Taking the plunge for therapy... help

LegacyUser

I'm taking the big step at long last to seek therapy/counselling but I know absolutely nothing about this type of thing so I don't know what type of therapy would be suitable for me.

I am located in the Mayo/Galway region and I do not have a medical card or private health insurance.

I have always had anxiety issues as a result of a difficult relationship with an alcoholic mother and but things have become much worse for me over the past year as a result of a family member dying tragically.

I get extremely stressed over little things that I probably should be able to overlook. I worry constantly about things that are weeks and months away and usually these things end up not even happening, yet I've wasted the previous weeks continually thinking about them and feeling low as a result of this.

I want to be able to live for the here and now and enjoy that to the max. But I just don't seem to be able to.

I also have extreme insecurities in my relationship with my partner as a result of my mother's behaviour growing up (she constantly had affairs which I was always fully aware of from a very early age).
Now in my own adult relationship, I constantly fear that my boyfriend will bump into his ex when he's out and cheat with her. The ex is clingy and begs him to come back though he ignores her actions completely and always tells me if she texts him or whatever, he understands my fears and deals with them as best he can.
Logically, I know he never will go near her, he's never done anything like this, and he avoids her as much as possible, but the fear that he will cheat on me when drunk or something is constantly in my head and I find myself having to be with him anytime he's likely to encounter her (such as going out in his hometown at weekends) even though I'd be happier to stay at home at watch tv. I've seen so much cheating during childhood that I now expect everyone to cheat.

In general my view of other people is very poor, I tend to see everyone and every situation in a negative light. I would go so far as to say I loathe people, my partner being the one exception, the only person I could ever trust. I live for animals.

I am very angry all of the time, particularly since the death of a young family member which was the result of someone's negligence.

My partner is the most wonderful person in the world and I can talk to him about all of this, I do, and he's very understanding but he's not sure how to help fix me and neither am I. He listens and he's incredibly caring, but I feel I need a professional to direct me properly in how to move forward.

I'd love to get a specific recommendation of a good, nice, kind counsellor or therapist in the Mayo or Galway region. I'm very poor at talking about myself, I'm terrified at the idea of counselling but I know I need help for my anxiety.

What type of therapy do I need? What would help me best? Who should I talk to, to follow this up further?

Does anyone have a good experience of a specific counsellor in my region?

Please let me know as I want to get onto this as soon as I can..

Thanks for reading.

Vinny-Chase

First of all well done for having the self awareness to realise you need/ want help. A google search will throw up counselling services in your area or your GP could recommend some in your area. Some counselors will offer a free initial meeting. This let's you know what area they specialise in and you can let them know what you're looking for. Not all therapists are for all people. They won't be offended if you realise they are not for you. It's just a part of their job.

Good luck with it

Best of luck

ongarboy

Well done on taking this first important step.

The website below gives someone who hasn't previously attended therapy a good explanation on what psychotherapy is along with a frequently asked questions section that may answer some initial questions you have about therapy/counselling. I'm not suggesting you should avail of the services offered by this particular psychotherapist but you may wish to include this in the list of information and options you might be gathering seeing as it is based in the geographical area you were asking about.

Best of luck!

http://www.galwaypsychotherapy.ie/