First Session of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Yesterday I had my first session of CBT I did go private as I can barely get out the house and if I do I wont go into public for long so wanted to get help quickly. The therapist I saw was lovely and the room I was in was large which made me feel relaxed as I didn't feel trapped. Initially they asked me how I was currently to get an idea if CBT would be right for me, then they went through how CBT works. They then asked a number of questions which allowed me to let them know how far back me anxiety has occurred in my life and if there was a cause. I took along a list of things I was anxious about and what I wanted to get out of the sessions. If you are to go to any session or to the Doctors with anxiety I would suggest you make a list before hand as you might not be in the right mind to think when you are there, and its comforting to have.

Anxious About

- Hitting a pot hole when cycling
- Electric shocks
- Hot Taps
- Driving
- Animals
- Locking a front door
- Boilers exploding
- Food poisoning
- Wasps
- Needing the toilet
- Old floors caving in
- Seeing something on TV and thinking its going to happen to me
- Being sick
- Needles
- White water kayaking
- Catching the house on fire
- Being burgled
- Lecture theatres
- Shops
- Cinema
- Swimming pools
- Public Transport
- Opening a car door when going along a fast road
- Walking under road signs
- Slippery surfaces
- Having a panic attack
- Failing something I am working towards
- Burning myself
- AND MORE

Key Things I Would Like to Get Out of The Sessions

- Not to fear getting ill or making myself ill through fear
- Not having to go to the toilet all the time when out in public
- Being able to go to places I fear
- Learn to mentally relax
- Not picking my face through anxiety
- Remove any bad thoughts about the above and new anxieties

I was then told to make a list of places I am afraid to go to from least to most and bring it to the next session along with a list of all the anxious thoughts I have had throughout the week. Both will then be discussed in the next session.

What Will I Blog About In The Next Few Weeks
Over the next few weeks I hope to blog about:
- My need for perfection in things I do that has got me to the place I am at now
- look through my Diary from Year 4 and Year 11 to try and see signs of Anxiety
- My weeks anxious thoughts
- My list of places I fear
- A review of the next few chapters of 'At Last A Life'
- Day to day events.