Anxiety Support Group
Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...
i have been having counselling since last August.
i am currently on my third counsellor. The first one didn't work out, the second one went away for xmas and didn't come back and my current one I've been seeing since February and have made a lot of progress with her and things have been going a bit better.
this evening was my last session before a four week break which I was a little apprehensive about.
anyway when I arrived at the venue where I have counselling I discovered that they have a new receptionist who happens to be my first counsellor.
i haven't seen her since I ended my sessions with her last September.
basically I really struggle with anxiety and it was my first experience of counselling and I find it really hard to talk about myself, I'd said that I found it easier if she asked questions to give me a grounding on which to work on.
On the final session (which was the fifth) I had with her she told me she had had enough of asking me questions and I had to start the conversation. She then proceeded to sit in silence for the entire 50 minutes while I became increasingly distressed by what she was asking of me. I had already told her in a previous session that I felt awkward when we sat in silence as it was something she had done a few times, just not for that long.
Anyway due to how she was during that session I ended up having a panic attack and requesting to change counsellors as I knew after that I was never going to trust her (I also have trust issues anyway so this didn't help the situation).
seeing her tonight when I arrived made me so anxious and made me feel panicky. Even my current counsellor picked up on my nervousness and guessed correctly what had caused it. (I haven't spoken to her much about my previous counsellors and never mentioned their names but they will know each other even if not very well) I suppose my records will show who my previous counsellors were and the reason I had to change.
I has really shaken me arriving to see her sitting behind the desk, thankfully I didn't have a need to speak to her or make eye contact but knowing she was sitting the other side of the wall to my counselling room really put me on edge and made me so anxious.
knowing she is now going to be there every single week makes me so worried.
i don't want to stop going and want to continue seeing my current counsellor as I am making a lot of progress and she has really helped me. But I could feel myself this evening feeling really tense because I knew she was just outside the room.
I dont know know what to do or what I can do to try and make myself feel less anxious.
Glad to hear that you like your current counselor.
As far as the 1st counselor, I don't think it was right at all, to sit in silence the whole appointment, waiting for you to talk, and I don't blame you for switching. I am also sorry it gave you a panic attack.
You have moved on from her, and even though she might be right on the other side of the wall, try and remember that she has moved on also.
There is nothing to worry about, you now have a counselor that you like, and you are going there to see her.
If by some chance that you would have to sign in with the old one, keep in mind that is all it is. You do not have to deal with her anymore in a personal way.
Yes, when people work together, they usually know each other, but don't let that stop you from sharing your previous experience with your new counselor. It was your experience, and it hindered you. By speaking about it, it might help you over come the anxiety you have about her, and can give the new counselor good information about you, and what needs to be worked on.
Wishing you the best of luck, and remember, you can do it. Keep up the good work:)
I definitely have increased respect for my current counsellor as she noticed I looked more anxious than usual and she correctly identified the reason why without me having said anything about it. I've never gone into detail about my previous counsellors with her and I've never mentioned their names. She knew that I had requested to change counsellors and that I'd had a few panic attacks because of the first counsellor but I'd never gone into more detail than that.
I think it made me realise how much of a relationship I've built with my current counsellors that I've not had with others because she was able to read my body language, know something was different and guess what was bothering me even without me saying anything on the subject.
I felt so awkward sitting in the waiting room before my session because there was only me, my first counsellor(the receptionist) and her boss who I've never spoken to but is there most weeks.
It was odd though as all the feelings and emotions I had felt, especially during the last session, with my first counsellor seemed to completely overwhelm and engulf me and made me feel so panicky. It was so unexpected.
I don't imagine she is too concerned about you right now; I don't imagine she's thinking about you too much. She probably has a lot of clients that go to other counsellors, and will have clients that have come from other counsellors. The whole issue of counsellors is that they get along with the individual they are dealing with, and that's largely a matter of personality. This stuff will be run of the mill to her, you won't be standing out in any way and I don't think you're likely to get into any trouble for it... - so just let it fall on the floor. If you are nervous when she's there just fake it till you make it. Act normal as you go past her, smile, say hello... scuttle into your counsellor's room... and eventually it'll all become normal, all become relaxed, and everyone can let go of any hangups.