Quote Originally Posted by Greta1074 View Post
I'm really inspired by your post. There is a light at the end of the tunnel!! So can you describe what exposure was like, during your treatment? I'm about to start CBT and I want to prepare myself.
sorry for not getting back to you for some time, I've not revisted my post for a little while. For me CBT did not involve any direct exposure to v*, exposure from me just came mostly from having children, and just happened along the way, if you get what I mean. With CBT I was encouraged to challenge any unhelpful thoughts, and to challenge whether there was any logic behind what I was thinking, or whether I was just jumping to conclusions, blowing things out of proportion or imagining the worst, that sort of thing. CBT appears to be about changing the way that you think, and taking control of your thoughts instead of letting them run away with you, and taking control of the anxiety and anxious thoughts. I think for some it may be enough in itself, although for others it may be recommended to take medication as well. I think CBT and medication can complement each other well, as if you are experiencing severe anxiety it can be difficult to control the anxiety sufficiently to allow CBT to work, likewise, medication is sometimes not enough in itself and it is useful to have learned how to start controlling anxiety. Hope this helps.