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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Daisym on November 23, 2007, at 23:19:38
I'm tired of trading sadness for anxiety and then back again. I'm either really sad with tears running all over everything, or I'm anxious and cleaning every cupboard in the house! I can't find my center and get balanced. Ug.
Work seems to keep getting in the way of therapy. Is this a sign that I'm ready to cut back? Or is it just bad timing?
I watched my family at Thanksgiving and they are so much more screwed up than me...perhaps I really don't need as much therapy these days. :)
*sigh* -- I just want to feel excited about the Holidays and not have it feel like such a chore. And to top it all off, my therapist is going on vacation at the end of December.
Is Christmas Camp comfort open yet?
Posted by Dinah on November 24, 2007, at 0:33:52
In reply to frustrated, posted by Daisym on November 23, 2007, at 23:19:38
Well, to be honest, the holidays are a chore. :)
When we're feeling energetic and happy they might be an exciting chore, but still a chore.
And your stable source of support goes off on his own holidays, when even Dr. Bob Hartley knew that holidays were the worst time for a psychologist to be away.
Isn't it weird about sadness and anxiety? I sometimes feel like they do a little dance in my brain. One protects me from the other, and they approach and step back in almost stately synchronization. Right now they seem to be passing each other in me. Both close enough to affect me simultaneously but far enough away that it's not overwhelming. Much better than when the steps of the dance bring them side by side closer to me.
My therapist often says that the identified patient isn't usually the most screwed up in the family. But I have to think that recognizing how messed up our families are is part of gaining the detachment needed to separate and individuate from the *right* people. (That was part of my therapist's response to my diatribe about it. That it was a good thing to do that with my mother. Then he went and spoiled it by saying it *could* be a good thing to do with him as well, and didn't mean losing him. Bah.)
Posted by star008 on November 24, 2007, at 1:24:35
In reply to frustrated, posted by Daisym on November 23, 2007, at 23:19:38
The holidays are a chore.. blah.. I wish I was all excited but really they are stressful and alot of work.
I watched my family too on Thanksgiving and yes, they are really screwed up but none of them are in therapy.. Maybe they wouldn't be quite so screwed up if they were?? I don't know because I am screwed up to. I guess the difference is that I can see it??
One more major holiday to go and then we don't ahve to worry about it anymore for another year!!! yahhhooooo
Posted by rskontos on November 24, 2007, at 10:04:03
In reply to Re: frustrated, posted by star008 on November 24, 2007, at 1:24:35
Yeah Daisym, I looked at my Father and had to look away. I just felt so blah too. They are screwed up and screwed me up and now I don't feel anything. I dissociated my feelings away almost completely. So sad and I am not sure therapy can help. but I guess I will try. I am mad at my therapist too. What to do I dont know. Yeah, I hate this time of year too. Too bad we just can't declare our friends our family and go from there. Although sometimes i just want to be alone so feeling nothing is ok. Everyone laughs and I just can't. I find many of them just plain disgusting. Well aren't I a bundle of joy. sorry rk
Posted by Muffled on November 24, 2007, at 10:36:56
In reply to Re: frustrated, posted by rskontos on November 24, 2007, at 10:04:03
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Posted by JoniS on November 24, 2007, at 23:24:41
In reply to frustrated, posted by Daisym on November 23, 2007, at 23:19:38
Hey Daisy
I'm ready for that Christmas Camp Comfort too! It would be awesome to have some joy in my heart at Christmas. I guess holidays are often a reminder of hurtful events and or relationships from our past. I think the way to lighten things up is to do a few things new and different than before. Like have good friends over or go to their place for more of the day than being with family, or take a day trip somewhere - with friend(s) not family. One year, I think it was the Thanksgiving after my Dad died, we went out of town for Thanksgiving and ate out. That was something new. It didn't make for a great new memory, but I think that's because I was still morning the loss.
There's got to be a way to make this time of year more enjoyable! So that leads me back to Camp Comfort. I think a "girls trip" might be just what the doctor ordered. I'm up for a cruise somewhere exciting...
....There's got to be a way.....
Joni
Posted by annierose on November 25, 2007, at 8:14:24
In reply to frustrated, posted by Daisym on November 23, 2007, at 23:19:38
Awareness of our feelings is sadly progress. At least that is what my t would say. The next step is working with them ... whatever that means ... talking, talking and more talking. Or maybe crying, screaming, sobbing, talking, whimpering ....
I think what Dinah's says is true. Often the person in the family seeking therapy is the more healthy member of the family. Something inside of you had perspective that you needed to live a more balanced life.
Sorry to hear that work is getting in the way of therapy. Tell work to stop that right now.
This is the end of the thread.
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