travinda
05-15-2008, 09:30 AM
i was diagnosed a while ago as having complex post traumatic stress dissorder, (prolonged suffering) the effects of it effected my whole life. i am having therapy and sometimes i feel im winning, but then soon as i start to feel beter it starts all over again. it gets so bad i cant function normaly. i become isolated and have no enthusiasm for anything. the further i get with my therapy the worse the after effects get, and the lower i feel. is this just part of the process to get over it?
does anyone else suffer with this? or know how can i stop the after effects of the therapy
does anyone else suffer with this? or know how can i stop the after effects of the therapy
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isitme
05-16-2008, 06:57 AM
It is only natural to feel worse following therapy, mental exhaustion. I found the bad periods lessened as time went on. There is alot for the brain to process and accept. It isn't easy, but it is possible. I also felt totally incapacitated at times. I believe it was my brains way of 'taking a break from it all'. Giving myself time to recover. So many triggers are involved with mental abuse. The desire to change WILL see results in time. Do something everyday...........just for you, no matter how small, because you time is very important.
All the best.:)
All the best.:)
Phoenix
05-16-2008, 08:34 AM
Hello Travinda,
Therapy is a process in its own rite.
When we are working through a particular situation, the emotional baggage that is attributed to it becomes exposed. It is not until we view the contents inside, that we realize how much effort it will take to empty its contents.
Depending upon the situation, this can take quite a while to accomplish.
Once that "suitcase" is opened, it can either be closed shut or remain open by our own choice.
To keep it closed denies further progress but to keep it open exposes us to uncomfortability on many different levels.
I take some time to myself after a session to regroup my thoughts.
In the past, I would leave a session with all the emotions that were exposed and would actually feel worse than when I first entered.
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I once shared with my therapist that "therapy is a lifelong process and our interaction is just part of the equation. It involves psychological work outside of your four walls once I leave and as I am always finding more things out about myself, whether through interactions with others,dreams or flashbacks, I personally feel that dealing with life is therapy so I see myself as experiencing therapy on a daily basis."
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Take some time to reflect on your session(not too much) afterwards and try look at it as an ongoing work in progress, for the way one feels after a therapy session is a reaction to what was just discussed.
At least, that's my take on it.
Take care.
Respectfully,
Phoenix
Therapy is a process in its own rite.
When we are working through a particular situation, the emotional baggage that is attributed to it becomes exposed. It is not until we view the contents inside, that we realize how much effort it will take to empty its contents.
Depending upon the situation, this can take quite a while to accomplish.
Once that "suitcase" is opened, it can either be closed shut or remain open by our own choice.
To keep it closed denies further progress but to keep it open exposes us to uncomfortability on many different levels.
I take some time to myself after a session to regroup my thoughts.
In the past, I would leave a session with all the emotions that were exposed and would actually feel worse than when I first entered.
---------------------------
I once shared with my therapist that "therapy is a lifelong process and our interaction is just part of the equation. It involves psychological work outside of your four walls once I leave and as I am always finding more things out about myself, whether through interactions with others,dreams or flashbacks, I personally feel that dealing with life is therapy so I see myself as experiencing therapy on a daily basis."
---------------------------
Take some time to reflect on your session(not too much) afterwards and try look at it as an ongoing work in progress, for the way one feels after a therapy session is a reaction to what was just discussed.
At least, that's my take on it.
Take care.
Respectfully,
Phoenix
travinda
05-16-2008, 06:52 PM
thanks pheonix,
i am sort of hoping someone will wave a wand and it will all go away! i do look at life differently now, but the therapy sessions, as you say often make me feel worse than before i went in!
i see things a lot clearer after a day or so, and often think....... "how could i think like that? it sounds so stupid!" i guess thats part of re-learning!
i am sort of hoping someone will wave a wand and it will all go away! i do look at life differently now, but the therapy sessions, as you say often make me feel worse than before i went in!
i see things a lot clearer after a day or so, and often think....... "how could i think like that? it sounds so stupid!" i guess thats part of re-learning!
Phoenix
05-16-2008, 06:59 PM
Hello Travinda,
Relearning and learning new things about yourself are some of the key components.
Isitme makes some good points in her post also.
How are you feeling today?
Phoenix
Relearning and learning new things about yourself are some of the key components.
Isitme makes some good points in her post also.
How are you feeling today?
Phoenix
travinda
05-17-2008, 09:26 PM
hi and thanks to you both
im feeling fine again today, its the day after the session i find the hardest!
is there a therapy to cope with the therapy !!!!
im feeling fine again today, its the day after the session i find the hardest!
is there a therapy to cope with the therapy !!!!
Phoenix
05-17-2008, 10:31 PM
hi and thanks to you both
im feeling fine again today, its the day after the session i find the hardest!
is there a therapy to cope with the therapy !!!!
Hello Travinda,
The best way to cope with the day after is to try and concentrate on the here and now;the chores that are left undone, etc.
You can also begin a journal and write down the details of each session once you arrive home or in the evening.
