1st counseling appointment is over, this is me... About This Page:

[graygables]

The therapist is VERY nice and was very intuitive about asking questions. We did my family history first and I'm the first to admit that I've got a whacked out family! Bipolar runs straight down the female line for as far back as anyone knows, only skipping a generation here and there as unipolar depression (that's my generation). I was honest about my own problems. Then it was hubby's turn. Talked about his mom pretty honestly, mentioned his dad was an alcoholic (been in recovery for 15 years), and when she asked about him and anxiety...cricket, cricket, cricket. He shrugged and said, "nope,nothing". : Later, I was able to get him to confess that he does a "safety check" around the house and then as we were leaving, he asked her if her floor sloped down. She was like......and he said, "Your floor slopes there, it's been driving me nuts since we walked in". I half jokingly said we needed to go back and revisit the family history thing and she laughed, but I'm HOPING that she was sharp enough to pick up on that. I do plan on making a list of things he's done (left Epcot to return to AKL to use the restroom, for instance) to show that he's the Anxiety King. I don't know if it will matter at all, but I need for her to see that MY frustration right now comes from dealing with it on ALL sides and not having any relief from "unusual" behavior (if that makes any sense at all...I guess I'm saying it's like having 3 kids and no responsible adult to help out). Afterwards, at the grocery store, he made some remark about my needing to stock up on pasta (it was 10/$10, so I bought a bunch) b/c the government was going to collapse the economy.

Next week, I take DD and will have some time with the counselor alone, the following appt is up to hubby to take DD (I'll be out of town), so I'm hoping there might be SOMETHING in the parent-time there.

[Colexis Mom]

[minemoz1]

[lukeandbrookesmom]

Originally Posted by graygables

b/c the government was going to collapse the economy. .

Well, he could have a point there, Dawn I'm glad he at least went - it's a start. If the therapist is good she picked up on the little things and will look into them further. Geez, I hope she gets her floor fixed, too

[Disney 4ever]

[Jookiba]

[Cheriemek]

What would have happened if you had disagreed with his anxiety answer? Would he have been really upset if you had said something about his problems in front of the therapist?

[clio]

Liz

[Nimros]

It's her job to be able to pick up on all of this, Dawn. I'll be anxious to see what she has to say on the next visit.

[graygables]

Originally Posted by Cheriemek

What would have happened if you had disagreed with his anxiety answer? Would he have been really upset if you had said something about his problems in front of the therapist?

Yes, I think he would have been, he braced himself when she turned to his family history, it was a big body language thing. On the way home, I said, "Didn't you think you might ought to tell her about some of your anxiety issues?" He said, "Like what?".

Like the bathroom thing, like not being able to go anywhere in public without being dragged, like checking the stove knobs and door locks every night, like over-handwashing, like yelling at me for cutting on the counter I'd just cleaned b/c I'd used a "chemical" (when it was food-safe orange cleaner), like STARING AT THE WOMAN'S FLOOR and I could go on.

He said, "I guess I just don't see it the same way you do"... ya THINK??? Then he got angry and told me to tell the therapist whatever I wanted to tell the therapist, but it's not his "fault" DD is the way she is. OK, we already went over all of that during the appointment, that there is NO BLAME, but there sometimes is a genetic component that is important to know about b/c then it crosses into very different chemical territory. It's OK to blame ME (and he does), BTW. My jaw was in my lap a lot on the way home, b/c I had no idea he was SO clueless about his behaviour being SO far out of the norm. I did tell him that normal people don't have to leave Epcot to go back to their resort to use the restroom...

I really liked the therapist and I think she'll be a great fit with Miss B and that's what's the most important right now. I just think it will be important for the therapist to understand hubby and how he is perceived within the family (and by DDs) as opposed to how he perceives himself.

[MickeyMAC]

[disneynut98]

Good Luck! My husband has some of those same anixety problems and I understand how you feel!

[lukeandbrookesmom]

Originally Posted by graygables

I really liked the therapist and I think she'll be a great fit with Miss B and that's what's the most important right now.

[Teresa]

Wonderful that she's a perfect fit for Miss B, because that's what's important. Your DH definately needs some help, but now is for your DD.
It sure would help if he opened up and admitted some of his problems. It would certainly help the counselor help Miss B.

Pixies for continued help, and that your DH starts to let her know what his story is.

[Tricia Davids]