Therapist Nearly Whacked Me Today

[All1Spirit]

Because of insurance changes I had not seen my therapist since October. At that time she told me to stop reading recovery books, stay off support forums and stop researching it.

When she asked how I wad doing with my research I told her I was back to checking a few things out – she raised her note pad and made a swing gesture – in jest but I understood the meaning.

She told me it can prevent healing and recovery as the “Search” causes the nervous system to get hyped up.

 Has anyone else been told this???

[Brody108]

No, but it makes sense. I can be fine all day but it has become a habit to research previous symptoms or search old threads on here. Sometimes what the original poster says when opening their post can make me very anxious but usually I calm down because I remember they were very anxious when they typed it. I've definitely gotten better at not googling symptoms...this alone has made me have great progress in my recovery.

[PinkIcePrincess]

Hi All1Spirit,
  Yes I gotta say with all Honesty Yes I have been told that but also on the other hand was also asked to loan my books and cds to A Therapist I was seeing..lol
  I was also asked by another Therapist if I could help her with her Anxiety..needless to say never went back to her.

 Looking things up can harm us if we are not able to read the Negatives things because that is what you will find on Google so do not go there!!
 Moderation is the key and also depends on the person how they can take things some do better then others and many of the sites or books,cds,dvds are too help and have helped me alot along with meds and yes maybe I do need to be back in Therapy but right now I can not afford it and have other health issues I have to take care of first.

 It is up to you and how it makes you feel if you look stuff up and get upset then there is your sign shut it down and walk away and breathe and do some self positive talk!!
 On this site you will read some things that people face and learn how to cope better and know you are not alone and can get some help and read the success stories too ok!!

Take Care,
PinkIcePrincess

[Stop_my_worry]

Completely agree with Therapist about not researching.  I can see why it could do more damage than good because you will choose to see/believe want to see/believe.  However, as we all know it's easier said than done especially having a condition like GAD. 

A classic case of this was me during a night of my Anxiety attack episode, I diagnosed and accused my boyfriend of being Asexual after identifying a few symptoms that I believe he had on Google.  I then called up his mother and cried to her saying that I think he might be Asexual and my whole world is coming to an end.  Needless to say, that didn't go down well!  I can laugh about it now because it all seems ridiculous looking back at the extent of what I went through and the frame of mind that I was in.  Thankfully my relationship still remains in tact! 

[ncmomma]

my one meeting with a therapist she didnt say anything about forums but that Google was very very bad.

Stop_my_worry- totally sounds like me, googling something and sudden crashing panic/fear comes over and feels like world is crashing down because of what found on google.

[angielee]

I can understand the searching symptoms, but anxiety groups and help pages are a tremendous help for me. They almost always calm me down reading so many people experience what I am and its just  thought provoked symptoms.

[JayB4231981]

Yeah ive just recently the past month been into anxiety/agoraphobia/hypochondria forums and they help as if I got a few friends who can relate, the searching however can really F with your head. Im on 3 anxiety forums now part of it is desperation of wanting answers and a lot of it is just wanting comfort that im not the only 1.