Counselling

[Lynn1966]

Hi all, I had my first counselling session today. I was a bit apprehensive about going. I'm so glad I did. It was lovely to talk to someone who just sat and listened. It went from how I am feeling about my mum passing away in march 😢 To how I feel today. I now realise I have to come to terms that I had the heart attack and that me trying to pretend it hasn't happened is going to take longer to get back on the road to recovery. X

[laura_dropstitch Heart Star]

So glad you gave it a go and found it helpful, Lynn. Hopefully some others will follow your example. Do you have any more sessions lined up? Hope it continues to work well for you. Good luck!

[Lynn1966 in reply to laura_dropstitch]

Hi Laura, yes I've another one in 2 wks time. It was very helpful and I was talking about things I don't discuss and it's was very surprising how much I opened up. Her last words to me was that I had to accept It was me who had an Heart attack and that I'm not talking about someone else. Which actually made me think, as I do act like it hasn't happened to me. X

[Sususulio]

Oh that’s good - you have had a lot of things happen in a short space of time and the counselling will give you an outlet. I have only been to one found it quite traumatic but hope it will prove cathartic and I’m sure it will prove to be that for you too xx

[daisy2311]

I was a Bereavement Counsellor with Cruse for 8 years. I am also having counselling myself currently and training to be a fully qualified counsellor, so as you can imagine I am a big advocate for it and know how valuable it can be. People underestimate just how valuable it is to talk to a stranger who has no agenda and also how it is often far easier to share things with a counsellor. Keep going!

[Chappychap in reply to daisy2311]

My wife followed a similar route to you, she was a Cruse bereavement counsellor and then qualified as a Gestalt counsellor, she went on to complete a degree in counselling. She's currently volunteering as a counsellor for two local charities and working as a counsellor in a primary school while building up a private practise. Stick with it Daisy!

On the subject of counselling and heart attacks, a close friend of my wife is a trauma counsellor and has had a few heart attack clients who often present with many of the symptoms of PTSD.

[ubet123]

I'm glad I've seen your post Lynn , I had my heart attack 9 weeks ago and was adamant that I was going back to work and convinced I was handling everything ok , but 9 weeks on I find I'm making excuses not to return to work and I find I'm defining my life around my heart attack, so I think I might give counselling a try, and I've just realised I've made this about myself , so I think I should sign up very soon lol , all the best.

[Lynn1966 in reply to ubet123]

Hi, I had my heart attack 8 wks ago 😢. Everything I say or do is around my heart attack. Some days I think right I can do this. Then I find my BP is too low, or I get little niggles in my chest or I go to do something and find I can't 😬😢.. when my family speak to me it's always about what happened. Like you, I feel my life is defined around my heart attack. Couple of wks ago I just wanted to get back to work and do all the things I used to do.. I know realise that it's going to take time to be able to get back to normal. So as off now I'm going to have to accept what has happened and make the best off it as I can. I highly recommend you to go see a councillor as you can discuss everything with . Good luck ,I wish you all the best xx