Psycho-Babble Psychology Thread 806142

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Re: Agonizing over T Relationships *trigger + rant* » MissK

Posted by Maria01 on January 14, 2008, at 19:10:56

In reply to Agonizing over T Relationships *trigger + rant*, posted by MissK on January 13, 2008, at 12:12:31

* stands and applauds*

Thank you. Truer words have not been spoken. One of the reasons why I have pretty much left this board is due to so much of the agonizing I see over the t/client relationship.

True, some of what we experience in life does carry over to the T/client relationship, but seriously: No, you cannot a) sleep with your T b) cultivate a personal relationship with them c) be their son/daughter..the list goes on.

Thank you, MissK for the badly-needed reality check for this board.

 

uhoh..we been doing SO good guys-keep it cool here (nm)

Posted by muffled on January 14, 2008, at 19:36:21

In reply to Re: Agonizing over T Relationships *trigger + rant* » MissK, posted by Maria01 on January 14, 2008, at 19:10:56

 

OK, I just gotta say....* » Maria01

Posted by muffled on January 14, 2008, at 19:42:41

In reply to Re: Agonizing over T Relationships *trigger + rant* » MissK, posted by Maria01 on January 14, 2008, at 19:10:56

Maria.....did you READ *ALL* this thread????? Every post?
Cuz I think it was well explained....:-(
Some of us need to do what we need to do. You think we LIKE to suffer pain? Its a LEARNING process. Maybe you were lucky and had an enviroment where you learned the basics, but many of us don't know.
Its hard, it hurts.
But in the end we grow and learn.
Have you noted how INCREDIBLY compassionate babblers are on this board for the most part? How incredibly ACCEPTING they are of others....?
Comes with the territory methinks.
We gotta be humble.
We have *it* inside, and we TRYING to deal with it, but its scarey and hard.
I could say more, but truly, its BEEN said, and if you guys cannot understand now, then you never will, and it is my beleif that this thread should end, cuz there's no understanding to be had.
Sadly,
M

 

Re: Agonizing over T Relationships *trigger + rant* » Maria01

Posted by sunnydays on January 14, 2008, at 20:01:10

In reply to Re: Agonizing over T Relationships *trigger + rant* » MissK, posted by Maria01 on January 14, 2008, at 19:10:56

No, I can't be my T's daughter, but I agonize over it and wish for it nonetheless. I am not delusional, and I don't think anyone else here is. I know what the reality I face is. I also know that I agonize over a lot of things that can't happen in reality. I'm sorry if you think that means I need some sort of intervention or reality check. I can't help my thoughts or feelings.

sunnydays

 

Re: OK, I just gotta say....* » muffled

Posted by Maria01 on January 14, 2008, at 20:02:15

In reply to OK, I just gotta say....* » Maria01, posted by muffled on January 14, 2008, at 19:42:41

Yes, I did read the entire thread. There is nothing wrong with me adding my two cents as well. There is also nothing wrong with a dissenting opinion here are there, either. People are not always going to be in complete agreement with one another; it's a part of life both online and in real life.

I just get so tired of seeing posts where people torture themselves. If they want to get their therapists a gift, get them a gift. If they want/need to discuss something with them, then discuss it. Life is hard enough without endless self-torture. Just think of all that can be accomplished in therapy if the effort/energy/whatever spent torturing oneself over what to say/do in therapy were instead directed toward the therapy itself.

People will ultimately do/say whatever they want in the end, but that's just my two cents.

 

Re: OK, I just gotta say....* » muffled

Posted by TherapyGirl on January 14, 2008, at 20:17:42

In reply to OK, I just gotta say....* » Maria01, posted by muffled on January 14, 2008, at 19:42:41

Amen to you, Muffly. You said it well AND you said it nicely. I'm proud to be your friend.

 

Re: OK, I just gotta say....* » Maria01

Posted by TherapyGirl on January 14, 2008, at 20:19:00

In reply to Re: OK, I just gotta say....* » muffled, posted by Maria01 on January 14, 2008, at 20:02:15

You call it self torture, Maria. Many of us call it learning and growing. Obviously, you have a different process and that's fine. I'm glad it works for you.

 

Re: Agonizing over T Relationships *trigger + rant* » Maria01

Posted by seldomseen on January 14, 2008, at 21:21:02

In reply to Re: Agonizing over T Relationships *trigger + rant* » MissK, posted by Maria01 on January 14, 2008, at 19:10:56

I'm sorry that seeing how other people are handling their therapy made you feel uncomfortable on this board.

Personally, when I was going through similar things in therapy, I really felt all alone in it. I didn't understand it either and it was happening to me.

