctor to reccomend me by letter to see a particular Psychologist.

I made my first appointment.
The first few appiontments were made up of Him just listening to me ,and acting in a non invasive way, that helped my to talk and face my terror.

At this time it was in a little Cottage in the hospital grounds,so it was very relaxing.

I found that I wasnt only dealing with my shock in the present but was having to deal with other traumas in the past as well.

He suggested that I write letters to people that had caused me hurt and to not particularly send them ,but it did help to unburden things .
Particulaly to my Father that had deserted us more than once ,and whom I had only seen at 6 years old and then briefly ,on a bus at age 21,not realixing it was Him until I had left the bus ,he just smiled at me .
I of course had very mixed feelings about this.
I never saw him again .

I lost my suicidal feelings after having some real aggravations of these feeling,the Samaritons helped me about 7 times ,to get passed these crisis ,*wonderful organisation*!!
They are there even through the night .

I went for therapy sometimes twice a week ,it took 5 years to lose the worst symptoms ,then He left the door open so to speak ,and I returned a few times ,Death of my Mother
I needed to talk awhile,I am very grateful for His help .He also helped me later as a carer giving support and general advice.I now attend a carers group ,were we give mutual support.

Yes I feel what a psychologist does is: share some space with you and Him alone ,and the outcome is He helps to hold up a mirrror so to speak where you eventually work out what is wrong with you.

This is needed with conditions like PTSD,because believe me you friends and family wont understand you ,He did. The careful handling of your symptoms will help to reduce them,yes I did get annoyed with him some times ,because He wasnt saying what I wanted to hear ,but what they do is suggest two opposite pionts of view to get to the truth,and you have to ,as you get stronger stand your ground ,with what is the truth of your experience.

In states like PTSD ,the chemical balance of the brain has gone out of kilt because of the severe shock ,and it takes time for this to right itself.

This is the time you really need support,I think most mental ailments have the same cause,so patient handling ,by a professional is needed.

So if you suffer similar ask your GP.

I do feel cut backs have reduced this lately,but society as a whole would benefit,if poeple in crisis were helped more ,I think more crisis centres are needed,where people are treated with dignity ,this doesnt always happen ,as a carer I have seen some need for
improvement,for people with long term problems.

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