Forums Forums Wirral Information Ask - Wiki Wirral Anyone recommend a good therapist for Phobias?

Hello
I suffer from Claustrophobia, which has gotten out of control. I can no longer travel on any public transport or travel under the Tunnel to Liverpool. Anyone recommend a good therapist on The Wirral? maybe someone who has helped their Phobia.
Many Thanks

Sounds like you having panic attacks?
If so, try The website called NO PANIC.

Most descent GPs now offer alternative medicines as treatment, have you had a word with your doctor for a referal?

The most common treatment for any kind of phobia is CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) which looks at patterns of behaviour and what the triggers for those patterns are, then helps you to develop “strategies“ for preventing the patterns from starting and dealing with them if they do start. This is available on the NHS through your GP, but the waiting list can be quite long depending on which GP you are with.

You can also go private, but if you do please do make sure you choose a qualified CBT practitioner, as anyone can set up as a counsellor or therapist without any professional registration or qualifications. There are registers of practitioners at https://www.babcp.com/Default.aspx and http://www.bacp.co.uk/seeking_therapist/right_therapist.php, and some good advice at http://www.icounsellor.co.uk/articles/2011/10/how-to-vet-a-counsellor/.

Good luck, hope things can get better for you

Hello
Thanks for advice. Yes it is Panic attacks but I don't like to be shut in anywhere and thats my trigger, but stills comes down to the panic. Everything I have tried is private as GP has been no help. I have tried CBT but its not really helped. I did try a Hypnotherapist/eft who was very expensive but you have to give everything a go, I felt she did not live up to her hype. I have been helped by this type of therapy is the past NLP but that therapist has passed away. Due to illness and deaths in family its got out of control again. I believe a combination of hypno/eft etc that this is the way forward but it is just finding someone who is good and not wasting too much money along the way.
Thank you

Hi , go back to your GP for referral to the right people ,who can help you. They know your history and what treatment you have tried .A lot of them have there own Psychology Department in house or at local Hospital .Good luck..Take Care

Diazepam may help ... I used to get the same symptoms when travelling on tunnel bus or underground train stations , cars on motorways ,ferries heights etc ... couldn't even contemplate going abroad ,my GP prescribed me 28 diazepam (tranquilizers) and it allowed me to get on a plane for a 5 hour flight to Egypt with only slight apprehension ,I swam in shark infested waters there too (I kid you not) ... They made a big difference in the way I approached fear , only took 1 prescription never taken them since and haven't had a panic attack in over 5 years

I appreciate that your previous visit to your GP failed to help, i would recommend that you either see a second doctor if its a group practice or seek help through the walk-in service; it is your right to a second opinion. Some doctors are still stuck in the 80s & 90s. Cobby has given the route to go. As far as taking Diazepam, this is now seen in some cases as a last resort which will work for some but not for others, plus there is the risk of being 'hooked' if used for long periods and they have a degenerative effect on the brain and deemed to shorten lives

Hi Nattycat--sorry to hear about your fears. Most of us have gone through or going through various troubles that will affect our thinking. Sometimes there is a specific thing that has caused them and it may be possible to address that.e.g. feeling not able to socialise with people may make one fearful to go out and mix. My dear late mum had a fall down some stairs when young and she always had a fear the rest of her life. My daughter wont ride a bike because a friend gave her a backy and crashed into a wall resulting in her losing her front tooth.


Try reading and meditating on the first few sentences of Psalm 40 in the old King James Bible language. Changed my life 35 years ago.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+40&version=KJV


Words can have a powerful affect on us for good and bad. That's why good counselling can be helpful and hope you find a good one.

By all means try medicines--I often need a good painkiller to get me through a few days work .

There is a connection between the stomach and the mind and the mind and the stomach. We feel anxiety in our stomach. Weve all ben told about foods that are good for the brain.(Caffeine, sugars and refined fats not so good)
speedy recovery

Wirral Mind courses for 'self help' including EFT

http://www.wirralmind.org.uk/training/courses-3/

Thanks for the link rudebox ,some interesting courses coming up, ..Maybe of use to my-self and youngest daugther..

About 6 years ago a mate of mine started having panic attacks after a relationship breakdown and was in a right state. He went to a hynotherapist on Irby Rd, from memory I think his name was Phillip Owen. He was a great help to my mate and got him back on track.When I read your query I googled Phillip Owen and nothing seemed to match but if you could find him he might be able to help.
Good luck I feel for you.

Thanks everyone. I think it will be a case of keep trying different therapists, I will probably waste some more money along the way but there has got to be a good one out there.
cheers

What do you define as a 'good one'? Could you mean, instead, the 'right one'?

Best of luck to you.

Yes the right one will certainly do

Natty