Posted by tabitha on May 2, 2004, at 1:15:36
In reply to How I hate to ask for help! (Long, may trigger), posted by Aphrodite on May 1, 2004, at 8:33:12
Hi Ahprodite. You really have good insight into what's happening in your therapy and what you're feeling about the sessions. If you just take a few little steps toward bringing those things into the sessions I think you'll start to get some relief from carrying it all inside yourself. I also hope your therapist can respond empathetically as you start to let little bits of your inner self come out. Really I think you can be assured that taking 6 months to feel comfortable opening up is probably very normal. You're still feeling him out and seeing if he's trustworthy.
People had a lot of good ideas about how to broach the subject. I also found that having more than 1 session a week got me into deeper material. If you can try twice a week or double-length sessions that might help. When I do longer sessions, I think the first 50 minutes is just catching up on the week's events, then the time after that it seems like I go into real issues.
And about your worry of losing your ability to function, well yes that's a concern. I do feel worse and have a hard time functioning after heavy sessions. I've used some sick days for the day after therapy, when I didn't want to go to work all distraught. I manage. If you're a high-functioning person, I doubt you'll completely reverse that and fall apart. Anyway those fears are also good things to talk about in the sessions. He might have some reassurance for you, or be able to suggest ways he can work with you on deeper issues and make sure you're put back together enough to function after the sessions.
poster:tabitha
thread:342123
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040426/msgs/342375.html