Seeing what we teach patients in action and working

[Mandychelle79, ASN, RN]

I have posted before about my daughters psychiatric issues (adhd/anxiety). Once her anxiety was diagnosed and our therapist said he was going to use CBT with her, I began it at home. Through her sessions she has been taught F.E.A.R ( Figure out it is anxiety, what her expectations are, adjust her attitude about it, aka is this likely to happen, and reward self when able to complete the task that causes anxiety) and these past two weeks I have watched her work through her anxiety with my assistance and without. Last week she said to me I couldnt adjust my attitude, Mom, I tried but I couldnt do it, this week, when attempting the same task she was able to work through the steps and with a slight push from me she was able to complete the task. My child who has had full blown panic attacks trying to jump into the pool from the blocks at swimming jumped in 3 times today ( 1st one I pushed her off the block, mean I know, but I knew once she did it the for the first time, she would like it, 2nd one she was still apprehensive but worked through the steps on her own and did it, and by the third time climbed right up on the block and said mom tape me).

Now I guess I have a story to tell if I have a patient who doesnt feel that the techniques will work for them ( granted I will adjust the story so they dont know it is my daughter, I will just say other patients who have tried this...)

[TerpGal02, ASN]

Awesome feeling isn't it? When I worked in the community, I had a pregnant client that was having a terrible time with panic attacks. Our doc took her off of benzos due to her being pregnant, she had to learn to harness the anxiety. One time I was with her and saw her start to catastrophize, she was working her way up to one, so I said, "ok, stop, lets try something". And I taught her progressive muscle relaxation. She reported feeling much better after and the next week when I visited she reported she had been using it every night at bedtime and reported her sleep had much improved. Made me feel great :)

[Mandychelle79, ASN, RN]

This week she said mom, im scared, I said your fine, and she jumped in without hold her instructors hand