advised to go to a psychotherapist...

[[sl...]]

Oke, so finally I reached the point (after 3,5  months of hardly any sleep) to take medication for my insomnia problem (no benzo ofcourse). I just can't function like this anymore. I get sick all the time, can't focus on work, social life is pretty much non-existent, look like crap, feel exhausted etc.

However: now my neurologist and neuropsychologist don't want to give me trazodone or mirtazapine etc. They advice me to go the a psychotherapist. They think I have some deep emotional blokkage (problem) that prevents me from sleeping. I try to tell them that 6 months ago my life was great and I had no problem at all, but they now think that things from the past (not sure what they are) are coming out now???!!! This is based on my waking up after half an hour of sleep in sweats en rapid heart rates. They think it must be anxiety or something.

 

Again it is shown that benzo-withdrawal is not taken seriously I guess.

 

So, I agreed to go to a psychotherapist/psychiatrist. Who knows... maybe something is going on with me emotionally/mentally that I just can't reach. I figure that if it really won't help the psychiatrist is able to give me the right medication to help me sleep (no benzo ofcourse).

 

Maybe psychotherapy can work? not sure though.

 

Since waiting lists are 2 to 3 months, I am still stuck on the road of severe insomnia.

 

Going to try tart cherry now, relaxation excersice and feetrefextherapy (read something about this, can also help with insomnia... I will try anything at this point).

 

Any of you done psychotherapy?

 

Well, of to work now again, praying this life will get better at some point.

[[sl...]]

Nobody psychotherapy???

[[bl...]]

I had psychotherapy last year for a few weeks when I was trying to stabilise and was in a meds and was highly anxious, nauseous and barely slept. My mum was convinced that it was all due to unresolved issues with my father who was ruined my childhood due to domestic violence and being mentally unstable. She paid so I thought well I will give it a go despite knowing all my symptoms were chemicals?my induced. Well it made me worse as I provided me with an additional layer of anxiety on top of what I had already due to dredging up the past which I had no resources for at that time. I knocked it on the head. When I had stabilised and began my taper I had 6 sessions of CBT which I ensured I was clear about the aim which was not I can remove anxiety by altering thoughts that doesn't work in withdrawal and many CBT therapy fails as this is the agenda which you inevitably fail. I set the aim to become more accepting and focused when I did get bad withdrawals - this was still if limited use but was far better and less damaging than the psychotherapy as it deals with the 'now'. When I am recovered and off benzos I may have another go at psychotherapy but it is a long and expensive business.

[[Su...]]

I am a big believer in psychotherapy, but it can only do so much while in w/d I figure.  Insomnia is brutal!  And insomnia caused by benzo w/d in unlikely to be touched much by therapy.  In some ways for me I have found therapy to be more helpful at other times in my life.  It's hard to "go inside to see how I feel" when really mostly what I'm feeling are physical symptoms, and "I feel like s--t."

  I know that previous therapy has given me some tools to help with the anxiety and depression that comes and goes....