same question..for sage

[nobodyknowsit]

I know I asked this already but I want to hear sage's side/opinion:


sage, you said you consider yourself "cured". Do you consider yourself emet 100% gone and out of your life, completey eliminated? This is one of my goals but I don't know whether it is a realistic one..


thanks!

[sage]

I answered this on the other thread...short answer again: YES

[nobodyknowsit]

I'm sorry, sage. I meant to post thata secondjust so that you knew it was specifically for you..I didn't realize I posted it so many times..[img]smileys/smilies_06.gif[/img]


By the way, Have you ever tried the treatment on that site? How do you know it's a scam? I believe you, but I just wanted to know how you found out it wasn't real.


I am actually in the process of finding a new therapist. I'm looking for that "click" you were talking about. I've been to many therapists throughout my hopitalization;some were just treating me short-term, and many were/are too expensive, especially since my family is falling into a financial crisis.


I apologize again for repeating that post


Thanks for allyour help!

[sage]

Hey - thanks for the reply. As for the "treatments" on the "scam" sites, a number of years ago I got sucked into some "quick fix" idea treatment "kits". Never tried that particular one. The reason I say "scam" is because of one very important factor: Mental illness comes about for a variety of reasons, but one that is always present is that the patient does not feel safe. This usually means he or she did not feel 100% safe in his or her family of origin, for a number of various reasons. Nevertheless, an atmosphere of safety, trust, care, concern and nurture is IMPERATIVE in treatment of severe phobias. You just cannot get this from videos or books or much less, a few telephone sessions. And the problem is that these people charge ridiculous costs. Now I'm the first to recommend a good book to someone who cannot afford or find a therapist or who isn't ready yet to enter into treatment. I usually recommend Bourne's "Anxiety and Phobia Workbook". There are other good ones as well, and you should pay about $20 for them.


But some of these website programs cost $1500. Crazy. Otta be a law.


Although I haven't tried them, I have talked to dozens of phobics who have, and they've all been bitterly disappointed.


Since I give up about the average of an hour a day of my time on this site to help other phobics, I kinda get outraged at these scammers who just want to take your money and don't care a hoot about you.


Anyway, that's my rant. Nope, never tried it. Similarly, I haven't tried putting my head in a cement mixer...but I wouldn't hesitate to advise against it.

[nobodyknowsit]

I met my new therapist today. She is really nice, I think I'll like her. I did ask her if she does exposure therapy, and she didn't sound like it was something she did frequently. She told me she had a patient with emet before, but she didn't tell me what the outcome was. She gave me her email address..I think I'm going to email her and try to get a more definite answer; because i think it is really importanat, probably necessary, that i go to someone who does exposure therapy.


What do you think?

[sage]

Maybe try printing out the INFO TO GIVE YOUR DR. OR FAMILY sheets that I posted on the Treaments site (sticky under "Important Topics" at the top) and give them to her to read. Then sit down with her and discuss treatment options. Ask her what her plan is. I know this is tough when you're so young, but really...it's your life, your nickel, so to speak...your time. You should always be "in the driver's seat" in therapy.

[nobodyknowsit]

Thanks, Sage. I gave her the link to that "info" thread because my printer is not working. I brought the link with me and offered it to her, and she said she will check it out...I did email her about her approach with her previous emet patient, and what the outcome was, but i haven't heard back yet. I'll be seeing her on Thursday, so that's not a major problem. The problem is, I have this thought in my mind that the therapist has to have had experience with gradual exposure therapy; not necessarily with emet, just with the exposure...because i feel that she won't know how to go about helping me come up with a plan if she hasn't had any experience with it. Is this true?