Posted by Daisym on March 12, 2007, at 1:35:29
In reply to Re: flashbacks,how to share in T? *might trigger* » frida, posted by Iwillsurvive on March 11, 2007, at 11:07:34
Sometimes we have to force ourselves to reach for the help we need in therapy. And I mean FORCE. I can think of two specific times I've slid into a flashback while in a session. I told him about one while it was happening and he really helped me see it as a memory and not as an event that was happening again. It was hard because I was so caught in it I had no word retrieval skills. But he asked me to just throw out words and he would follow up with simple questions and also said over and over again, "I'm here, you are safe. Try to come back if you can."
The other time he was pushing me to talk about my anger. I was sliding into it, I could feel it, but I didn't want to tell him because I didn't want to talk about my anger. I left the session so out of it, I didn't even remember how to drive! So the next time I saw him I was really upset with him. We agreed that it was important to tell him, even if I couldn't tell him the story, he would at least know what was happening.
After 7 years, you know your therapist pretty well. Maybe you can honor your bond by giving her the gift of your stories, and allowing her to help you with the hardest stuff of all. You won't get into trouble by telling her and she certainly isn't going to think badly of you. I worry all the time that I'm contaminating my therapist but he tells me he knows how to take care of himself.
The only way out is through it. You need a guide and a witness as you go through it. I hope you let her help you even more than she already has.
poster:Daisym
thread:740068
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20070309/msgs/740329.html