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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Wilkie on July 19, 2002, at 10:59:33
Any advice for me? I'm increasingly having panic attacks during therapy. At first, it only happened ever so often, but now it is happening more regularly and with increasing intensity. It definitely correlates with what is being discussed during my therapy sessions, that I know for sure. But I just need to know how to keep it from happening. It really freaks me out and pretty much ruins the rest of my evening because of what happens to me physically. And it embarrasses me -- I'm freaking out in front of my therapist, the last thing she wants to deal with. She is patient and helps me through it, that is when I don't run out of her office and gasp for air outside. I'm just sick of it happening and don't know what to do about it. Thanks for listening.
Posted by Dinah on July 19, 2002, at 11:48:20
In reply to Constantly having panic attacks during therapy, posted by Wilkie on July 19, 2002, at 10:59:33
Have you spoken to your therapist about the possibility that the two of you are trying to move too quickly through difficult material?
Maybe it's time for some trust building sessions or some cognitive behavior sessions on anxiety and panic management before tackling the heavy issues again.
Just a thought. But I definitely think you should talk to your therapist about the whole thing.
Posted by terra miller on July 19, 2002, at 12:23:36
In reply to Constantly having panic attacks during therapy, posted by Wilkie on July 19, 2002, at 10:59:33
hi. sorry to hear stuff is tough. i don't know what your particular "stuff" is, but i have some thoughts.
if you are in therapy, i think having a panic attack is actually good because it shows you what you need to work on. if something you are discussing is causing you to panic, there's something there to talk about. what i am confused about is this: is your therapist willing to talk through these or not? your therapist should be willing by their very job description to talk you through why you are whigging out, not just help you breathe through it. on the other hand, it could be that your therapist knows exactly what is going on and is waiting for you to be ready to talk. i don't know.
you can choose, really. you can decide if you are ready to talk about what's causing your panic attacks... maybe you have no clue, sometimes it's like that.. or you can decide that you aren't ready. both of those are fine decisions if you know what you are ready to handle/can handle right now at this time.
i do understand.
terra
Posted by mair on July 19, 2002, at 16:07:49
In reply to Re: Constantly having panic attacks during therapy » Wilkie, posted by terra miller on July 19, 2002, at 12:23:36
That sounds pretty awful. I experience not panic attacks but periods of very high anxiety when my therapist ventures into areas that are particularly difficult for me. I don't run out, but I'd probably like to - I do sort of feel like a caged animal looking for a way out. Mostly I sort of seize up, have trouble focusing on any thoughts and the longer it goes on the worse that gets.
I know its hard to talk about what's causing the attack because if you could talk about that real easily, you'd probably not be having it to begin with. Sometimes its helpful for me to just talk about what I'm experiencing - process not substance. Maybe the substance starts seeming less threatening; maybe I never get past the process but at least I don't feel as catatonic if I've been talking about something. Sometimes, it's maybe like what Dinah describes -you're just moving maybe faster than you can.
Years ago, I had a psychiatrist who saw me struggling this way and hauled me out of his office for a pretty long walk. He made no attempt to talk about anything substantive, but we did talk alot about trees, bushes, buildings etc - all this stuff we were encountering on this walk. I don't know whether it paid dividends later or not, but at least I left his office far more relaxed than when I walked in.
Mair
Posted by coral on July 19, 2002, at 17:00:02
In reply to Constantly having panic attacks during therapy, posted by Wilkie on July 19, 2002, at 10:59:33
May I ask about the trust level between you and your therapist? I had panic attacks when I was going through the most severe depressive episode but not at his office. However, one started when I was at his office and by his commanding presence and force of words, he literally "talked" me away from it. I don't know how else to explain it. It was like being blind and waist-deep in shark-infested waters but I could hear his voice and safely walked to shore. The whole thing only took about five minutes. Shortest attack I've ever had.... it wasn't uncommon for attacks to last one-four hours. The key element is that I absolutely trust him. Your comment about your therapist not really wanting to deal with it is a little troublesome, IMHO.
Posted by terra miller on July 19, 2002, at 23:34:02
In reply to Re: Constantly having panic attacks during therapy, posted by mair on July 19, 2002, at 16:07:49
Posted by gloryb on August 28, 2002, at 12:23:38
In reply to Constantly having panic attacks during therapy, posted by Wilkie on July 19, 2002, at 10:59:33
I was wondering if something could be helpful.
If you are having panic attacks at the therapist
I guess you have them elsewhere. So does your
therapist know relaxation techniques? This
could be an opportunity to learn to live through
panic.The problem with panic is that if you are prone,
you are prone. So the battle seems more about
living with the attacks. This could be a chance
to do that. Try asking your therapist if you
could try relaxation techniques. It would be
best to learn before the attack, of course. But
then you could practice that when it comes.Just an idea.
This is the end of the thread.
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