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I think I need therapy

Posted , 14 users are following.

jules1100
jules1100

I was having some issues with anxiety/depression prior to being diagnosed with LS. I was diagnosed in January and ever since my mood has snowballed out of control. There are days I cry and cry and get anxiety whenever looking at my undercarriage - I am so down about having this, I honestly don't know if I will ever adjust and accept it. I feel like I've been given a diagnoses of the most life threatening disease in the world so I feel guilty for feeling so miserable about this. 

Does anyone know what might help? Strategies? Should I see a therapist? I'm seeing a new specialist next week as I'm not happy with my current one. Maybe this might help. I don't know anymore.. Sorry for such a miserable post.

3 likes, 23 replies

23 Replies

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  • athena93317
    athena93317 jules1100

    Posted

    I'm don't remember the author but the name if the book is

    How to brake the habits of being yourself

    It really helps teach positive thinking it really helped me when I first found out I had it hope it helps

    • Vibrant_Health
      Vibrant_Health athena93317

      Posted

      Thanks, Anthena, I shall look into the book.  It sounds like it has more precise, relevant wisdom written for people in our situation!  Meditation and acceptance can only go so far.  How else was this book helpful, Anthena? 

      Big waves of nightmarish overwhelm and then, occasional acceptance. 

      Any other ideas or suggestions to cope with this more proactively will be most welcome.

  • pat37486
    pat37486 jules1100

    Posted

    Dearest mules, after I was diagnosed last yr, it took me 9 months to accept it. I cried daily. This forum has helped enormously and recognise im not on my own.jules give urself time,what we've got won't get better,but there's people out there on these forums that understand . Try not to rub your skin when drying.im using hairdryer..
    • jules1100
      jules1100 pat37486

      Posted

      9 months? Wow. Glad to hear you got there in the end though. Gives me hope.
  • paula92906
    paula92906 jules1100

    Posted

    Hi Jules1100,

    I'm sorry you're feeling so bad. You're right this diagnosis sucks. However, I feel what is even more irritating is the lack of a comprehensive data base of information. I wonder if there are any computer literate people out there who might like to set up a data base where we can record treatment results so that we can start figuring out a decent way to treat or eventually cure this thing. I would be willing to work on this and even do all of it if anyone would help me with the computer part. I envision questions like how long have you had the problem? What treatments have you tried? What has been effective? What hasn't been effective? 

    On the topic of being depressed, a great book is The Mindful Way Through Depression. It's by a few different authors with the first name on the list being Williams. It comes with a meditation CD. 

    Your situation remains the same whether you are relaxed or stressed. It is worth working towards happiness and relaxation for that reason. 

    • margaret289
      margaret289 paula92906

      Posted

      I think that would be Mark Williams.  Mindfulness is a great approach and I believe CBT (cognitive Behavioural Therapy) might also be useful, in order to alter the way we react to events in our lives.
    • suedm
      suedm paula92906

      Posted

      hi Paula before Christmas several of us started to go down this route and Alan the moderator kindly put together New to LS information for newbies. I have somewhere the start of the proofread that one of us drew up. There is a lovely person inAdelaide who is an artist who also wanted to go down this route. I had hoped that a friends daughter's husband who OS a computer buff would get involved sadly I have had no response from them

      Perhaps if you pm Alan he can give you more help

  • hanny32508
    hanny32508 jules1100

    Posted

    Not much to add to the writing already here.  Just to say - give it some time.  It's remarkable how one comes through this deep valley eventually.  
  • suedm
    suedm jules1100

    Posted

    Jules we have all been  there, but this is NOT the worst diagnosis you could have, it isn't  imminently life threatening -if at all. It is uncomfortable painful and can have a bad affect on close relationships if penetrative sex is important, or you want children. However it would be wise to keep the diagnosis of Lichen Sclerosus in proportion. We all know that too much stress is bad for us on very many levels, it causes all manner of complaints from stomach ulcers, over indulgence in various substances .ie comfort eating alcoholism drug abuse etc. it also causes heart problems hypertension , strokes and for us -LS and perhaps other autoimmune conditions.

    so write on a sheet of paper ALL the good things in your life, remind yourself daily of these things. Take more exercise, natural endorphins will counter some of the effects of the cortisols in the body and may make you feel better. DO NOT focus on the negative things in your life just  now. You need to reinforce the good feeling you have and put the negative feelings in a box and hide that box...cos thinking about them will reinforce the bad emotion.

    stress will make a flare up more acute.

    find a mind absorbing hobby so you CAN'T focus on yourself. Is there someone you can offer to help in some way? Their gratitude may make you feel a tad better. Remember weeping makes the nose red and blocked, the eyes puffy and the throat very sore...none of which are a Good Look or feel Good.

    so wipe the tears away go out and smile at someone give a close friend / relative a hug or a virtual hug if they are not nearby, feed the birds, look at the spring flowers and Rejoice that you have got a worse condition 

    take care

    sue

    • jules1100
      jules1100 suedm

      Posted

      Thank you so much Sue for your post. It made me feel more at ease. Very reassuring. It's interesting you mentioned stress numerous times and I have been under severe stress for a good year and a half, maybe more, before being diagnosed. then I was diagnosed and it just compounds the stress. It's awful. But you've given me a lot of good advice. Thank you
  • suedm
    suedm jules1100

    Posted

    Whoops haven't got a worse condition!

    typos and oldmipad!

  • kate207
    kate207 jules1100

    Posted

    Hi Jules. LS is a bummer, but it is not life threatening. I know how depressing it is when you are first diagnosed and can sympathise with you . I found two strategies which helped immensely - (1) I started a part-time distance learning degree, which I enjoyed so much that I went on to complete a master's. I took my time and spent 7 years in total, during which time I had to focus for at least some of the day on other things than my LS. (2) I started to volunteer with a carriage -driving for the disabled group, which brought home to me the level of health problems some people have.

    I'm not trying to minimise the awful effects of LS, I found that what worked for me personally was to try new things which would change the direction of my thoughts and stop me obsessing.

    • suedm
      suedm kate207

      Posted

      Wise Kate!

      I had house renovations, after several years of house hunting and buying and selling, to take MY mind off the diagnosis - and I did find that keeping my sadness/anxiety away from new people and putting on a happy face brought them to me and that helped too

    • jules1100
      jules1100 kate207

      Posted

      Hi Kate,

      Thanks for your post. I guess keeping busy and occupied helped. I've been away for the last week, hence my delayed reply, and I noticed a slight decrease in my symptoms/obsessing over it. Thanks again smile will have to think of a nice hobby to take up.

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