CBT

Has anyone ever had cognitive Behavioural Therapy?

Just I wonder if it is worth waiting for it on the NHS (can't afford to go privately).

I really get so negative with this condition that I know it is holding me back more (mentally). As when I was in Turkey on hol with my best friend a few weeks ago I managed to relax a bit for a few days, it was bliss. I cant remember the last time I had felt like that.

Wish I wasnt so hard on myself but I cant help it!!

Hope folks are ok today xxxxx

Funnily enough during my training in Hypnotherapy we learnt a bit about CBT and how the two compare and I always thought it to be a bit unbending and for me anyway it would be difficult to force myself to feel positive when it does't help with the pain. However saying that some people find it useful so you don't know unless you try!

I managed to find a book in the library earlier 'CBT for Dummies'. I'll have a look but I think CBT on the NHS takes months on a waiting list where I am. Boooooo

I think it takes months everywhere because there aren't many CB therapists on the NHS. The book should give you a good idea of whether it seems right for you or not though, if you can wade your way through it!!

I get threapy anyway as I also have anxiety and panic attacks. My therapist is multi disaplined but we have used cbt

I think actually a more person centred approach would work well for a Vulvodynia sufferer

This allows you to basically talk and talk about what you feel is most pressing. I find this approach is good to get fings off my chest and make sense of my feelings.

Its the basic talk therapy and is less structured than cbt, anyfing is worth a go tho

I highly recommend a good bit of therapy lol

Sebby xxxxxx

Hi, i was sent for cbt last year on the nhs, and waited about 10 weeks, i was very low ,and found it hard to defocus from my pain, cbt for me at the time was not much help, all i wanted was this pain to go, then i was asked if i liked to try intensive sessions,which i found better, in the way that it changed some of my way of thinking, but to be really honest the only thing that has helped me to cope with this is taking duloxetine 60mg, mentally i'm so much better, still in pain everyday but coping better with it . I used to live the life of two people (sometimes i still do) the person that's out laughing and joking with friends and family, and the person when on her own just feels sad and want to be free of this pain. Hope cbt works for you. (Still waiting for accupunture at barts)
maggie.xx

Hey Maggie,

Let me know how the accupuncture works. I didnt know that they did that at barts. That's not far from me.

And I can totally relate to feeling like two people. At work im like all jokes and getting on with it despite even finding it hard to sit at my desk some days.

Then I come home and im all tears and woe.

Its a blessing to have met all you girls on here

Sebby
xxx

I haven't had CBT, but I have had regular counselling in the past year that I still go to every month now. When i was feeling really low it helped me so much; the type I had was quite Freudian, ie she sits back and you talk and talk and talk and talk!... Very difficult at first with a complete stranger but gets so much easier and takes so much off your shoulders.

The woman I had (in kent) was brilliant as she would really listen and then pick out the themes in what I was saying, allowing me to make my own 'discoveries' about what I already knew about myself deep down but was avoiding... how very cheesy this all sounds. Anyway, she was good as she never told me what to do, but let me find out for myself. have you thought of generic counselling? You can get it on the NHS without too much of a wait, or go private for about £20-50 an hour, just make sure you go through the british association of counsellors so you get a fully qualified person.

I see a phycitrist/Psychotherapist (scuse the spelling I never get it right!) every thursday who goes through all of y medical stuff with me . Helps to chase up appointments by helping my draft letters, chase up my GP etc etc. Shes brilliant as I have to see her privately ( I wasnt mentally unstable enough to see her via NHS!...which is good i suppose!?!). Shes £100 an hr but as I see her weekly she reduced it to £60. Still a drain for my parents wallets but she does help practically.

Unforch I get so so low and down that she cant really help as my depression is reactive, ie if the gynae stuff was sorted my depression/anxiety would lift. I'd be bloody flying!!!

I just thought CBT would help. I thought id try all angles as I really struggle to even get out of bed most mornings.

I have to be honest and say, even though I know this problem gets us down, I'd rather spend that money on physical treatments such as women's health physio etc which at least has a chance of helping with the route cause. Reactive depression isn't going to get better by talking to someone but getting the pain and problem sorted would certainly help. Just my opinion and I actually am a therapist! If someone came to me with this kind of issue I would give them a relaxation CD to listen to and urge them to seek physical help instead.