Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

[Ali_in_Somerset]

Hi all, just wondering if anyone has any experience of this in relation to Fibro, and what people's thoughts are on whether it's worth it or not.

Ali

[linlit]

hi ali

I did a 6 week course in march it was only 2 hrs a week I found it very helpful,

it didn't help with symptoms but it helped me out of a depression, I didn't know I had if that makes any sense and gave me a more positive outlook on life

lin.

[Ali_in_Somerset in reply to linlit]

Hi Lin,

Thanks for your reply. I think this is probably what I might benefit from, as I'm not good at focusing on the positives, especially when I'm having a bad pain week. Did you go through the NHS or did you have to pay?

Ali

[linlit in reply to Ali_in_Somerset]

through the NHS my doctor referred me.

lin

[Hidden]

It can be useful for developing procedures so that your disabilities don't prevent them taking over your life if you know what I mean

[Ali_in_Somerset]

Thank you, that's sort of along the lines of what I've heard/read. I'm thinking it could be useful not just for Fibro-related stuff, but general life stuff as well.

Ali

[clare_hart]

I would agree with all of the above. CBT is good for learning how to live with ourselves and other people. We are so prone to make judgments about others and ourselves. I think that was one of the greatest benefits I had from the training, learning not to judge, take things so personally, or get so hurt by others' problems/garbage.

There is a book written in 1980 called Feeling Good by Dr. David Burns, which I read (not all of it though) in the 90s. It was my intro to CBT and gave me some understanding. You might want to take a look at that. It wasn't till I took sessions about 7years ago that I began to understand and work some of it into my life.

As others have said, I think it will help you. My best to you.

[TheAuthor]

Hi Ali_in_Somerset

I sincerely hope that you are feeling as well as you possibly can be today? Yes, I am very familiar with CBT, it was one of the nodules I used in my Psychotherapy diploma. It has its place along with most of the other styles of counselling.

We were always taught that each and every style should be looked at depending on who the patient / client is and what they are presenting with and how do they respond to self understanding through proposed questioning? This means that some people need to be lead or challenged a little more than others! And if you think of the myriad of issues that a person goes to see a counsellor about then this makes great sense.

I want to wish you all the best of luck if you decide to follow up and have a series of CBT.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken x

[moonstonebright]

Hi Ali, I am currently having CBT through the chronic pain team and I'm finding it quite helpful! It's all about accepting the massive change to my life since becoming ill and not being able to do my job anymore or even drive the car etc. I have lots if stress in my life with having a disabled child etc and the chance to talk to an independent person is to me extremely valueable. i think if you're offered the chance to have CBT and it's free you should give it a go, nothing to lose and hopefully much to gain in the support it gives.

Good luck!

April

[ef59]

Hello. I had to complete a six week CBT course earlier this year as part of the requirements for early retirement. Each session lasted about an hour and I found them mentally very helpful. Good luck. Xx

[aura2]

Same for me . I fell into depression after 20yrs of fibro for no reason at all it seemed. I had 12 hrs 1 hr week . I was able to unload how I felt about it all and learnt how to deal with others attitude towards me . helped a great deal . I still use what I learnt 6yrs on . Really hope it will be as good for you .

[Hedgerow]

I had CBT a couple of years ago for depression. It was really helpful. However, the first practitioner I saw was nowhere near as good as the second one - both on the NHS but the second one was much more experienced and effective.

[habinns17]

Hi there. I am currently having cbt through my local pain clinic. I am having 1hr for 12 weeks. I have found it helpful as it has made me consider the unhelpful thinking techniques I have developed in regards to my illness. It is very goal focused which I like. My therapist recommended the following books: Overcoming Pain and Overcoming Chronic Fatigue. You can find them on amazon. Good luck. X

[Hidden]

Hi Ali, I was given 10 sessions, over a period of 3-4 months. I found it a huge help - and I was the biggest sceptic. My rheumatologist recommended it and to be honest if he'd suggested almost anything I would have tried it, I so wanted to get as well as I could. I did my sessions over a webcam so I didn't have to travel anywhere for it, my therapist was lovely, I usually had my sessions Monday morning and I felt it really set me up for the week. Even now if I have a flare or worry of some sort I stop and think well what would my therapist have advised, I'd say give it a try. Hope this helps, s x

[Furry]

Hi, I did the six week course and found it very helpful, it helps you to help yourself which I thought was great. Well worth it. I also found it helpful to talk to others in the group with similar problems. Take care. X x

[Gramma]

I'm a huge fan of CBT, for all sorts of reasons (too many to post on here)!! It's certainly not a cure or an easy option as it needs a lot of commitment, but it greatly helps to deal with and control many conditions. As Furry says, you also get to meet others in the same boat, so to speak. It always helps to know you're not the only one with the same problems. X.

[jillylin]

Hi,

yes, I have and it has helped enormously. I am still in pain but I cope better with it now.

I think it is worth trying it.

Hugs

Jillyxx

[ZAbbott]

I think it's horses for courses: if you have the energy and aren't worried it might be harmful, then anything that might help is worth a try.... It's just that fibro takes all our energy is all....

I didn't find my cbt (mainly online and book from the GP - though the book is available in most city libraries too) gave me a great deal, but I had to have counselling when I was younger, and think I picked up a lot of what CBT teaches you back then.

Worth a shot maybe?

Good luck xx

[TSH110]

I am doing a CBT course now and it is very helpful, but I doubt it will make one iota of difference to my hypothyroid symptoms. Given these are chemically caused in essence, it comes as no surprize to me that they have been improved by chemical treatment with NDT (much better than Levo) and adequate levels of medication not the woefully meagre dosage the NHS seem to limit one too (with their blinkered TSH obsession) despite clearly still having severe hypo symptoms which are then miraculously re labelled as depression/mental health disorders etc - isn't it odd that taking NDT suddenly cured them in my case?

I can't see how CBT can put right a chemical imbalance, but It can help to overcome psychological damage one may have suffered most likely at a formative age, leading to unhelpful coping strategies. Life can throw a lot at you that is not directly related to hypo or related conditions but do appear to exacerbate them. Interestingly, those who have thyroid disorders are more likely to have suffered childhood abuse than those who have not.

If you have emotional problems or depression I think it is well worth trying CBT - it can be very enlightening. It is very difficult to actually get any CBT on the NHS now, yet it is the most effective therapy for mental health problems. But for sure it can't cure hypothroidism (or fibro if it is really hypothyroidism as some believe) the only thing that will put that right is adequate levels of thyroxine to enable one's body and mind to function normally.