Obviously, I couldn't talk to people in real life about these shameful feelings I was having about my therapist!!!

I came across this board and found a whole lot of really good people who were going through or had already been through the same thing I was.

I found it very comforting and it did help me with my therapy.

I like to think we support each other here and people can talk about what they need to.

Seldom.

 

Re: Agonizing over T Relationships *trigger + rant* » Maria01

Posted by Daisym on January 14, 2008, at 21:54:12

In reply to Re: Agonizing over T Relationships *trigger + rant* » MissK, posted by Maria01 on January 14, 2008, at 19:10:56

It is hard to be civil when someone essentially says "I left because you were all driving me crazy. I'm back to help point out how you are all doing therapy wrong." If I misinterpreted your remarks, please forgive me. It is so hard to interpret the written word sometimes. I'm curious if you hoped to help anyone by your post or if you really believe it is all "just" that easy.

If it was, don't you think people would go to therapy and "just" talk? Do you really think people make it harder on themselves than they have to -- on purpose?

I don't get it. I really don't. I guess it is possible for other people to read what is written here and not see the struggles and pain as real or important. Self-inflicted...feels like such a harsh judgement. And I really don't understand why it is so important to write stuff that makes people feel bad or sad or ashamed. So you'd make different choices - good for you. We aren't all so capable.

This thread had been an interesting discussion of very different views up until this point. Now I feel belittled and criticized, which is exactly why I post instead of talking about this stuff IRL. Just my opinion, of course.

 

Re: Agonizing over T Relationships *trigger + rant* » Daisym

Posted by annierose on January 14, 2008, at 22:06:46

In reply to Re: Agonizing over T Relationships *trigger + rant* » Maria01, posted by Daisym on January 14, 2008, at 21:54:12

I couldn't agree with you more Daisy.

Therapy is hard. There's no doubt about that. Even our therapist would agree.

I'm trying not to react to this thread any further. The writers, like you, speak for so many of us that are not as good as expressing our hurt feelings in the written word.

 

Re: Agonizing over T Relationships *trigger + rant*

Posted by Maria01 on January 14, 2008, at 22:28:46

In reply to Re: Agonizing over T Relationships *trigger + rant* » Maria01, posted by Daisym on January 14, 2008, at 21:54:12

Um, that was not the reason why I left. I left for a lot of reasons. If you're so sensitive that you personalize everything like that, then that is something you need to deal with.

Just because my opinion on things/reason for leaving differs from what others deal with doesn't make them any less valid. I have many reasons for leaving this board; the therapy/client agnst was only one of them. The rest are reasons that are personal to me and to me only. They're not up for public discussion. Nothing personal. Get over it.

If you're feeling belittled or ashamed by a difference of opinion, remember that it's a part of life. If I ran and hid everytime someone's view or opinion differed from mine, I would get nothing done.

People's opinions are different, as are their choices. It's called life.

 

Re: Agonizing over T Relationships *trigger + ran

Posted by happyflower on January 14, 2008, at 22:35:01

In reply to Agonizing over T Relationships *trigger + rant*, posted by MissK on January 13, 2008, at 12:12:31

All I know is that being on the boards, were mostly supportive when I had my transference issues, but I also allowed it to fed into the over importance of the T. I think this is something I learned from here, and I jumped on the wagon and started to want my T to be something he couldn't be.
Now that I am in therapy with a very caring T, but who has very defined boundaries, I don't miss him on vacations, he has had 2 already, and I see him nnweekly. We deal with the therapeutic relationship if there is a misunderstanding, but he doesn't pretend to be my father, lover, child or anything else but my T, the relationship isn't or main focus. I rarely think of him outside of therapy, I am thinking about me and what I need to do to recover, not overanaylizing every move and word my T does. There is a huge difference now. I have made more progress in 5 months than I have in 2 1/2 years of therapy. The difference is my main problem isn't within the therapy relationship.
I think on Babble boards there contains a "special" group of people who are unique to therapy itself. A lot of people don't think about therapy so much, aren't on message boards, and they still progress, but I wonder if makes one less dependent on the T and the importance of the future of the relationship. I believe for me, babble taught me how to be dependent on my old T and to analyze every aspect of what happens in the therapy hour. Now I tend to do that less, but yet I spend about 75% less time here now. Maybe it is just a coincidence.

 

Re: Agonizing over T Relationships *trigger + rant* » Maria01

Posted by Daisym on January 14, 2008, at 22:40:47

In reply to Re: Agonizing over T Relationships *trigger + rant*, posted by Maria01 on January 14, 2008, at 22:28:46

Perhaps. Life is hard, no doubt. But sometimes hiding behind the phrase "difference of opinion" simply means that kindness has left the room.

