A couple of things...
I do believe it is a good idea to take a few notes during a therapeutic session. For one thing, it will help you remember what was being discussed...even if you don't refer to it.
For another, you CAN refer to it if you would like.
If a session is missed (because you have to miss it or the therapist does), you can get your notes out and think about what was said the previous week and still work on what needs to be done.
Sometimes it is easy to stagnate. A few notes...a few memory jogs...can be helpful.

One of the links Mrs. D sites, mentions a book called Brain Rules. I really enjoyed this book...lots of good ideas and the author is funny too!

Is this the book you mean?

Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School by John Medina

(above link is to amazon.com, for the paperback edition)

thanks

~ waves ~

Yes, this is it.
I saw other information by him once and his discussion on memory didn't seem accurate to me.
However, I did enjoy this book...lots of helpful tidbits on
learning
exercise
sleep
relationships

And his sense of humor, makes it easy reading. He makes many good points that can help the reader live a better/fuller life.

There is a good book out...I'm told...Musicphelia (sp?). I am starting to read it now. I don't know if the lessons learned there apply here or not...for those with interest in this topic...it might be a good book to look into.

Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School by John Medina

(above link is to amazon.com, for the paperback edition)


12 chapters:

1. Exercise-boosts brain power...number one thing that we can do!
2. Survival-the human brain evolved
3. wiring-every brain is wired differently
4. Attention-we don't pay attention to boring things
5. Short term memory-repeat to remember
6. long term memory-remember to repeat.
7. sleep-sleep well think well!
8. stress-stressed brains don't learn the same way.
9. sensory integration-stimulate more of the senses.
10. vision-trumps all other senses.
11. gender-male and female brains are different
12. exploration-we are powerful and natural explorers.

Amazon lets you read some of the book and it reads well!
I think I should order this book!
beth

Dear Beth and Vowel Lady,

John Medina has some videos on Youtube:

Where memories go -- John Medina, author, "Brain Rules"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBsW5qz5sDU


The Brain Cannot Multi-task
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO_oE...eature=related


Exercise - Brain Rule #1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ck-tQ...eature=related


and more
M.

Thank you for the info and the Brain Rules and videos. I just ordered the book from Amazon. I hope it helps me not be so stressful about my memory problems. I know I definitely can't multi-task right now.

I will take your advice Mari and right things down as soon as I get in my car. It's easier said than done though because I feel so out of it when I get out of there, especially when she leaves me hanging, or worse, when I leave there in tears. She promised me I would never leave that way, so I wait until I get outside and let it out.

Dear BJ

it sounds as though you are keeping your therapist's promise for her and she is not really party to the reality of how you leave therapy. Might you talk to her about this breaking down afterwards... or simply let yourself break down before, so she can see what is going on in the context of therapy?

If she becomes aware her "promise" is not really working, she will perhaps be able to work with you to improve things, so you don't end up breaking down in your car.

I think it may still happen SOMETIMES. I occasionally leave therapy feeling worse than when i went in. Or start to feel worse about the session during the week that follows. For instance, things may only sink in "afterwards" so i will have a latent reaction, or occasionally i will feel the session was very incomplete, yet other times, i might feel "not heard." But MOST of the time that is not the case.

I hope you can find it in your heart to talk to your therapist about this. Feeling bad consistently after a session does not sound good to me. I think it is worth trying to resolve it with her.



~ waves ~

I met with my tdoc the other day and went over my nursery rhyme. I didn’t have the nerve to sing it to her so I just read it. It made her cry and it made me so uncomfortable. We were talking about getting to a point of "self worth" and she started to cry and said it was because she cared about me and wanted to help me and to see the good in all me, I can’t remember the rest.

I told her about not being able to remember what was said in the session because I’m not always “there”. So she agreed to write out notes for me to take home so I can review it myself. She doesn’t want me to write while I’m there because I need to stay present.

We talked about my emotions over the past week. We discussed mixed episodes in more detail and I informed her of the fact that I had 2 previous mixed episodes, but didn't realize it at the time since I was confused by my emotions and how it was possible to feel manic, depressed and tired at the same time. She told me how serious mixed episodes are due to the fact that when someone is manic and severely depressed at the same time, it can cause a great deal of anxiety which can be overwhelming and difficult to cope with. That's exactly how I felt during my episode last week. I said I'd rather feel manic or depressed, but not both at the same time. She said that I’m starting to feel real emotions that I haven’t felt before and it’s causing anxiety.

I then went onto explain that I can't stop thinking about the way my life used to be when I was actually happy and could laugh at just about anything. She said that I’m focusing too much on bipolar. Instead of focusing on the here and now, I’m thinking too much about how I feel, my cycling and my meds. She said every time I come there I’m talking about bipolar. I was confused by that because how could I not talk about it?

I have new homework and it doesn’t sound hard but it is. I'm supposed to journal every day, especially on what we discussed until I see her next week and she wants me to share it with a close friend. That’s the hard part because there is no one I can trust. But I honestly think we’re making progress. We have some major issues to deal with since the anniversary is approaching but I don’t know if I’m ready for that yet.