Booked in for CBT next week - what to expect?

[Snufflebabe05]

I have a long term health issue that flares every now and again.

Was at the doctors about the condition recently and was recommended CBT to support my anxiety and to stop my ‘catastrophizing’ of the condition.

NHS Waiting list is 12 months so I have booked privately to someone who was recommended locally.

No idea what to expect. I’m a pretty private person but this health condition leaves me feeling very anxious and can easily spiral into a mental dark hole.

I've only had about 4 sessions so far, but from my very limited experience, they have just asked how my week has been and if there has been any potential triggers. They might ask about your past history and how your moods have been.

I was given a sheet to fill out, so basically - problem, how did it make me feel, did I have any physical symptoms, what can I do to change it etc.

To be honest though, I just found that they are constantly clock watching, which is a bit off putting.

I found that because they challenged my thinking a bit did make me more anxious at first. It really helped though. Good luck!

Paperwork. Lots of it. You'll have a check in sheet that you fill in at the start of every session to monitor progress or in my case decline and to assess your mood. First session will be a getting to know you sort of talk, you'll explain your issues and health conditions and why you are there. He/she will attempt to challenge your negative or self destructive thinking patterns and make you more aware of them and why you get caught up in them. You will be given homework that will seem like a waste of time but after a few weeks it will make sense why you were given it.

Try to be honest with them. It's really hard at first to sit across from a stranger and tell them things that you don't even like acknowledging to yourself that you feel but you will gradually trust them more and more and realise that it's always the things you really don't want to talk about, or cringe to even think about that are at the root of your issues and sometimes you don't even think it's related. It's frustrating. You have to have patience and co-operate in a sort of "all will make sense eventually" mindframe.

98% of session 1 is just crying as you explain that you’re fine really, it’s just ——— and ———
Bring a notebook with you to jot down things the person tells you. It’s about changing how you think, I found it helpful, unlike counselling which was utterly useless in every instance.