Incident today. Should I tell my therapist?

I’m not sure if this is worth bringing up since this will only be our second session. But I had a panic attack today because I thought there was someone in my house when I was home alone. Like an intruder. I was terrified. I haven’t been this scared in years. I was in the basement with the TV on and hearing all this noise upstairs like footsteps and banging. I was texting my mom and saying “I feel like there’s someone in the house with me. I’m not joking.” I actually left the house because I was so scared, and I waited in the driveway for my mom who was hurrying home. I saw a neighbor walking around outside across the street and my mom and I came to the conclusion that he was banging on the door multiple times because my mom hasn’t given him an answer yet about some work she had wanted him to do. He’s not exactly a nice guy. I’m just worried my therapist will think I’m psychotic or delusional or even a danger to myself and have me sent to the psych hospital just because she doesn’t know me yet. So should I bring this up to her and if I do how do I do it so I don’t sound insane?

I don't think your T is going to think any of those things about you because of a panic attack, and one that seems rightly justified!! (Not that they aren't *justified* on their own merit)

No. You don't sound insane and i don't think your T will think that either.

MD I think you had every reason to be terrified and there is nothing remotely pathological about it. It’s more like self-preservation. Similar thing hapened to me one Saturday morning when my husband left to play golf and I was waking up to an empty house as I love to do, and all of a sudden I was aware of heavy footsteps in the hall. I panicked. I had no idea what to do. My mind was racing. So I hid under the bedcovers snd listened. When the footsteps and noises continued I finally thought it might be my husband coming back, and so I gingerly peeked around the door jamb. It was him all right - they’d been rained out - but the whole experience was extremely frightening.

So I can totally relate. ❤️

I sincerely doubt that your therapist will send you to the hospital. I think someone banging on the door can definitely send sound reverberating through the house. I have a cat who when she wants to come inside, shakes the window screen off the porch with her claws, which sounds exactly like someone breaking in and running around the house, especially if I am upstairs.

But, maybe next time if you think there is an intruder, call the police?

I think it is worth bringing up to your T. HUGS Kit

AFAIK they only send you to the hospital if you're making specific plans to hurt yourself or someone else, but the exact rules depend on your location. It would be fine to discuss this incident with your T. You might also ask about what the rules are for what she has to report, just so you know for sure.

Also, consider your therapist's perspective. Why are you bringing this to his attention? Mentioning that your body reacted in panic is normal. Wanting that reaction to stop is normal. Reacting to a potentially harmful situation is normal. To me, it sounds like you are managing yourself well in stressful situations. Talking about those situations is also part of a healing process.

Yesterday, someone hit me with their car. Riding from a main road, I signaled, waited for two cars to pass and turned onto the next street on my way home. As I rode on the next street, a street many bikers frequent, I saw a truck stopped at the stop sign at the next cross street. The driver neglected to look my way. He drove forward to cross the street that I was riding. He slowly continued to cross the street. When I saw he wasn't going to stop, I peddled falser. He kept driving and hit my rear wheel, pushing me onto the median and into a pole and street sign. How did this man not see me? I was directly in front of him. I was able to steer myself over the median, missing the street sign, and rode down onto the street. He almost drove away. I think he stopped only because he was worried I might see his license plate. I asked him to wait for me to check the condition of my bike. He then asked if I was okay. Thankfully, I am okay, but I didn't appreciate getting hit by a car and I told him that. When I saw my bike wasn't damaged and only the fenders were dismounted, I decided to ride away without asking for his information. I considered keeping this incident to myself, but now realize that I may need to talk about what happen to help me process my emotions. Maybe the man wasn't going to drive away, but he sure didn't seem concerned about me.

She told me and it was the usual harm to yourself or someone else. She also mentioned the bullying/harassment of a disabled person. I’ve never heard that one before. I honestly think I have paranoid personality disorder and if I can discuss this with her and the symptoms I’ve been having I think it will be a huge relief. I don’t think some of the stuff I do like constantly check the mirrors in the car to make sure no one is following me is necessarily a healthy thing to do. Even if I get diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia I’d have an answer.

I don't see why she would send you to the hospital for a panic attack.

If you are abusing a child or an elderly or disabled person they are required by law to report it. This is nothing like that.