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My Issues With Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Posted on August 15, 2012 by Administrator
4

frame #1: Around 2009- New Tactic: Maybe I can control my reactions to IBS through CBT- I'm doing a lot of research and there seems to be statistics supporting it as an "effective treatment". Hmmm...well it won't make me sick... Now to find someone... frame #2: I make calls to the limited choices of PhD's who seem able to work with me on IBS. frame #3: What I overhear while the therapist is making a call in-between patients... "Just put all of your worries in a small box and put it aside." Noise machine not working. frame #4: The Dr. has me complete a written test before we start - (therapist) "You know you're depressed that's what the test shows! We can do this in 12 sesions-lots of homework and we'll address your IBS anxieties." (Me thinking) "Wow, what a surprise!" frame #5: This is the book my CBT Dr. used (on my recommendation) - I would've loved to go to the Dr. who wrote this book. I actually talked to him on the phone (nice). But in Buffalo, NY-too far!! Anyway, I had lots of homework to do re: "catastrophizing" (which I admittedly do) and other subjects. But I bristled at the "cookie-cutter" approach that I initially thought I'd like. And hey - this wasn't cheap -45 minute sessions (on the nose) and no insurance taken. frame #6: I lasted 8 of the 12 sessions...the coup de grace was: (therapist) "Just put all of your worries in a small box and put it aside*" *(this said as if it was a profound thought) (Me thinking): This is just aggravating me.

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Posted in IBS | Tagged alternative IBS therapy, catastrophizing, CBT, cognitive behavioral therapy, controlling IBS, frustrated, frustration, IBS treatment, PhD, psychologist, search for cure, therapist, therapy | 4 Replies

Advice

Posted on August 7, 2012 by Administrator
6

Frame #1: IBS has Nothing to do with what you eat! Frame #2: IBS has Everything to do with what you eat! Frame #3: The act of eating Itself can cause IBS attacks Frame #4: All this conflicting advice and continuing IBS attacks reduce my perceived "OK" foods to: breadsticks, water, bread and chicken (celiac disease was ruled out and no one was talking "gluten-free" yet) Frame #5: And early on, my mother inofrmed me: "I spoke to my friends, and they told me IBS is All In Your Head!! Frame #6: Then there was the "It's All Stress" contingent: You need to try (fill in the blanks): yoga, meditation, deep breathing, acupuncture, xyz supplement. massage, relaxation tapes, the Alexander Technique, reflexology, reiki, hypnosis, visualization...

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Posted in IBS | Tagged acupuncture, advice, deep breathing, hypnosis, IBS all in head, IBS eating, IBS food, massage, meditation, reflexology, reiki, relaxation, stress, visualization, yoga | 6 Replies

My Search Begins… The Early Years…

Posted on July 31, 2012 by Administrator
4

frame #1: MY SEARCH BEGINS: THE EARLY YEARS...*around 1988 or so</p><p>Everyone was so sure they had the "answer".</p><p>Dr. says: Everything is caused by candida or yeast. We will cure you! I will give you various noxious things to drink and additives that will proceed to make you worse...</p><p>My first foray into the world of alternative medicine was to a Doctor who believed everything was caused by candida albicans - a yeast that lives in the mouth, throat, intestines and other areas. This was my inauguration into that murky world out there that draws desperate people like me.</p><p>Nothing worked - just produced frustration and discomfort...on to other Doctors!</p><p>frame #2: I am given amitriptyline, an old-timey antidepressant whose side-effects were thought to help IBS. Couldn't keep my head up!</p><p>frame #3: I am given a strong antibiotic: Flagyl</p><p>I get: tongue thrush (ironically- a yeast infection)</p><p>frame #4: And then - my memorable, miserable visit to a noted gastroenterologist in my area...he proceeded to berate and chastise me for even presenting my problem to him...</p><p>Dr. shouts: You're complaining of pain, discomfort? Why don't I take you down to the Stomach Cancer wing in the hospital & show you what Real Pain looks like!!</p><p>(Dr. Sloan gets really angry at me!)</p><p>I am thinking: I feel so bad about myself-and guilty...and yes, angry at him-I want to tip that desk over onto him!