I guess I'm old school - I tend to think people are doing the best they can at any given moment. Even people in therapy.

 

Re: Agonizing over T Relationships *trigger + rant* » Maria01

Posted by sunnydays on January 14, 2008, at 22:43:24

In reply to Re: Agonizing over T Relationships *trigger + rant*, posted by Maria01 on January 14, 2008, at 22:28:46

You didn't respond to Daisy's point that most people she (and I) know would never go out of the way to make things hard on themselves. I'm curious as to why. If only it were as easy as simply saying, "I'm not going to agonize over my relationship with my T anymore," I would have stopped agonizing within days of starting. But I have made that promise to myself thousands of times, and it is just not that easy. I really wish you could see that. To me, saying otherwise feels like the accusations some misinformed people make that one can rid oneself of depression just by trying harder to be happy.

sunnydays

 

OK OK OK, we have misunderstanding.

Posted by muffled on January 14, 2008, at 22:45:18

In reply to Re: Agonizing over T Relationships *trigger + rant* » Maria01, posted by sunnydays on January 14, 2008, at 22:43:24

Its time to stop OK?
Cuz it just causes more hurt :-(
M

 

Re: OK OK OK, we have misunderstanding. » muffled

Posted by sunnydays on January 14, 2008, at 23:11:42

In reply to OK OK OK, we have misunderstanding., posted by muffled on January 14, 2008, at 22:45:18

I'm sorry muffled. But there are some things I would truly like clarification on. I am feeling like there is something vital that is not being understood, and I'd really like to work through this misunderstanding. Take care of yourself. Maybe not read any more of this thread? I know that threads like this sometimes really upset you because you are such a caring person. I don't want to see that. But I also want to stand up for my point of view, which I feel is not being understood.

((((muffled))))

sunnydays

 

Re: OK OK OK, we have misunderstanding.

Posted by happyflower on January 14, 2008, at 23:37:22

In reply to Re: OK OK OK, we have misunderstanding. » muffled, posted by sunnydays on January 14, 2008, at 23:11:42

Everyone can have their own view on this and should be allowed to voice it, whether or not the majority agrees. But not everyone will understand the other point of view for various reasons, we all are different and are in different stages in therapy and in our lives. Respect should be given for "all" view even if they don't agree with our own.

 

Re: OK OK OK, we have misunderstanding.

Posted by star008 on January 15, 2008, at 0:01:30

In reply to Re: OK OK OK, we have misunderstanding. » muffled, posted by sunnydays on January 14, 2008, at 23:11:42

The problem here is that this post is about judgement and looking at other people's therapy experiences.. Lucky people who have never had to think about a T relationship and were able to keep things all clear and logical in their minds. I don't agonize anymore but I used to.. It is real.. Even though I knew the truth in my head, my heart felt differently. Please understand that some of us have never let anyone get close to us..
well.. if you don't get it, you just don't get it and all the talk in the worldwon't help.

This is one of the most insulting threads I have ever read.

 

Star, you got me thining again! :-) » star008

Posted by muffled on January 15, 2008, at 0:23:52

In reply to Re: OK OK OK, we have misunderstanding., posted by star008 on January 15, 2008, at 0:01:30

>Please understand that some of us have never let anyone get close to us..

*AH! Duh, thats IT Star! I have never ever said much bout myself EVER, to ANYbody. It was SO HUGE to say anything to T. To let her see inside me. My 'prime directive' of life (yeah...star treck!!!LOL) was to HIDE at all costs myself.
I still find it VERY hard to talk about myself, even in T. I am ashamed of so many things. My ikids like my T. I am doing as well as I am due to my T's everlasting patience, which I still worry will run out!!! I still worry bout allowing attachment, but T says we attach in life to others. She say its not a bad thing, but a good thing. I have to learn that I won't necessarily get rejected if people 'see' me. Its is so important that she took such time and caring, that she bent over backwards to try and help me to trust her. She is a good person I beleive. She's got a good heart. And she has seen some of whats inside me, and she hasn't rejected me. She just keeps treating me the same. I find it all so confusing. Inexplicable. WHY does she not look upon me with disgust? But she doesn't. I think I starting to beleive her. She says I NOT gross, that its lies. But its all I have ever known. Its hard to understand so much.
*I* am not attached to my T, not at all, I think its not necessary...but my Ikids are......and they the ones who need help....
Its all so hard.
But I am thankful that I feel I am making progress.
I am thankful to my T.
I think she is good at what she does. Not perfect, she says that herself. But for me, she has done good.
I care bout my T, she cares bout me.
And someone posted bout dinner. I LIKED that. One day I will have my T and her family to supper at my clean organized house. NOW that will be nice! Makes me smile it does! :-)
Thanks for making me think star, you do that alot! ;-)
M

