This thread is in response Firestormm/s request for me to share my experience of therapy at Bart's and to SOC's very specific questions about it on another thread. Link
http://forums.phoenixrising.me/showthread.php?16737-BACME-2012-Conference-Agenda&
I've shoved this in the news section because I think it is news and good news at that.
Most importantly I'd like explain how different my experience was compared to what you might expect from the PACE CBT manual. I've still got a couple of sessions to go so please excuse if I switch between present and past tense. And I have to admit I'm a little nervous of sharing this.
It's in three parts, overview, therapy and gains.
Part I Overview
I had declined therapy for a couple of years at Barts. The idea of someone attempting to alter my false illness beliefs didn't have much appeal. This is particularly the case because my main belief is that there's a strong biological basis to this illness and though mind certainly affects body, it's often forgotten that body has an equally potent impact on mind and brain.
My decision to have a go at therapy came finally when I couldn't cope with the frustration any longer.
Just so you know, I don't have primary or comorbid mood disorders or mental health problem, apart from a couple of phobias. I've had ME for 5 years, experienced and still experience quite severe cognitive difficulties when fatigued. PEM for me, a crushing heavy fatigue, can be immediate if I do static exercise eg handgrip test or might hit 72 hours later if I've overdone it in a less intense but more prolonged way. Dysautonomia particularly POTS, and hypermobility are also a problem.
When I first met the therapist I mmediately felt comfortable with her and I think that has made all the difference. She asked what I wanted to achieve from therapy I said, 'good health, increased vitality.'
Very clearly, she told me she couldn't really offer that as therapy was not a cure. I was told that therapy was not a cure several times. What she was offering however, was integrated psychological therapy. This would hopefully help me cope better with the illness and live life in a more flexible and possibly more fulfilling way.
There are four parts to the therapy: CBT, Pacing, Mindfulness and Acceptance and Commitment therapy. I'll deal with them separately and give examples but they do in fact weave nicely together.
http://forums.phoenixrising.me/showthread.php?16737-BACME-2012-Conference-Agenda&
I've shoved this in the news section because I think it is news and good news at that.
Most importantly I'd like explain how different my experience was compared to what you might expect from the PACE CBT manual. I've still got a couple of sessions to go so please excuse if I switch between present and past tense. And I have to admit I'm a little nervous of sharing this.
It's in three parts, overview, therapy and gains.
Part I Overview
I had declined therapy for a couple of years at Barts. The idea of someone attempting to alter my false illness beliefs didn't have much appeal. This is particularly the case because my main belief is that there's a strong biological basis to this illness and though mind certainly affects body, it's often forgotten that body has an equally potent impact on mind and brain.
My decision to have a go at therapy came finally when I couldn't cope with the frustration any longer.
Just so you know, I don't have primary or comorbid mood disorders or mental health problem, apart from a couple of phobias. I've had ME for 5 years, experienced and still experience quite severe cognitive difficulties when fatigued. PEM for me, a crushing heavy fatigue, can be immediate if I do static exercise eg handgrip test or might hit 72 hours later if I've overdone it in a less intense but more prolonged way. Dysautonomia particularly POTS, and hypermobility are also a problem.
When I first met the therapist I mmediately felt comfortable with her and I think that has made all the difference. She asked what I wanted to achieve from therapy I said, 'good health, increased vitality.'
Very clearly, she told me she couldn't really offer that as therapy was not a cure. I was told that therapy was not a cure several times. What she was offering however, was integrated psychological therapy. This would hopefully help me cope better with the illness and live life in a more flexible and possibly more fulfilling way.
There are four parts to the therapy: CBT, Pacing, Mindfulness and Acceptance and Commitment therapy. I'll deal with them separately and give examples but they do in fact weave nicely together.