Seeing a therapist soon...Nervous about what to say.

[Legion]

Hey All.

I havn't been too active on here, a couple posts here and there. I'm pretty sure it's largely due to my diagnosis of social anxiety disorder, which I have been referred to the local anxiety clinic for. The assessment appointment is fast approaching and it involves sitting with a therapist and they decide what the next course of action is.
I'm not sure which came first, my anxiety issues or my ab/dl side, but they are certainly intertwined with each other. Padding up with my paci is a bit of a coping mechanism, amongst other things. But I also feel like there's a need to hide a part of me from people, which results in anxiety... It's a cycle.
Now my problem is, since it's an anxiety clinic and that's what I'm there for, if and when do I bring up this particular part of myself? I have no intention of attempting to get rid of this side. It's been a part of me far too long to just drop, and quite frankly, I don't wanna lol Any advice would help. Thanks for reading this post that got way too long, too fast. lol

 

[dogboy]

Hey All.

I havn't been too active on here, a couple posts here and there. I'm pretty sure it's largely due to my diagnosis of social anxiety disorder, which I have been referred to the local anxiety clinic for. The assessment appointment is fast approaching and it involves sitting with a therapist and they decide what the next course of action is.
I'm not sure which came first, my anxiety issues or my ab/dl side, but they are certainly intertwined with each other. Padding up with my paci is a bit of a coping mechanism, amongst other things. But I also feel like there's a need to hide a part of me from people, which results in anxiety... It's a cycle.
Now my problem is, since it's an anxiety clinic and that's what I'm there for, if and when do I bring up this particular part of myself? I have no intention of attempting to get rid of this side. It's been a part of me far too long to just drop, and quite frankly, I don't wanna lol Any advice would help. Thanks for reading this post that got way too long, too fast. lol

Your post isn't too long at all. In fact, it's well said. I had to see a psychiatrist my senior year in college, and it was very uncomfortable and difficult for the first meeting. My mom had searched my room and found my diapers and gay porn, some of which was pretty bad. It was given to me by my boyfriend, so needless to say, I had a lot to explain, and had no choice. This was 1970 when you could be confined against your will if you were gay, or had sex with a same sex partner.

As it turned out, it took it's natural course. I only went a few times, and then talked my mom out of sending me. In your case, it sounds like you should stick this out, as your situation is different from mine. I was having a psychotic break. and I was Borderline Personality disordered. I would just go with the flow and see what happens. As for enjoying diapers, divulging that can certainly wait. It doesn't sound like it's a contributing factor of social anxiety, and you counselor may see it as a coping mechanism, and I think all of us know that it's much more than that. For that reason I would wait, because introducing it at this juncture could complicate your initial therapy.

After several months you will have a much better feel as to the routine, and you will have established a report with your doctor. It may not be pertinent at all, as most of us who are attracted to diapers don't have social anxiety issues. The two are separate issues entirely.

 

[tiny]

Hey All.

I havn't been too active on here, a couple posts here and there. I'm pretty sure it's largely due to my diagnosis of social anxiety disorder, which I have been referred to the local anxiety clinic for. The assessment appointment is fast approaching and it involves sitting with a therapist and they decide what the next course of action is.
I'm not sure which came first, my anxiety issues or my ab/dl side, but they are certainly intertwined with each other. Padding up with my paci is a bit of a coping mechanism, amongst other things. But I also feel like there's a need to hide a part of me from people, which results in anxiety... It's a cycle.
Now my problem is, since it's an anxiety clinic and that's what I'm there for, if and when do I bring up this particular part of myself? I have no intention of attempting to get rid of this side. It's been a part of me far too long to just drop, and quite frankly, I don't wanna lol Any advice would help. Thanks for reading this post that got way too long, too fast. lol

Ha... you sound a bit like me! I've always been prone to anxiety, and being AB/DL is definitely a coping mechanism that calms me down and... somehow takes me back to a time when I didn't have so much stress and responsibility.

I am mostly comfortable with what I do. Even when I was a teenager and wondered if I was the only one in the world who liked wearing nappies, I never thought it was something I shouldn't be doing... But... the idea of being discovered has (particularly in the past) left me detached from society and trembling in fear...

It's a Catch-22 sometimes. I feel socially insecure, which makes me feel anxious, which makes me want to "escape" to the privacy of my house where I can wear diapers because they reduce my anxiety... But by shutting myself away and believing that others would think I'm a freak, I end up even more socially anxious ("what would they think if they knew?")... :-/

I told my therapist by saying I felt like a kid inside, then showing him pictures of AB clothes from Privatina.eu, and finally mentioning diapers. To my amazement he didn't run out of the room screaming and actually said it was probably a lot more common than even I realised. He warned me that I probably wouldn't be able to just stop (which is fine -- I don't really want to), but that, if it was a coping mechanism (as it appears to be for me) then dealing with the underlying anxiety would reduce the intensity of the urges. So wearing diapers would be more a "fun" thing and less a "I'm going to die of stress if I don't immediately wear diapers NOW" kind of thing...

Out of curiosity... how did you get a diagnosis for social anxiety disorder? And how long did they take? My psychotherapist doesn't give diagnoses (I don't have a need for one, so I'm not fussed), but... I'm curious as to how it would be done...

I don't know if you might find these old threads interesting:

https://www.adisc.org/forum/mature-topics/58635-telling-my-shrink-how.html
https://www.adisc.org/forum/mature-topics/63450-how-did-you-tell-your-therapist.html

 

[anvmbr]

In my experience, the therapist will lead you through the sessions. It's really important for them to make you as comfortable as possible and to let you know that you have their complete attention, so don't worry too much. Whether you tell them in the first session or later on down the line - it's okay. They might really appreciate you telling them up front since, as you say, it is likely intertwined with your condition and could be important to the discourse of the sessions; however, they'll completely understand if you choose to keep it to yourself for a little while. Don't feel you need to rush things.

Hope it all goes well.

 

[Legion]

Hey all

Thanks for the advice guys! It's helped to alleviate some of worry that's been building. I've been so anxious about ridding myself of excess anxiety. lol.
I can't even imagine how hard it must have been for you, Dogboy. I'm grateful to have gone through most of my self-discovery with the internet there for reference. My mother once found some websites left in the history and all that was said of it was, "That's just sick". It hasn't come up since. There was another instance in the past, but I'm sure she didn't think much of it considering my age.
Now for my anxiety issues. I know it's not the main reason for my regressive nature, that's a topic for another post. I originally was diagnosed by a Emergency room doctor and my family doctor confirmed his diagnosis. I had gone to emergency due to becoming very depressed and some suicidal thoughts started coming up. I've been on and off a couple meds since then. About 2 months ago I was hitting a very low point in my life and decided something has to be done. So I'm back on meds for the foreseeable future and hoping that therapy can help get me off of them. I was born with it, but having parents that are also anxious didn't help.
Anyways, again, Thanks for the input. I may be writing a sort-of history of my little side soon in hopes that it can help others struggling with self-acceptance. This forum has helped me so much I feel I could give something back.

 

[tiny1]

Well a Therapist will keep the conversation private to you two... Normally one should be onderstanding and if not known to a fetish do research about the topic. Normally one will just ask you questions and tries to help you live with your affection to diapers etc.. He will look if it is a phase you are currently in. Sometimes loving diapers can be due to missing something else. good luck!