Hello Laura,

    Suggesting counseling in your CAH packet is a geat idea. Therapy from someone that you can relate to is a wonderful thing.  I do think that that the child has to be receptive to going to talk with someone before therapy can do any good.

    I was sent to a school therapist when I was around 12 but it did not help me at that time because I could not talk to the lady.  She always gave me hugs which was not a good thing. I have to like someone a lot before I feel comfortable letting them touch me and yes it relates back to the gentical exams when my doctor was just checking to make sure everything looked good.

   There is a good chance that someone with CAH will not need therapy. As I get older, I like to look at the positive side of things. Knowing that therapy is an opption when things get out of control is a comfort. I think that it is frightening that many people with CAH in their late teens or 20's have suicidal idealizations. Heck.....I thought it was just me. Disclammer to parents : This does not mean that your child is automatically going to feel this way. 

    I sought counseling in my early 20's. It was the best thing that I ever did. Things are still a struggle at times but therapy has made it better. I don't get panic attacks any more when I go to the doctor. I'm not as angery about what they did to me. Scars and a hole still isn't right.

    Therapy doesn't have to be from someone fancy and expensive to do any good. The best counselor that I had was an intern at a community mental health clinic. He was a guy that was around my age. For some reason he could tap in to my reasoning and give me better ways to rationalize about a situation. I still get self destructive at times but not as much and not to the extent that I did before.

     My parents did the best that they could. We always talked about CAH in an open and matter of fact manner and so does the rest of my family. There was no shame or secrecy. My medical doctor once wrote that I was happy and out- going. I guess the doctor had no idea what poking around in my gentical area did to my mind.

    Sorry that this letter is long. I hope that I have helped in some way. In no way do I wish to offend or scare anyone. My purpose was just to give in-sight into how one person with CAH feels about living with it.

With Respect,

Aimee