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Posted in IBS | Tagged alternative medicine, amitriptyline, anger, antibiotic, antibiotic therapy, candida, candida albicans, desperate, flagyl, frustrated, frustration, gastroenterologist, guilt, pain, search for cure, tricyclic antidepressants, yeast, yeast infection | 4 Replies

My Story of IBS… or How Did I Get Into This Situation?

Posted on July 13, 2012 by Administrator
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So, how did I get into this situation? Here I was, rapidly aging (late 50's), sitting in this "licensed psychologist/hypnotherapist's" office, frozen with fear and trepidation, waiting to be hypnotized. The Doctor's huge English Labrador is pacing around making me extremely nervous. New Age Music is playing in the background and the strong scent of patchouli is (gaggingly) in the air. The Doc sports an earring, ponytail & inscrutable smile, closing his eyes to feel my " Energy Force Field". The following is my 25 year saga of how I got here, and my desperate, sometimes crazy, search for HELP.

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Posted in IBS | Tagged alternative IBS therapy, desperate, frustrated, frustration, hypnosis for IBS, hypnotherapy, new age, psychologist, search, search for cure | Leave a reply

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About

I am an artist who has had Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) for over 25 years. I finally decided to put my artistic ability and humor together with my experiences as an IBS sufferer to create a cartoon blog. This blog provides an outlet for me, and will hopefully resonate with others who have the same chronic illness.

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alternative chiroprator alternative IBS therapy anxiety applied kineseology Bentyl buses chronic chronic illness cognitive behavioral therapy Cognitive Behavior Therapy cruise desperate diagnosis doctor eating elimination diet embarrassing fiber supplements FODMAP Diet frustrated frustration gastroenterologist Gluten-free graphic memoir hypnosis IBS IBS-themed IBS/C intestinal gas intestinal issues intestine intestines Irritable Bowel Syndrome Linzess magnets memoir nutritionist pain psychologist research rifaximin search for cure sleep spastic puborectalis muscle unhelpful
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Recent Posts

  • Five Days Only…FREE KINDLE BOOK GIVEAWAY from September 25th to September 29th, 2017!
  • NEW KINDLE FREE PROMOTIONAL GIVEAWAY: 5 DAYS, SEPTEMBER 25th-29th, 2017!!!
  • FREE AMAZON KINDLE BOOK GIVEAWAY-August 29th-September 2, 2016 For Chronically Me: Flushing Out My Life And Times With IBS, A Memoir In Comics by Joy Spencer http://www.amazon.com/Chronically-Me-Flushing-Memoir-Comics/dp/1500965456/
  • FREE AMAZON KINDLE BOOK GIVEAWAY MARCH 29th to APRIL 2nd!!
  • Chronically Me: Flushing Out My Life And Times With IBS, A Memoir in Comics – FREE KINDLE BOOK AUGUST 17th TO AUGUST 21ST!!!

Recent Comments

  • Boethian on Five Days Only…FREE KINDLE BOOK GIVEAWAY from September 25th to September 29th, 2017!
  • me on My Issues With Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
  • Jea ne Skadowski on My Issues With Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
  • me on A New Pill is Out!!!
  • Martha on A New Pill is Out!!!

Archives

  • September 2017
  • August 2016
  • March 2016
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Categories

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  • http://www.amazon.com/Chronically-Me-Flushing-Memoir-Comics/dp/1500965456/

Links

  • About.com Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  • IBS Tales
  • IFFGD (Intestinal Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders)
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome Self Help and Support Group

Get Email Updates

Tags

alternative chiroprator alternative IBS therapy anxiety applied kineseology Bentyl buses chronic chronic illness cognitive behavioral therapy Cognitive Behavior Therapy cruise desperate diagnosis doctor eating elimination diet embarrassing fiber supplements FODMAP Diet frustrated frustration gastroenterologist Gluten-free graphic memoir hypnosis IBS IBS-themed IBS/C intestinal gas intestinal issues intestine intestines Irritable Bowel Syndrome Linzess magnets memoir nutritionist pain psychologist research rifaximin search for cure sleep spastic puborectalis muscle unhelpful
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