went to psychologist today
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SocialHorsefly
New member
Go with that thought in mind next time. Think of it as an oppurtunity to get things off your chest with no danger of being exposed. She is the only person that will hear you, and she never, ever will tell anyone about your meetings.
It's been quite a while since I was as afraid of talking to people as you, but I remember it well. Trust me, the more you do it, the easier it will be. It's true of everything... A tight rope walker might be freaked out the first time, but after a few runs the fear starts to vanish.
Good luck!
Reholla
Well-known member
You did a great job describing accurately what its like. As I read, I could see myself doing and feeling the exact same way.
I live in a fairly small town that has no one who specializes in SA/SP. The closest town is 2 hours away, and being in college, I never really have the time on weekends to go. But locally, on our campus, there's a student counseling service. It took a lot of confidence and persuading myself to go, but I knew if i put it off, my anxiety issues would keep snowballing like they had been over the years. So, I put aside the fact that I may see people or faculty I know there while im getting treatment. That thought scared me. I thought just the chance of some one seeing me walk up to the SCS they would know i had problems. As I'm waiting at this table, this girl whos reading a book starts talking to me. Like you, before you were seen I was a complete wreck, trying to think of all the right things to say so they could actually help, but at the same time covering up symptoms. So when this girl made conversation I was completely caught off guard. I honestly think she was a student worker or something that they put at that table to talk with people like me, maybe to loosen them up? Im not really sure.
Anyway, my therapist comes out, and we go to her office. You mentioned that you wished you could write out your answers to questions. Well, I was lucky that I could do that. To even make an appt. they make you fill out this thing online, and they can tell by that if you really need to see some one. I filled my survey thing out in the best detail and explained that I knew I had an anxiety disorder, and I already know a lot about it. But im just looking for some one who can help me get better.
On this day I blowdried my hair, put make up on completely, and I did this anytime i was really trying to "cover up" my anxiety symptoms, it was like a subconcious thing I did back then and now I realize why...I thought that helped I guess. Anyways she took one look at me and was like you dont have anxiety. She was like "we get a lot of students with test anxiety, or athletes with performance anxiety..." And I was like "No, thats nothing compared to what I have." I was so frusturated because I couldnt get my point across. If she just read what i wrote on my online survey, and if shes a liscnensed physchologist, it wouldnt be that hard to figure out. So i thought to myself, 'I;ll just try being completely honest with her'....and I say "To be honest with you I got anxiety symptoms just coming here today" And she says real flippantly "Oh well we dont want that. This is supposed to help!" And kind of laughs....UGH Needless to say she really didnt know what she was talking about. I just wanted to leave at that point. She gave me this brochure which didnt help at all...and I walked out.
I think if I went thru something like that now I could be more adamant with some one like that, but back then my anxiety was so bad, anything like that I just couldnt deal with.
**So, I would say stick with yours. Sounds like even though youre having reluctancies going (which everyone does) At least youre learning from it. And I know its hard to really soak up much when you have anxiety, but it sounds like your therapist knows enough about it that she can help you with that part. I really do think its important to get help, and Im still looking for mine.
I live in a fairly small town that has no one who specializes in SA/SP. The closest town is 2 hours away, and being in college, I never really have the time on weekends to go. But locally, on our campus, there's a student counseling service. It took a lot of confidence and persuading myself to go, but I knew if i put it off, my anxiety issues would keep snowballing like they had been over the years. So, I put aside the fact that I may see people or faculty I know there while im getting treatment. That thought scared me. I thought just the chance of some one seeing me walk up to the SCS they would know i had problems. As I'm waiting at this table, this girl whos reading a book starts talking to me. Like you, before you were seen I was a complete wreck, trying to think of all the right things to say so they could actually help, but at the same time covering up symptoms. So when this girl made conversation I was completely caught off guard. I honestly think she was a student worker or something that they put at that table to talk with people like me, maybe to loosen them up? Im not really sure.
Anyway, my therapist comes out, and we go to her office. You mentioned that you wished you could write out your answers to questions. Well, I was lucky that I could do that. To even make an appt. they make you fill out this thing online, and they can tell by that if you really need to see some one. I filled my survey thing out in the best detail and explained that I knew I had an anxiety disorder, and I already know a lot about it. But im just looking for some one who can help me get better.
