In October I decided to see a therapist. Blood pressure, not sleeping and apparently depressed per the checklist, it seemed like a better alternate than taking some pills. Not that I am against medication, but the last time I did it I packed on the pounds so not this time.
First step: Find a therapist that your insurance accepts AND has hours that work for you.
Second step: Call them and wait for them to call your back. Of the three that I called, only one called back. By the way some of the therapists that said they had hours after work or early AM didn’t, they just forgot to update their information.
Step three: Set up the first appointment and see how it goes.
Lucky for me, found a good location, great time and what seemed to be (and later is) a good fit for me.
So I’ve been going for a short time but feeling better about myself, feeling like I am more empowered and instead of reacting to things being more proactive.
Now Covid 19 hits and how will this work. I usually sit across from a live person who by now has a really good idea of who I am and what I need help with, but now I can’t do that. I have been really diligent about contact since I am in the high risk group – asthmatic and just recently recovered from a terrible case of bronchitis.
So we set up a phone time that was different from our regular one because it was better for the therapist and at a time when I could talk more freely, i.e. nobody home then, and it went OK. It was strange, it was a little awkward, but it was okay.
Will I do it again? I told my therapist that I am doing okay. I no longer worry as much, that I have caught this awful disease. I stay away from the news as much as possible, and stay off some social media sites. I need to be careful who I talk to because if they are anxious and worried then I become anxious and worried. I read factual, scientific articles that help me feel that they are getting a handle on this thing, but I still worry that there will more to come after this one is over and done.
The way we left it is to check back in two weeks to see if A) I need it and B) she has the time to do it because she has a family and young children now home from school and maybe other clients need the services more.
My ending advice is to give it a try. Talking to someone who isn’t judging your or trying to “fix” your problem or “fix” you is very cathartic. Maybe it will save you from medication, maybe it will be in conjunction with medication. Opening up and letting your feelings and thoughts out into the open isn’t a bad thing. It doesn’t make you weak or needy, it just make you a real person who may benefit from talking with another real person, trained in how to help.
Reasons for Gladness 