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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dissociative Jane on July 31, 2003, at 7:58:19
I have been in therapy for 1 year now going 2x's per week. There are many times about 1 day after my session when I begin to feel very stressed out, overwhelmed and quite anxious....and then finally when I come to my appt, these feelings seem to somewhat subside.
I was wondering if anyone else here has a similar experience?
Posted by justyourlaugh on July 31, 2003, at 9:20:02
In reply to Therapy, posted by Dissociative Jane on July 31, 2003, at 7:58:19
jane,,
i am rather the oppisite,,
terrible overwhelmed before and during an appointment...so much better the next few days because of his encouragement that i am getting better....
j
Posted by fallsfall on July 31, 2003, at 11:28:09
In reply to Therapy, posted by Dissociative Jane on July 31, 2003, at 7:58:19
I am anxious after my session. I always assumed that it was because we talked about difficult stuff and I was still processing it after the session.
One thing to watch out for, though: I was worried for a long time (still am) that my therapist was angry at me. Each time I would see her this fear would be activated again. After a couple of days I would calm down a bit. I didn't understand the dynamic at the time, and so I didn't tell her that I was that upset for so long each week. Looking back, it should have been a red flag. I would be so upset that I couldn't talk to anyone for 8-10 hours. Then I could talk, but my ability to think was impared, I had no patience, and I couldn't accomplish anything until about 60 hours after therapy.
It might be worth explaining exactly what is happening to your therapist. She'll be best able to tell you if it is a problem or not.
Good Luck, and let me know what she says.
Posted by Dissociative Jane on July 31, 2003, at 13:15:39
In reply to Re: Therapy » Dissociative Jane, posted by fallsfall on July 31, 2003, at 11:28:09
Dear FallsFall,
This situation has been such a concern to me that I already mentioned to my therapist during my session yesterday what has been happening to me.
She said what I'm experiencing is not normal and we will continue to explore this together.
Posted by Tabitha on July 31, 2003, at 13:17:14
In reply to Therapy, posted by Dissociative Jane on July 31, 2003, at 7:58:19
Oh yes, I often feel anxious and just generally unbalanced after a session. Or I'll get angry with her and sort of work myself up for a couple days. She often starts the session asking me about my reaction to the previous session, so we spend a little time processing that. I've found it's good to do that, it sort of clears the air and lets me start on something new. So now if I've had a reaction I just bring it up first thing in the next session and get it out of the way.
Posted by fallsfall on July 31, 2003, at 13:39:18
In reply to Therapy, posted by Dissociative Jane on July 31, 2003, at 7:58:19
Hmmm.
Jane, I wonder if yours is not normal because you have a period of time after the session when you feel OK and then you start to feel worse.
Either that or Tabitha and I have a problem, too? (I probably have a problem anyway that we are working on together).
I'm glad that you could talk to your therapist about it. That's usually the best thing to do. I'd be interested in how it turns out.
Posted by Dinah on July 31, 2003, at 15:36:36
In reply to Re: Therapy, posted by Dissociative Jane on July 31, 2003, at 13:15:39
Sounds like you have a good line of communication with your therapist. You should be able to work things out in those circumstances.
I often feel awful as I leave therapy and for a while after. Sometimes I have to sit in the stairwell or in my car before I can attempt to drive home. And most times I'll crash into a deep sleep. Then I'll be ok, or ok enough, depending on what we talked about. After the comforting sort of session, I feel cozy and snug after a session.
I think twice a week makes things much better, don't you? You remember what was happening last time and so can address it immediately without having to spend time to remember what was going on.
Posted by Dissociative Jane on July 31, 2003, at 15:43:31
In reply to Re: Therapy, posted by Dinah on July 31, 2003, at 15:36:36
At this point, 2x's per week is what I need. Once a week therapy is not enough for me. Sometimes I think I must be really crazy for feeling like I need 2 sessions per week.
I must be really "needy"!
Posted by Dinah on July 31, 2003, at 15:50:51
In reply to Re: Therapy, posted by Dissociative Jane on July 31, 2003, at 15:43:31
Then that makes two of us. :)
My therapist thinks the twice a week keeps me more stable with less inter-session crises. And I think it allows us to go deeper than once a week does.
I know I'm pretty needy. But you know what really made me feel crazy? And it's kind of funny, so I don't mind it. My therapist and I were talking about the deductibility of therapy. I have a prescription from my psychiatrist for it. And the rules are that it's deductible as long as it's for a medical condition and not for personal growth. I asked him "And this isn't for personal growth, right?" And he answered "NOOOO!!!!!" with the force and intensity of Lucy from Peanuts, where the person sitting opposite of her goes tumbling backwards. I was torn between being offended at his vehemence and amused, and decided to choose amused.
Posted by kyp on August 4, 2003, at 12:09:24
In reply to Therapy, posted by Dissociative Jane on July 31, 2003, at 7:58:19
I am in therapy 3-4 times a week and I give my therapist my journal to read every couple weeks also. I feel disoriented right after therapy sometimes and sit alone in the waiting room afterwards. Other times I feel heard and ready to go on with my life.
Posted by Pfinstegg on August 4, 2003, at 12:51:26
In reply to Re: Therapy, posted by kyp on August 4, 2003, at 12:09:24
I'm glad you joined the discussion. Are you in psychoanalytic psychotherapy, or even psychoanalysis itself? I understand very well how disorienting some of those sessions can be, and also how the sense of being heard and understood helps us all to feel grounded and secure. I am finding that as my analyst knows and understands me better, we are able to enter difficult areas, and I still have the sense of being heard and supported- this was a much bigger problem at the start of therapy, however.
Have you been doing this long, or are you just starting?
Pfinstegg
Posted by Kyp on August 5, 2003, at 9:34:34
In reply to Re: Therapy » kyp, posted by Pfinstegg on August 4, 2003, at 12:51:26
Thank you, I am in psychoanalysis I guess you could say. I had to look it up as to what the definition is. I have dissociative identity disorder and am in therapy to connect the conscious and unconscious parts ??.(Which seems weird even for me at times)I have been seeing this wonderful psychologist for over 3 years now and doing some fascinating work. I am happy and well adjusted usually and have put into practice self-awareness and self-nurturing. I don't work at a job, my husband supports me, so I have a lot of free time to enjoy life and learn about myself. I love SARK and doing art of all kinds to express myself.
> I'm glad you joined the discussion. Are you in psychoanalytic psychotherapy, or even psychoanalysis itself? I understand very well how disorienting some of those sessions can be, and also how the sense of being heard and understood helps us all to feel grounded and secure. I am finding that as my analyst knows and understands me better, we are able to enter difficult areas, and I still have the sense of being heard and supported- this was a much bigger problem at the start of therapy, however.
>
> Have you been doing this long, or are you just starting?
>
>
> Pfinstegg
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