Anyone done counselling for anxiety after bereavement? Did it help?

[twiddlingthumbs69]

Thinking about trying this as I think I’m spiralling and my anxiety is through the roof

anyone done it? Did it work? What do they do?

Oh, I'm sorry you're feeling wobbly. I did have bereavement counselling after my dad died suddenly. The counsellor was crap, imo - very full of herself - but I did benefit from somebody to talk to about it.

I'd definitely recommend counselling for anxiety, and I don't think it matters what triggered it. There are lots of different therapeutic approaches. There's no best way, only therapists whose approach works for you at the time. Make sure you check their registration and/or reviews. Most are willing to talk with you for a few minutes to get a feel for each other.

I do hope you find the right person for you! Meanwhile, do something nice for yourself - and here's my favourite breath calmer.

@GarlicHound thank you, I do feel the breathing helps but I feel totally out of control and panicky all the time. The propranolol and diazepam are the only things keeping me level at the moment. Hopefully the person I’m seeing tomorrow can help

Yeah I had counselling after my sister died, like pp my counsellor was crap. I got nothing from it unfortunately.

I had a few weeks of bereavement counselling after my husband died and yes I found it incredibly helpful. I had wonderful friends but I’m certain they were getting tired already of hearing me moan and groan (one snapped at me on a bad day for her). I felt like lots of other things were opening up so started having actual psychotherapy, and that lasted all through my dad getting ill and dying, my MIL going into a nursing home, my mum having a severe stroke. It was incredible for me and has changed my life.

In terms of what they do - I don’t really know. When I started telling them what I really thought, that’s when things changed.

Absolutely shyte grief Counsellor. I mean truly useless (nice woman though)

🤣

I have found that sitting with the pain and panic and allowing it to wash over me whilst breathing deeply is a good way (for me) to learn that the grief cant kill me and that the wave does pass

Your loved one isn't gone forever. They are simply in "another room" where you can't see them. But you can talk to them. I've had many signs from my Mum. She even helped me find a ring which I'd lost.

🥰❤️

I went to cruise grief counselling and it really didn't help at all. The only thing that helped was time.

I found it did help as having someone paid to listen after everyone else had started glazing over because I wasn't over it after the first 6 months.

But yes time, but be wary because you can go for years feeling like you're winning only to have grief come and whack you over the head again with zero warning and you feel like you are back at the start again. I always think the more you love the more it hurts and it's for life. You just need to have strategies for living with it, but it does get easier for the most part.

My husband had a heart attack and died very suddenly in the middle of the night, I had bereavement counselling through Cruise and found it very helpful!
I got very anxious about dropping dead with no warning, slipping in the shower and cracking my head, falling down the stairs - all that sort of stuff, I didn’t have counselling for that but sort of dealt with each worry at a time, putting in practical steps like a none slip bath mat, always had my phone in my pocket, I used to dial my best friends number when I got, just long enough that it was top of my call list, made sure all my paperwork was in order, that sort of thing!

I’m sorry you’re going through this 💐

I hope today's session was helpful, @twiddlingthumbs69.