 

ROFL!!! ThinKing!!! (nm) » muffled

Posted by muffled on January 15, 2008, at 0:25:43

In reply to Star, you got me thining again! :-) » star008, posted by muffled on January 15, 2008, at 0:23:52

 

My thots.....FWIW.... » happyflower

Posted by muffled on January 15, 2008, at 1:14:38

In reply to Re: Agonizing over T Relationships *trigger + ran, posted by happyflower on January 14, 2008, at 22:35:01

> All I know is that being on the boards, were mostly supportive when I had my transference issues,

*:-)

>but I also allowed it to fed into the over importance of the T. I think this is something I learned from here, and I jumped on the wagon and started to want my T to be something he couldn't be.

*I'm not sure how we did that? I'm sorry if I did anything hurtful.
I think at times we tried to turn you away from T somewhat, but then you were always kidding and joking and making light of it all. I think we just tried to be supportive of you :-(
And also DID your oldT help you initially on your therapy journey? I'm sorry it went so badly in the end :-( But you were strong and I admire that. And I am glad you were able to find a T that feels safe to you.
I am not ashamed to say there have been times when my T has been HUGE in my life. HUGE. Cuz I walk a scarey path alone, and she try and walk it with me. I never let noone DO that before. Yeah, she was HUGE in my life. I still care bout her plenty too. So I think its not always bad this T thing. Yeah, goes wrong sometimes, but goes right sometimes too.

> Now that I am in therapy with a very caring T, but who has very defined boundaries, I don't miss him on vacations, he has had 2 already, and I see him nnweekly.

*I am weekly too. I do much better w/vacations. Still miss her though. My T. My ikids kinda get a little lost cuz they don't trust me. But I doing better w/that :-)

>We deal with the therapeutic relationship if there is a misunderstanding, but he doesn't pretend to be my father, lover, child or anything else but my T, the relationship isn't or main focus.

*Not our main focus either. But its THERE. LOL! My T mostly into CBT. But the 'relationship' is considered very important, cuz w/o trust, how could I speak? And w/o conflict and testing, how could I know she trustworthy? I could not just accept that the lady sitting in front of me wasn't gonna 'get me' somehow. I could not feel safe. This took some time. Ikids still get frightened of her sometimes if she moves the wrong way. But it passes quick now, cuz we mostly trust her. I don't know how I could develop trust in any other way? My T was willing to meet me where I was at.

>I rarely think of him outside of therapy, I am thinking about me and what I need to do to recover, not overanaylizing every move and word my T does.

*I dunno if the correct term is overanalyzing, but perhaps 'personalization'? Where we, despite ourselves, take stuff upon ourselves, right or wrong. I think of my T lots outside therapy. She makes me feel safer. If I ever go in the hosp. I know she will advocate for me. If I was lying in a pool of puke in the gutter and I didn't know who else to call, she would help me seek help. So yeah, I think of her. Also, alot of who we perceive we are, is 'reflected' in our interactions w/others. My interaction w/T involves deep stuff, so how she reflects back to me is HUGE to me....
I am glad you have made so much progress thru therapy HF. Seems its that way. Slooooooooooooooooooooooooow, then allasudden AHA! :-) And everything in btwn.

>There is a huge difference now. I have made more progress in 5 months than I have in 2 1/2 years of therapy. The difference is my main problem isn't within the therapy relationship.

*MY main prob is not the therapy relationship, but the therapy relationship is EXTREEMLY important to me...if that makes sense? I am learning from my safe T relationship, so its a GOOD, if sometimes hard thing. But more good than bad I'd say. Mostly I get confused, cuz I don't understand about allowing others close. Way freaky!

> I think on Babble boards there contains a "special" group of people who are unique to therapy itself.

*LOL! I am special???!!! Yayyyy! :-)
Well, I dunno, but us longer term T people, we mostly pretty accepting? Mostly alla babble is accepting, but sometimes its not. But I guess thats life.
However my T's style of therapy is not unique, I think its also called maybe? person centered? I'm not sure....but its not unique therapy method. And I see alot of info out there that stresses that the T relationship is very important.

>A lot of people don't think about therapy so much, aren't on message boards, and they still progress, but I wonder if makes one less dependent on the T and the importance of the future of the relationship.

