Authentic123

Second Step - Seek Professional Help to Determine Root Cause

Posted on 06/13/08, 11:13 am

Seeking professional help is like seeing light at the end of the dark tunnel. The dark tunnel was dark, hot and stuffy, and after seeing a professional there was more light, more room to breath and more hope. I was lucky to find a a psychotherapist that I really jived with. It is important that you feel totally comfortable with the professional you are seeing. I was able to talk and talk and loose my train of thought (because this is what happens with people with anxiety) and she was able to bring me back on track. She was a very attentive listener and nothing I said was every weird or stupid or nonsense. I eventually stopped seeing her because she was very expensive, but she was worth every penny. She helped me determine the root cause of my anxiety. As we were talking and continuous flow of logical questions I found the root cause of my anxiety, which is my hearing impairment. I've been hearing impaired since I've been around 3 years old. The hearing impairment has caused me, to make a long story short, lack social skills, always have a need to please others, has caused me to feel isolated, etc. She also used a relaxing technique to put me in a state of relaxation. i struggled with that a bit because I have a hard time "trusting". Nevertheless, it helped me tremendously. I'm sure if I continued it, I would have eventually succumbed to totally relaxation. I would love to hear what others have to say about their seeking professional experience.

• Reply #1 06/23/08  1:46pm
  
  shadowcat
  How did you go about finding your psychotherapist? I've struggled in finding someone and i really don't want to see a psychiatrist. I love the fact that your thereapist gave you techniques to work on and to help with relaxation. I really want to find someone that I "Jive' with
• Reply #2 06/28/08  11:38am
  
  Authentic123
  I think I got lucky. My sister was looking for one when she started your anxiety journey and I helped her find on on the internet. We entered the keywords "psychotherapist", "Toronto", "anxiety". We were looking for anyone that has a special interest in anxiety and was more experienced, so someone a bit older. So when my sister started seeing her and had great success with her, I basically found my match. I did once see a psychologist, but he didn't do anything for me...I felt so distant from him. Maybe it also helped she was a woman. Women understand women better and they tend to have more of that connection and sensitivity and they feel more what you feel. It's been said that you have to feel the feminine in your to feel the spirituality...well she had that.
• Reply #3 06/28/08  4:02pm
  
  terrys
  My therapist oddly enough doesn't seem interested in sources except as I just happen to talk about it in the course of talking about the here and now issues and even then he doesn't pursue those past memories just listens to me relate them and why i thought of them in connection with the present problem. His comments are always grounded in present issues and what to do about them now. I do most of my exploring of the past in my 12 step meetings and daily meditation exercises in connection with that program.
• Reply #4 07/13/08  9:39pm
  
  Authentic123
  Hey terrys - has it been working?
• Reply #5 11/28/08  6:15am
  
  terrys
  Both of them yeah. I wouldn't be without my therapist or my 12 step program. I have come so far in 5 yrs. Still have a long way to go but feel a lot better.

This is a group dedicated to those suffering with anxiety and those who want to help someone with anxiety. It will focus on healing techniques such as breathing and meditation, yoga and general exercise, nutrition and supplements, inspirational stories, books, music, the value of attending a support group, therapy, hope and much more.