Posted by Racer on April 28, 2004, at 21:47:25
In reply to To call or Not to Call: Always a question!, posted by DaisyM on April 27, 2004, at 1:08:47
I'm betting the difference is where you are in your therapy process. GG is probably just past the first lap -- where you have to be encouraged to open up and trust and CALL WHEN YOU NEED TO -- and on to the second or third lap -- where she needs to start internalizing the support and getting it from herself rather than calling.
Remember Snakes and Ladders? On that game, you could use a ladder to climb past some of the steps on the board, right? The problem was, you could also slide down the snake and have to start all over again. That's kinda like therapy, only think of it as being two different games on one board: if you choose to use the ladders and skip some of the squares, you'll also be subject to the snakes sending you back to the first square. If, on the other hand, you decide to step into each and every square along the way, you'll be pretty sure to get to the end without mishap. (Unless, being in CA, we get a good shaker, eh?)
So, right now, you're in that first row or two, trying to decide whether to use the ladders or go step by step. If you choose to forego the ladders, that means that you'll also have to choose to check in by telephone once in a while, and learn that it's OK to do so. That's what you have to learn first.
By the way, I do know that it's damned hard to do. And during my meltdown this week and last, I didn't call my therapist. You've got company, SuperWoman. Maybe we should make a pact to fight evil without our masks one day? (Have you ever sesn the Sylvia comic strip, by Nicole Hollander? One of my favorites, because she *gets* it so well. The one I was thinking of was "Superwoman realizes she forgot to turn off her oven..." I recommend Sylvia for what ails you, taken medicinally twice weekly.) Good luck, you know I wish you the very best.
poster:Racer
thread:340454
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040426/msgs/341138.html