Posted by Dinah on June 5, 2010, at 23:35:29
In reply to i feel like the worst patient ever!, posted by mmealltalk on June 5, 2010, at 11:53:49
You most definitely are not the worst patient ever. Not even close. I think they understand, at some level, that their crises affect us. So I doubt they judge us harshly for being affected.
I really like what Daisy said about the relationship. And about trying to find other sources of support to take more weight while your therapist is less able to bear any.
In all the years I've been with my therapist this has come up a time or two. Not the death of his spouse, thank heavens. But life changing disruptions. The first time I struggled through it not knowing whether things would ever be the same again. The second time I realized that even though I thought things might well get back to normal, that I just couldn't tolerate the stress. If it had continued that time, it was not unlikely would have decided to stay away until he recovered. I really think either option is ok.
I guess the problem is that they really aren't interchangeable. Even if your therapist isn't operating at full efficiency or even close to it, it's not easy to put aside that relationship and start over. Yet we are paying them in part for their presence and their person.
One way or another, all we can do is endure through it. Given that reality, I think you're doing a great job keeping your needs in mind while acknowledging her difficulties right now.
I'm wandering I know... My experience is that things can get back to normal again. Maybe others have had different experiences. But it is possible.
poster:Dinah
thread:949988
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20100529/msgs/950054.html