*But see for me...I have NEVER depended on others. Never allowed myself to lean on others....so for me to allow some sense of dependence, is freaky, but healthy.
I think its all goto do with the client, the issues they have and their way of dealing with stuff. So whats good for one, may not be good for another.

>I believe for me, babble taught me how to be dependent on my old T and to analyze every aspect of what happens in the therapy hour.

*Sometimes I do that, sometimes I don't. I think that this is what we tend to see lots of on the psych board, cuz it IS the psych board....!!! We don't see me helping at school, etc and being so very well adjusted....I don't need to be validated for that, I get validation from other parents. But I can come here to babble, and people make me feel OK bout how I feel bout therapy, cuz I can't exactly shout it in the halls of the school. I don't care, but it would affect my kids. I think I tend to talk here more about negative therapy stuff, cuz I get validated here. I try to remember to say goodstuff too though...
So what a person sees here on the babble boards is just a pretty narrow slice of each persons lives....

>Now I tend to do that less, but yet I spend about 75% less time here now. Maybe it is just a coincidence.

*Maybe you have outgrown babble? Quite possibly that is so? Or maybe there is a board that would fit you better? What is it you want from babble? Social, learn about meds ? There are many boards, and if psych upsets you, maybe another will fit better?
I have always enjoyed your sense of fun HF.
But here agian, the failure of the written word :-( I may have misread your humour :-( I am sorry if so.
I wish you well HF.
And for all that babble is challenging at times, its proly good to learn stuff here for being at T!! :-)
M

 

Re: Star, you got me thining again! :-)

Posted by star008 on January 15, 2008, at 1:24:16

In reply to Star, you got me thining again! :-) » star008, posted by muffled on January 15, 2008, at 0:23:52

yeah, for some of us it is the first trusting safe
realationship we have ever been in.. One where the other person doesnt tear you down, ever. They mght make mistakes by they feel bad when they do.
I hve been with my T for years and years.. of course I love him.. not romantic.., (i got over that).. I know the limits of our friendship and that is just the way it is.

My ikids are attached but the adult me is too.. I still need hm to give me relaity checks...Some of us missed the very basic tings we needed to know in order to grow into healthy well-functioning adults.. For those who don't feel that way BRAVO..Then therapy is easier for you but if it does happen to you someday then you won't feel superior to those of us who have had to deal with it and you will truly be able to understand.

 

re anytime muffled.. )))));) (nm) » muffled

Posted by star008 on January 15, 2008, at 1:29:19

In reply to Star, you got me thining again! :-) » star008, posted by muffled on January 15, 2008, at 0:23:52

 

Re: let's keep it civil, everyone, thanks

Posted by Dr. Bob on January 15, 2008, at 2:21:06

In reply to Re: Star, you got me thining again! :-), posted by star008 on January 15, 2008, at 1:24:16

> you will never be able to fully understand

> This almost sounds like setting up an adversarial relationship, kind of like asking for relationship problems with the T.

> It may be something that you never understand

> "I left because you were all driving me crazy. I'm back to help point out how you are all doing therapy wrong."
>
> stuff that makes people feel bad or sad or ashamed.

> If you're so sensitive that you personalize everything like that, then that is something you need to deal with.

> there is something vital that is not being understood

> if you don't get it, you just don't get it and all the talk in the worldwon't help.

Please don't jump to conclusions about others or post anything that could lead them to feel accused or put down. Sometimes it's best just to agree to disagree.

I encourage anyone who has questions about this or about posting policies in general, or is interested in alternative ways of expressing themselves, to see the FAQ:

http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#civil
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#enforce

Follow-ups regarding these issues should be redirected to Psycho-Babble Administration. They, as well as replies to the above posts, should of course themselves be civil.

Thanks,

Bob

 

Re: Great post! » seldomseen

Posted by MissK on January 15, 2008, at 17:26:25

In reply to Re: Great post! » MissK, posted by seldomseen on January 14, 2008, at 17:45:31

>Well, there have been times in therapy when I didn't have much to say because there wasn't that much to say.
In fact, there have been times when my therapy was just downright boring and I was like "why am I paying for this?"

lol. It was more like I don't know what to say or talk about, can I leave now? She was good though. She noted even when you are struggling or conflicted about what to say, you are still working. She has often referred to therapy to working. I don't understand it being 'work' in the conventional sense, but she is big on the idea.

>But, on the other hand, there have been other times when I did have something to say but wasn't saying it. I was just simply pretending it wasn't there.

I think you got something there. Good point. Thanks, Seldom.


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