Has counselling helped anyone?

[Sarahloudobby]

Hi everyone
I visited the doctor yesterday, mainly due to some recent respiratory issues I’ve been having. He checked my heart rate and said it is fine (low but ok) and we had a general discussion on how I’m feeling. I was very honest as lately I’ve been feeling just overall very poorly, very emotional as though tears are always close to the surface, achey as though with flu and not feeling refreshed by sleep. He suggested doing blood work to check levels of many things including b12, iron, calcium and to check for lupus which surprised me. But he also gave me the number of local counselling as an option. I just wondered what people’s thoughts were? I am feeling a little low but I think I accept a lot of my feelings as ME related. I did see a counsellor when I was much younger after the death of my grandad.
Thanks in advance
Sarah x

 

[jesse's mom]

I do not at all think that what I and we as a group suffer from is some kind of psychological, or psychiatric disorder. That said a really good therapist can be a very good thing. Truly adjusting to a life changing illness is very difficult. There is a theory that on of the triggers of CFS/ME is huge amounts of stress and trauma.

When I first became ill I was emotionally undone due to several factors, one being that I had always been an achiever and very physical. It did me good to go to private counselling. I do not go any more and also feel well adjusted and emotionally well. I do still get emotional when I am in severe pain, or when I am exhausted. I still become overwhelmed when someone will not respect my boundaries as far as face to face conversation and loud noises.

The key in my opinion is to find a good therapist, they are few and far between. Use care in selecting one

 

[Sarahloudobby]

Thankyou. The idea of talking to someone outside of my friend and family is a little appealing actually

 

[Starlight]

I think it is a great help. Getting the right person is important,and you might have to try a few. I found it helped greatly in giving me back a sense of my own strength in dealing with significant others who are less than supportive and also with the grief I felt due to the enormous changes in my life and lifestyle due to this illness. It is good to have someone to talk openly and honestly about the devastation and uncertainty that becomes the new normal with ME. I have used counselling a few times when I needed to and even a few sessions can make a great difference. It was well worth the money spent. I hope that you find it helpful if you decide to go ahead with it.

 

[Wolfcub]

It might be very helpful. Sometimes to talk over things with someone can shine more conscious awareness on certain things. And management of the illness can be hard, so an extra suggestion here and there -of a lateral-thinking kind and from another brain -can definitely help.
But you should get the exact "right person" to work with. I can imagine talking to someone who had no realisation of what you were actually experiencing....that would be no good.

So far I haven't experienced counseling with anyone though.....

 

[Sarahloudobby]

Thankyou everyone. I am seriously considering it. My blood tests are booked for next Tuesday so I’ll see how they go and what the results are. Always very grateful for your support x

 

[Johannes]

Yes and no. Psychotherapy has not helped me. But psychophysical therapy has helped me to understand that I think I don't do too much physical home work when I actually do too much.

We charted my raily routines and found out that I am constantly doing something and became tired of doing too much. I wrote down everything I did during a day, including resting. Hour by hour. Do it yourself and see.