CBT referral and half an hour telephone consultation

[supportme]

This morning I received a phone call regarding psychological therapy, which I was referred to be my GP mid December. I have a phone consultation next week, to see if CBT would benefit me. The questionnaire frustrates me a little bit because if I had received it during December I would have given different answers. One of the questions ask about whether you have had suicide thoughts, and prior to taking antidepressant I would have answered 'everyday'.

I study BSc Psychology and I know how beneficial CBT can be, and I know that I need it. I have always been ruled by negative thoughts and if I want to achieve my goals I need to stop the vicious cycle.

I hate having to prove to someone how ill I am. I feel it every second of my waking life, and depression even haunts me in my dreams. The way I see it is my GP would not have referred me in the first place if I didn't need it. I have been waiting absolutely years to sort out my depression. I wish people would talk my word for it.

I feel quite frightened about the telephone conversation, say if they turn me away. I don't want to fight this alone. I have been neglected for the last 8 weeks. Just trying to deal with my losts all by myself. I have lost so much this year. It's just too painful.

[Zaf]

It seems to me yet another way the system does not make allowances for people with depression or mental healt problems,  do you think it might help to make some notes before the phone call in case you get flustered?

[Sweetpea]

I agree with Zaf, writing down all your feelings and why you feel you would benefit from CBT would be helpful.  You would then have it all in front of you for when you have the telephone conversation.  Your dr has referred you for this so as you have said he must think you would benefit from it.

S x

[Rebel Ian]

I took some guidance from here and wrote down some of my feelings before I went to see my GP. It helped for sure. It came out as a garbled list of rambling thoughts but at least I covered everything. Writing it down can help if you know what you want to say and what's bothering you or how you feel.

I think if you know what's troubling you then it's good to get it down on paper so you can then elaborate that to a GP or therapist. That said, I've been referred to CBT and when I start those sessions I'm not going to write anything down as I'm really not sure why I have such depressing thoughts. I think I'm going to see what comes out and see what they say.

[lightenup]

Before CBT the questionaire is used as the benchmark, how you are when you begin the sessions, then you will be tested again at a later time to measure how far you have come.

During the time between sessions you may be asked to keep a diary, listing how you feel through the day and when exposed to certain situations.  Sometimes when I was at the end of my tether a phone call to my therapist gave me the needed boost to carry on.  Give it a go you have nothing to loose.