On this day I blowdried my hair, put make up on completely, and I did this anytime i was really trying to "cover up" my anxiety symptoms, it was like a subconcious thing I did back then and now I realize why...I thought that helped I guess. Anyways she took one look at me and was like you dont have anxiety. She was like "we get a lot of students with test anxiety, or athletes with performance anxiety..." And I was like "No, thats nothing compared to what I have." I was so frusturated because I couldnt get my point across. If she just read what i wrote on my online survey, and if shes a liscnensed physchologist, it wouldnt be that hard to figure out. So i thought to myself, 'I;ll just try being completely honest with her'....and I say "To be honest with you I got anxiety symptoms just coming here today" And she says real flippantly "Oh well we dont want that. This is supposed to help!" And kind of laughs....UGH Needless to say she really didnt know what she was talking about. I just wanted to leave at that point. She gave me this brochure which didnt help at all...and I walked out.
I think if I went thru something like that now I could be more adamant with some one like that, but back then my anxiety was so bad, anything like that I just couldnt deal with.
**So, I would say stick with yours. Sounds like even though youre having reluctancies going (which everyone does) At least youre learning from it. And I know its hard to really soak up much when you have anxiety, but it sounds like your therapist knows enough about it that she can help you with that part. I really do think its important to get help, and Im still looking for mine.
PunkyMonkey
Well-known member
Thanks skins...that was really helpful to read. I've spent the last year too afraid to bring up the idea of therapy to my parents. This last week, I finally talked to my doctor about my anxiety. Well... to cut a lot of the story out, I have an appointment with a counselor for next Monday morning. Now I have no idea what to think. I thought I would feel so relieved to know I was finally going to be getting some help. I'm not though..what if it doesn't work, what if it all goes wrong.... Eek. I've read so much on SA this last year, can I really just pay another person to help me? You tell us all how your counseling is going....I have no idea what to expect. It sounds uncomfortable to reallly have to talk about your problems like that, I've never been able to tell people how alone I sometimes am because of anxiety.
Did you talk to your counselor about medication at all? I'll probably be talking to this therapist only once or twice before I leave for college. The main reason I wanted to start this before I move is to talk about medication, if she thinks I need it. I don't want to have to deal that alone without my parents.
Reholla- that sounds terrible. It scares me to hear how this went for you. Like I said, I'm moving up to my college in about two weeks now. I was thinking about going to get counseling at my school since I get 5 free visits, and the rest are only 10$. But it sounds like your psychologist had no idea what she was talking about...I can't believe that. Wow, that sucks. If my school therapists are like that, I hope I can find another counselor who takes my insurance in that city. Does your school only have one counselor? I was looking last night, and mine has a few, and two supposedly specalize in anxiety disorders. But this sounds really scary.
Did you talk to your counselor about medication at all? I'll probably be talking to this therapist only once or twice before I leave for college. The main reason I wanted to start this before I move is to talk about medication, if she thinks I need it. I don't want to have to deal that alone without my parents.
Reholla said:
Reholla- that sounds terrible. It scares me to hear how this went for you. Like I said, I'm moving up to my college in about two weeks now. I was thinking about going to get counseling at my school since I get 5 free visits, and the rest are only 10$. But it sounds like your psychologist had no idea what she was talking about...I can't believe that. Wow, that sucks. If my school therapists are like that, I hope I can find another counselor who takes my insurance in that city. Does your school only have one counselor? I was looking last night, and mine has a few, and two supposedly specalize in anxiety disorders. But this sounds really scary.
spurs
Well-known member
Counsellors are not the same as psychologists. Counsellors do not neccessarily have to have qulaifications, whereas psychologists undertake four years of University education plus 2 years of post-grad(in my country anyway).
for something as serious as SP/SA i would reccomend going to a quallified psychologist who has experience treating SA, not a counsellor.
Some counsellors may have experience dealing with SA however you never know what you are going to get and if they are inexperienced it could be traumatizing and then put you off ever seeking help again.
Reholla the person you saw sounded terrible, especially making a joke at your situation. In my experience counsellors are very hit and miss but they should never make you feel uncomfortable.
I really hope that you will be able to find someone who actually knows what theya are doing next time.
for something as serious as SP/SA i would reccomend going to a quallified psychologist who has experience treating SA, not a counsellor.
Some counsellors may have experience dealing with SA however you never know what you are going to get and if they are inexperienced it could be traumatizing and then put you off ever seeking help again.
Reholla the person you saw sounded terrible, especially making a joke at your situation. In my experience counsellors are very hit and miss but they should never make you feel uncomfortable.
I really hope that you will be able to find someone who actually knows what theya are doing next time.