How do I handle my anxiety when talking to a new therapist?

[Pianoplayer28]

My psychiatrist knows me pretty well at this point but I have my first appointment with my new therapist this Monday on the 17th! I’m excited but I’m also having anxiety because for one, how am I suppose to remember all the things I need to tell her about me… and how am I going to word things to get her to understand what I go through…. What if she gets me all wrong because I prioritize useless information and use the important things as secondary information? What if she has the control to contact my psychiatrist and change my dosage or take away my medications? I’m so scared of that! What if because the medications make me so great that she can’t really assess me because I’m not my un-medicated self? Which I don’t particularly enjoy my un-medicated self because I get random panic attacks and night terrors, not with mention spacing out a lot and fidgetting! What if….. what if what if what if…. This is the kind of fixation I’m talking about! I fixate so dam much that I’m already losing before starting… Ugh…. How do I handle my anxiety? Other than the therapist I’m going to see on Monday lol…. How do I prepare mentally?

[CassandraGemini]

There is nothing wrong with preparing a list for your new therapist. I know your appointment is tomorrow, but try keeping a paper with you or list on your phone to add to as you think of things. Take it to bed with you so you can write if you think of things while trying to go to sleep.

If you are located in the US, your therapist can not recommend or prescribe medications, but can refer you to someone who can. One thing that really helped me was to remember that I am a customer paying for a service (even if insurance is really paying). If I am not happy with that service, I can feel free to get one that I am happy with.

I just read a thread on Reddit about what things therapists were told that people thought were weird or unique, but were actually very common for therapists to hear. I will see if I can find it. Your psychiatrist and therapist may confer on your treatment, but I don't think they can do that without your permission. Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

The fixation you are speaking of is actually very common. That should be something the therapist can help you with. Do you know why you are being referred to the therapist in the first place? It seems like even though you are medicated successfully you are still experiencing symptoms like racing thoughts and anxiety. Your therapist should be able to help you with those things even while you continue to use the medication that already works for you. If your therapist tries to get your psychiatrist to change or cut off your meds, then you know this is not the right therapist for you. As an adult, it is your right to have a doctor that is compatible with your needs. It is common to go through more than one therapist to find the right fit.

[CassandraGemini in reply to CassandraGemini]

Here is that reddit thread: reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comm... I hope this can bring you at least a small amount of peace. Best of luck with your appointment tomorrow.

[Pianoplayer28 in reply to CassandraGemini]

Thank you that was very helpful information! I’ll start writing a list right now! And I will click the link to that Reddit. And I wasn’t referred to a therapist, it was suggested by my friends and family that I go see a therapist because I’m still needing to dig deeper and unravel things that can hopefully be fixed. I am doing spectacular with my medications but before I was on them I was having….. unalive feelings…. And a list of things that I wasn’t doing very well with. Like I’ve mentioned my panic, moods, spacing, and night terrors.

[CassandraGemini]

You are very welcome! As you are referring yourself to a therapist, the situation is even more under your own control. If the therapist wants you to do anything that you are uncomfortable with in any way, you have every right to say no. Everything that goes on between the two of you should be done with your explicit consent. And don't ever feel bad if you need to get a new therapist. You might think the therapist is a good one in general, just not right for you. That doesn't mean you are being rude or insulting. Therapists are used to hearing that, and a decent one won't judge you for feeling that way. If they do judge you, or try to talk you out of it, that just confirms that they are crap. This is just the next step in your journey to a healthier you, and I think in the long run, you will be happy you chose to confront your issues. Best wishes!

[Pianoplayer28]

Thank you so much! That means a lot to me! There are a list of other struggles I dealt with growing up and I think finding a therapist has been over due. My appointment is today at 5pm! And that’s so cool you’re a therapist yourself! It must be hard work but rewarding all at the same time!

[QuothTheRaven]

How did your appointment go?

[Pianoplayer28 in reply to QuothTheRaven]

My appointment went surprisingly well, it was only the first appointment but she really understood what I was telling her and she sees very much so I have anxiety so she gave me some homework to do for this week, and that is to eliminate caffeine, watch comedies instead of scary movies, laugh more, and to study the links she gave me on panic attacks, sleep disruption, and I forget what the other one said. She really guided me through the session!… But anyway she was really good at figuring things out with just the first few things I said. We had to cut it about 15 minutes short because my son was distracting me. Which I had a panic attack about because she seemed a little discontent about it. But she said she’d see me next week!

[QuothTheRaven]

Has therapy been helping you?

[Pianoplayer28 in reply to QuothTheRaven]

I actually dropped my therapist because she stopped caring….