Advice on cognitive behavioural therapy?

[letswiggle]

One of my relatives is suffering from - not sure exactly how to describe - a sort of morbid fear of death, especially from heart failure. I think it's really debilitating, as he has panic attacks and can't sleep etc, and it's wearing on the whole family. He's seen a psychiatrist for quite a long time, but with no notable improvement. I expect the fact that he will hardly talk to anyone else about it doesn't help either (this won't change as he's afraid of losing professional credibility.

Anyway, I read something about CBT and thought that it might help him to think about his life and health in a constructive way, as he is now very negative and pessimistic.

Does anyone know more about it?

Yes - I have had CBT. I wrote about it on the recent thread discussing the little girl who was afraid of choking.

I had a condition which it turned out really was a physical condition and nothing to do with my mind (i.e a phobia or fear) but I still found the CBT therapy I had really helpful in dealing with stressful situations.

There is a lot of stuff on the internet about it. The point is that it trains the person to deal with their fears by giving them strategies and thought processes.

It does not aim to deal with the origial trigger factor that caused the phobia or fear to begin with.

i am doing a free online cbt course
its called the wellness shop
maybe he could try it

I'm having it atm for my needle phobia (and general nuttyness )

I am finding it very useful. I have had counselling in the past and it didn't help. This is.

I have got a needle, a syringe and a canula (sp?) in my bag and I can now touch them, stroke them against my skin and tape the canula to myself and wear it all day. [proud]

HecatesTwopenceworth - that sounds really good. So CBT really worked for you?

I always felt is was somewhat like that saying 'feel the fear and do it anyway'. I think there was a book about it.

yup. It is working. I'll never make jabbing needles into myself my hobby but I went for blood tests before christmas, and it took them 3 tries to get blood and I coped. I wasn't happy or comfy, but I coped. I got through it without crying or having a panic attack! (or legging it!)

Before, I would have been sobbing and shaking before I got in the chair!

To give you an idea of how bad my fear is - I have discharged myself from hospital after an asthma attack (before stable) because they wanted to put a needle in me. I have been in hospital after an attack, with a cannula in, (not attached to anything, just 'in case' ) and I pulled it out - don't try it, it's not good.)

Thanks very much - sounds like it could be worth a try. It seems to be a learned response to outside factors that ought to be able to be unlearned. Well done Hecates, by the way!