psychotherapy, book recommendation and Valerian

[Guest guest]

Michele and all,

I wanted to recommend a book called " Full Catastrophe Living -- Using the

Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain and Illness " by Jon

Kabat-Zinn, PHD. He runs the Program of Stress Reduction Clinic at t he

University of Massachusetts Med. Center. It is a well known program

because he has shown that simple meditative practices have helped reduce

pain and suffering in patients with all kinds of things. It is not a

substitute for other care, of course. Doctors are even taking his courses!

It is a good book, especially if you are looking for that type of book -- it

isn't very foo-fooey and it is well written. Do I meditate? NO!! Darn

me!!! I should be.....he has some tapes out that are really good, too.

But his whole philosopy is very kind and deep and simple -- but the patient

must commit to it. Listening to the tapes and reading the book don't count!

Meditating and relaxing is TONS harder than I ever would have thought.

I take Valerian (an herb in pill form, usually with Passionflower, too) for

anxiety. It does help me. It is safe and non-addictive as far as I know,

except you shouldn't take a lot of it if you are going to drive, until you

know how it affects you. it is very mild, though. Lots of people use it

for help with sleeping.

I have seen a psychotherapist off and on for years. I have a history of

depression that precedes VV (and often overrides it) so my case may be a

little different, but I strongly believe that a good therapist can really

help sort out lots of issues and help you cope. When I am on Paxil for

depression, as I am now, I seem to feel much less need for therapy....and

these lists help, too!! It may take time to find the right therapist.

There are trained therapists that can help you with pain management

(breathing techniiques etc.) - mine just went through some training in this

since half of her clients had a chronic illness! Also, there is a woman in

Portland named Jill Romm who is a therapist who has an interest in treating

women with vulvar pain! She uses Jon Kabat-Zinn's program and adapts it to

VV --using dialators etc. She even works with Dr. Jensen and Dr. Goetsch,

who refered me to her - she said " she works magic " . This coming from a

pure rationalist. I saw Jill Romm a few times last summer, but stopped

because it was doubling up on my regular therapy and I was too depressed to

get anything out of it. I needed medication. What a summer I had! If you

can't find " a specialist " ,

though, if you can find someone who you feel " has a clue " about what you are

going through that

would be great. Maybe doing a phone interview would help,. This is very

accepted. Ask if they have treated women with chronic pain or illness. If

the psychiatrist reccommends a drug for you, make sure you are clear as to

why he/she is doing that...ie. what is your diagnosis....and how long does

he/she think you may need to be on it? Basic questions, but ones that may

weed out a doc. who just wants to medicate you and that's it. Anyway,

don't feel any shame about talking with a therapist (talking alone really

can help) or taking meds if you need it to cope. I would be a basket case

without my Paxil right now.

Love,

Carolyn

psychotherapy

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>From: m20d@... (michele duke)

>

>Hi!

>

>First off I too am having a major flareup. I felt perfectly fine this

>past Tuesday almost to the point where I thought..Hooray it is

>over...Not. I know this is not in my head and have seen a vv specailist

>who still has not diagnosed my problem. I have also decide to see a

>psychologist and wondered if any of you are seeing anyone. I thought I

>should see someone who deals with pain management but in the office

>which my insurance covers there is no one that does pain management. The

>lady who I am going to see for the first time does imagery and

>spirituality. Has anyone done this and did it help? Thanks for your

>help.

>

>Michele Duke

>m20d@...

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