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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by judy1 on February 16, 2003, at 11:39:33
honestly, i can't remember who recommended it -Dinah, Noa, shar?- but thank you it's really good. I'm struck by the huge differences in dissociative experiences, from zoning out for minutes to losing time for hours and days. I guess I really identified with Julia, and had a similar experience with a child 'alter' that has not ever been present in public but made a brief appearence during a hypnosis session. so I guess I was wondering if anyone else has undergone hypnosis, and if so had a similar experience? thanks, judy
Posted by Dinah on February 16, 2003, at 22:42:22
In reply to I'm reading 'The Myth of Sanity', posted by judy1 on February 16, 2003, at 11:39:33
Hi Judy,
I was the one who recommended it. I've read it a few times, and gave it to my therapist and offered to pay him to read it (which he hasn't).
I can't remember whether it was in her book, or something I thought while I was reading her book. But I was thinking that our normal state of consciousness is so small. There are all sorts of parts of us that we aren't aware of at any given time. A lot of time my consciousness is limited to the very rational unemotional part of me that finds humans completely incomprehensible. Sometimes my consciousness is limited to the very emotional, very young part of me. I'd kind of like to achieve a more balanced view of myself instead of seesawing between the two.
Anyway, I don't really remember whether she explicitly gave that analogy, or if it was something that was suggested to me by what she wrote. But I actually did a little art project, with a clear plastic sliding thing to represent my consciousness that could be made larger or smaller and moved along the continuum of all aspects of myself to illustrate it. And I'm my consciousness. It's hard to explain the idea, but it seemed important at the time. :)
I've never done hypnosis. That must have been a scary experience. Were you conscious of it at the time?
Posted by judy1 on February 18, 2003, at 13:55:31
In reply to Re: I'm reading 'The Myth of Sanity' » judy1, posted by Dinah on February 16, 2003, at 22:42:22
Hi Dinah,
Thanks for the recommendation.I've never done hypnosis. That must have been a scary experience. Were you conscious of it at the time?
I agreed to give it a shot with my therapist and don't remember what I said (until she told me). I do remember feeling very angry afterwards, I think because of a lack of control- I'm not sure. Yesterday she pushed me and I worked very hard at staying with her (vs. dissociating)- my body was so rigid that it hurt afterward. I could have told her to back off, but I just want to get this over. I don't think it works that way though and I imagine we'll ease up next week. hope you are well- judy
Posted by Dinah on February 18, 2003, at 18:09:12
In reply to Re: I'm reading 'The Myth of Sanity' » Dinah, posted by judy1 on February 18, 2003, at 13:55:31
No, I suppose you can't rush these things. I hope you can develop the trust I have in my therapist. It took about five years though, and I still have a few moments where I backslide.
Take good care of yourself.
Dinah
Posted by Dinah on February 21, 2003, at 19:20:28
In reply to Re: I'm reading 'The Myth of Sanity' » judy1, posted by Dinah on February 16, 2003, at 22:42:22
I thought maybe he didn't understand it, but I had him repeat it back to him and he does. He just doesn't believe it.
Back to the old drawing board.
Posted by bozeman on February 21, 2003, at 23:33:34
In reply to Re: My therapist doesn't buy my theory., posted by Dinah on February 21, 2003, at 19:20:28
Just because he didn't buy it, doesn't necessarily mean it's not valid. After all, *you* live in your head. He only knows the parts you've let him see.
Just a thought.
bozeman
Posted by Dinah on February 22, 2003, at 4:54:23
In reply to Re: My therapist doesn't buy my theory. » Dinah, posted by bozeman on February 21, 2003, at 23:33:34
You're right of course, Bozeman.
Except that after he repeated my theory back to me correctly, he started asking questions the intent of which was clearly to challenge my thoughts. And darn it, I couldn't answer them.
Mind you, I'm not at my best, and perhaps I'll try again when I'm feeling sharper and more clear headed.
