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I think it is important for him to *see* me in my wheelchair. I wonder what his reaction will be

My shrink’s reaction blew me away…she BURST out laughing! I anticipated any number of reactions, but not that one. This was made worse by the fact that we were in the waiting room and there were other patients there also waiting. I’m sure they were dumbfounded by the shrink laughing at the lady in the wheelchair. I was utterly nonplussed by this and said rather pitifully, “Don’t laugh at me.” We went into her office and I think she felt bad for her reaction…it just sort of came out. She said that she had been waiting for me to do this, expecting it, and when it happened, she was amused that I’d finally got up the courage to do it. I still don’t think that it was an appropriate reaction, but in spite of that little lapse, she is a GREAT shrink and I’ve forgiven her.

I’d be fascinated to hear of his reaction Ada. Keep us posted, take notes.

@Claire, that’s a bizarre reaction to be honest with you, and more than a touch unprofessional of her. You sure you weren’t wearing a funny hat or something ?

Laughing does seem a tad inappropriate. My psychotherapist has always been completely respectful whether I present in leg braces or wheelchair.

Yes, laughing is not an appropriate response, and I’m sorry that happened to you Claire!

I wonder what the others in the waiting room thought – a medical professional laughing at a person because they were using a wheelchair!

Glad you’ve forgiven her though :)

I first started seeing a councelor that I had known for most of my life to help me deal with someone in my life whom I let in my home who would up taking advantage of me and was very abusive of me. I started the sessions in my wheelchair as that was how I was comfortable and the person wasn’t unuse to seeing me in and out of it though I had never spoke with him about it.

After we got my situation under control we started talking lightly about my wheelchair and braces…I was pritty much told that he felt I was using them as a disguise and that it was socially unacceptable and I had to learn to do without out them in time. He went further to say that he would prefer that in the future I not come in my wheelchair or braces so that he could talk to the “real” Andy and help me to deal with it and stop using it as a mask to hide behind.

Needless to say…I did stop going in my wheelchair and braces due to his reaction, but we never spoke of it again as I didn’t like his responce.

-Wheelman

@Andy It’s not unusual for therapists and counsellors to be unaware of BIID, or to refuse acknowledging that it is a real condition. It’s usualy up to us to be assertive about it and educate them.

Yes, I know…but this councelor had a tendency to be stern and disearning. I wasn’t very comfortable with him most of the time. I tried to talk to him about it and to be open…but he wasn’t very intrested in listening.

When I was 18 my parents forcefully took me physiotrist trying to get me “treated” I had better back then getting a therapist to understand and stand up for me. I presented him with some literature from the web…he poked threw it for a few minutes and in the end stood up for against my parents and told them that I wasn’t the one with the problem…they were for not allowing me to be open and not accepting me.

-Wheelman

@Lane yes, your shrink may be curious and interested to learn about BIID, but… What can he *do*? I’d love to hear of a positive outcome from psychotherapy, or psychiatry on BIID, but I don’t think it’ll work. Not saying that to be negative. Heck, I’m awaiting an appointment with a shrink myself (hopefully!). Just that I think sometimes that none of them can really help us with BIID, not unless they can refer us to a surgeon willing to do surgery. The strength of psychotherapy/psychiatry is to help us process non-BIID issues. I could, of course, be completely wrong :)

My counselor complimented me on my decision to buy me a wheelchair (finally). Although she will ever try to find a way to avoid surgery, she said trials of courage are important and good.

I haven’t yet shown myself to her in the wheelchair. She is in the 2nd (British counting) or 3rd (American counting) floor without elevator…

About laughing: it depends on the relationship and the kind of laughter. I wouldn’t generally see it as inappropriate. In fact, I prefer spontaneous reactions to merely professional ones; I prefer a person with feelings to a professional who is only controlled.

Claire,
I am a little shocked at this reaction by your therapist. That is the reason I WON’T “seek help” as I fear the “Reaction” (wow, that goofball WANTS to be in a wheelchair!). I would question the “being amused” that does not seem very fair to you. on the other side of the coin maybe it’s good that the therapist is that “open” with you. Great to hear that you were able to forgive and forget, as that seems very hard for people to do anymore.

UPDATE: I had my final appointment at the old office.

My therapist made a point of telling me his new office is accessible and I can come in my wheelchair.

I thought it was sweet for him to suggest, and I told him I would surely go in my wheelchair some time :)

Make that NEXT time, not SOME time ;)

I agree. In your first session at the new place,show up in your chair. Show him how serious BIID is to you.