Holidays and (no) Therapy

[whiteraven]

I've been having more and more problems with extreme anxiety, very deep depression, and all the other stuff that goes along with the PTSD. I just got an email from my therapist, providing me his schedule for this and next month. While I am grateful he is keeping me up-to-date, he's going to be more out than he is in, traveling to teach.

I have an appointment tomorrow and had some stuff I wanted to bring up, but now we're going to have to spend the whole time on coping strategies (his first day off is the 11th). Some of the stuff I need to discuss (rather urgently) involves work (a huge contributor to my issues right now) and my cat, who was diagnosed with lymphoma and who is experiencing some very intense swings in her illness. Both are emotionally exhausting.

I really like this therapist and I really can't afford (financially or emotionally) to go somewhere new. I have thought about seeing if I can try meds again, but that will mean I have to see a psychiatrist (my last dropped me, about 5 years ago). I can't afford to see someone else and I've been on all the older/currently used meds and my insurance doesn't cover any of the new ones.

I just don't know how to manage without that weekly support.

 

[asimone]

I totally understand feeling like you don't have the chance to get to everything you feel you need to.

I tell my T if I have a couple of things I need to discuss right away before I get off track. So maybe at your upcoming appointment (or even email so he knows before hand) tell him you have 3 things that need addressing: your concern about him being unavailable and the limited appointments/support but equally important is coping strategies for your two most stressful situations right now (work + your cat).

I hope that makes sense.

 

[whiteraven]

Thanks, @asimone. Yes, definitely makes sense. I do that by email sometimes and then I get there and can't talk.

As it turned out, I ended up not going today. I think if I weren't so depressed, I might be able to manage being there and talking about stuff. But I can't seem to handle the depth of depression these days.

 

[asimone]

Thanks, @asimone. Yes, definitely makes sense. I do that by email sometimes and then I get there and can't talk.

As it turned out, I ended up not going today. I think if I weren't so depressed, I might be able to manage being there and talking about stuff. But I can't seem to handle the depth of depression these days.

I get that 100%. I'm diagnosed with severe clinical depression. It sucks and is brutally consuming. I watch TV to help distract and give myself a break as best I can when I'm in it deep... But, I have an injury where I can't walk right now so I'm limited with coping tools. I hope you have a few things you can do until it lifts even a tiny bit. Sending you strength.

 

[MyWillow]

I see my psydoc weekly and my equine psychologist every 3 weeks - roughly. So when one is away I can fall back on the other. It works really well.

 

[whiteraven]

I see my psydoc weekly and my equine psychologist every 3 weeks - roughly. So when one is away I can fall back on the other. It works really well.

I remember you talking about the equine psychologist. I'm pretty sure I'd respond much better to that type of therapy. It amazes me sometimes how many options are out there.

 

[MyWillow]

I remember you talking about the equine psychologist. I'm pretty sure I'd respond much better to that type of therapy. It amazes me sometimes how many options are out there.

Funnily enough my equine T is lovely but my psydoc is much more skilled. I would still be a mess if not for her. So it’s definitely about skill set as well as setting.