Psssst... Don't tell my therapist I said this. I got annoyed with him for challenging me and am not yet ready to admit he's got a point. Maybe later. (grin)
Posted by bozeman on February 22, 2003, at 11:34:12
In reply to Re: My therapist doesn't buy my theory. » bozeman, posted by Dinah on February 22, 2003, at 4:54:23
Posted by judy1 on February 23, 2003, at 13:50:43
In reply to Re: My therapist doesn't buy my theory. » bozeman, posted by Dinah on February 22, 2003, at 4:54:23
I don't understand what your therapist is questioning- is it your theory that you spend time between an emotional, childlike you and a rational, unemotional self? If that's what he is questioning how the he** can he know what's going on inside of you? What kind of questions did he ask? My therapist sounds like she has completely opposite views of him. I do trust her, I question (see my response to the N.Y. Times article O.R. posted) whether my dredging up the past is helpful or more harmful to me. What I can't question are the coping skills I use are mostly harmful and that they need to be addressed. hope this made sense. take care, judy
Posted by Dinah on February 23, 2003, at 17:45:06
In reply to Re: My therapist doesn't buy my theory. » Dinah, posted by judy1 on February 23, 2003, at 13:50:43
It was that rather complicated theory on consciousness that he was questioning me about. He thinks I want to believe that because it is a theory that I don't find threatening.
He doesn't at all dispute that my emotional and rational sides are not terribly well integrated. He's experienced both. :) In fact he thinks I get overwhelmed by my emotional side rather easily under stress and regress quite badly. His goal is to have a better integrated Dinah.
So I doubt their ideas are all that different. He tried for a while to see if there were any childhood memories, but has finally accepted that I've told him everything. He also thinks that if people do repress something it's for a reason and any uncovering should be very carefully thought out in a risk vs. benefit sort of way. He's a big believer in not removing defenses until others are in place.
I'm not sure what I believe about repressing things. I'm not sure that it's bad to forget things. I do it all the time, even today. When I find something upsetting I take a "nap" and if I haven't forgotten it immediately after it's at least pretty fuzzy and I can forget it soon. I think repressing emotions is probably a bad thing leading to self injury etc. There is probably some sort of happy medium that some of us have a hard time reaching.
Posted by noa on February 24, 2003, at 20:31:41
In reply to Re: My therapist doesn't buy my theory. » judy1, posted by Dinah on February 23, 2003, at 17:45:06
Dinah, from what you've described about the "crazy-making" behavior of your family, it seems to me that that would be enough to cause the disintegration, ie, not *necessarily* due to some yet-to-be-uncovered memory. Ie, don't drive yourself more crazy by thinking there is something you are hiding from yourself. Maybe there is, who knows? But I don't think it is necessarily the case. Your family's catch-22 type interactions seem to me to be sufficiently exasperating.
Posted by Dinah on February 24, 2003, at 21:53:34
In reply to Re: My therapist doesn't buy my theory. » Dinah, posted by noa on February 24, 2003, at 20:31:41
You're right Noa. I always realized there was no hidden memories, and I'm sure my therapist finally believes me. Not that he ever pushed it. It's just that I have certain other ummmm... symptoms that would fit in with sexual abuse. But obviously sexual abuse is not the only way to come by those symptoms.
Posted by Dinah on February 27, 2003, at 11:19:54
In reply to I'm reading 'The Myth of Sanity', posted by judy1 on February 16, 2003, at 11:39:33
My email address is bullyforyou77 at yahoo or we could arrange to meet in PB open chat room.
There are things I would feel more comfortable sharing off board.
If you don't feel comfortable with that though, I understand perfectly.
Posted by judy1 on February 27, 2003, at 17:30:05
In reply to Re: If you ever want to talk more about the book » judy1, posted by Dinah on February 27, 2003, at 11:19:54
actually I would love to talk more about the book, I'll probably open an e-mail at yahoo. i'm wiped right now but wanted to get back to you. will write soon. take care, judy
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