Posted by Pfinstegg on May 26, 2004, at 22:31:04
In reply to Re: Therapy today » Pfinstegg, posted by DaisyM on May 26, 2004, at 20:05:58
I, who always thought I was a good problem-solver, able to stay on top of things and make good choices, did not have a clue that I was dissociating! I did interview four therapists, trying mainly to find someone who felt like a good match, but I also asked for a consultation with a teaching analyst in my city. I think the abuse factors stood out enough to her (even while I was sort of minimizing them and thinking my main problems were anxiety and depression) that she highly recommended the analyst I eventually went to. She wanted me to go to him, and no-one else, because of his experience with abuse and dissociation, and because he had the reputation of preferring to deal with really hard psychiatric issues. But when I first started going, i would violently object when he gently referred to "other parts, and what they might be feeling and thinking". But now, 15 months later, I can understand it so much better, and I am much more willing to go through whatever it takes to learn more about them, There certainly are a lot of extremely painful days, ones where you just sob and sob during and after sessions, aren't there? Then there are much better ones, when you feel so happy and confident that you are making progress.
What he is trying the hardest to do is to get ALL the parts to feel trust in him, so that they will all be able to speak freely. So hard.
I am fascinated that the topic of dissociation- not DID, but the splitting off of emotional selves from traumatic parts of our lives, is coming up so often here now. A while ago, it was almost never mentioned. I think increasing numbers of therapists are discovering how useful it is- and it does involve gently and slowly educating the clients- it's not a comfortable way to think of oneself!
poster:Pfinstegg
thread:349340
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040522/msgs/350968.html