In my opinion.
Take care.
Respecfully,
Phoenix
im feeling fine again today, its the day after the session i find the hardest!
is there a therapy to cope with the therapy !!!!
Hello Travinda,
The best way to cope with the day after is to try and concentrate on the here and now;the chores that are left undone, etc.
You can also begin a journal and write down the details of each session once you arrive home or in the evening.
In my opinion.
Take care.
Respecfully,
Phoenix
isitme
05-21-2008, 05:23 AM
thanks pheonix,
i am sort of hoping someone will wave a wand and it will all go away! i do look at life differently now, but the therapy sessions, as you say often make me feel worse than before i went in!
i see things a lot clearer after a day or so, and often think....... "how could i think like that? it sounds so stupid!" i guess thats part of re-learning!
I can totally relate with what you're saying. I decided to ride with the emotions with the knowledge that they do subside and the frequency and durations lessens with time. Accept that these phases do come, instead of trying to fight them.
i am sort of hoping someone will wave a wand and it will all go away! i do look at life differently now, but the therapy sessions, as you say often make me feel worse than before i went in!
i see things a lot clearer after a day or so, and often think....... "how could i think like that? it sounds so stupid!" i guess thats part of re-learning!
I can totally relate with what you're saying. I decided to ride with the emotions with the knowledge that they do subside and the frequency and durations lessens with time. Accept that these phases do come, instead of trying to fight them.
maybecrazy
05-21-2008, 06:53 AM
Hi Travinda,
I read your post and it rang home for me - the number of times I have said to my therapist in desperation that I just want them to tell me what to do to make it stop! - ....well I'm sure it's quite a few - wouldn't it be great!
My truth for me is that I seem to go in cycles - I get some techniques , learn some new ways of thinking, then something will set off a flashback and I will feel I have gone back to the beginning - but that's not true - each time you take two steps forward you may take one back but that still leaves you one step ahead! and I hold onto that - after my therapy sessions I am mainly confused and exhausted and often wondering why I'm not "fixed" so I remind myself I'm not broken, maybe a little dented! but not broken. Things will rocket round in my head after the session until I'm exhausted but after that I usually find a little more light at the end of the tunnell, adn I have another technique under my belt to use either now or when the hard times hit - I hope things get better for you - keep your sense of humour if you can - I remember making my therapist laugh at a bad joke that I din't realise I'd told when I said "you know, I think this PTSD thing is all in my mind!" - and she said yep it sure is! Take care MBC
I read your post and it rang home for me - the number of times I have said to my therapist in desperation that I just want them to tell me what to do to make it stop! - ....well I'm sure it's quite a few - wouldn't it be great!
My truth for me is that I seem to go in cycles - I get some techniques , learn some new ways of thinking, then something will set off a flashback and I will feel I have gone back to the beginning - but that's not true - each time you take two steps forward you may take one back but that still leaves you one step ahead! and I hold onto that - after my therapy sessions I am mainly confused and exhausted and often wondering why I'm not "fixed" so I remind myself I'm not broken, maybe a little dented! but not broken. Things will rocket round in my head after the session until I'm exhausted but after that I usually find a little more light at the end of the tunnell, adn I have another technique under my belt to use either now or when the hard times hit - I hope things get better for you - keep your sense of humour if you can - I remember making my therapist laugh at a bad joke that I din't realise I'd told when I said "you know, I think this PTSD thing is all in my mind!" - and she said yep it sure is! Take care MBC
captnanny
06-06-2008, 08:21 AM
Hi,
I am a kind of newbie, been on the board a couple times over the past year. I totally relate with what you are feeling about therapy. I always seem to panic about five minutes before I have to leave because I don't want to. It's like (I think) I go into behaving how I wish I could have when I was five. I want her to be my mom, make it all go away and stop me from hurting so much. I can't stand walking out of the door. It feels like she doesn't care. But as someone else pointed out therapy is a lifelong process and even after we leave the four walls our work still continues. She may be out of sight, but definately not out of mind and I believe she still keeps me in hers. She will return phone calls for when I am totally panicking.
I feel as if I am just waking up from a long long fairy tale in which my answer was to have a majic wand and be turned back into a little girl only to be raised without the abuse and torment.
What a realization it was when I found out I needed to go into the pain to get better. I have tried for so long to get rid of it by self medicating, making excuses about other things to talk about etc.
Now the time has come and it is not a pleasant ordeal. I know there is hope from this board and people I see who can cope with life. I just can't wait for the day when I see why and like being alive and that life is something to be a part of, can be enjoyable and fulfilling. I just want that right now.
I am a kind of newbie, been on the board a couple times over the past year. I totally relate with what you are feeling about therapy. I always seem to panic about five minutes before I have to leave because I don't want to. It's like (I think) I go into behaving how I wish I could have when I was five. I want her to be my mom, make it all go away and stop me from hurting so much. I can't stand walking out of the door. It feels like she doesn't care. But as someone else pointed out therapy is a lifelong process and even after we leave the four walls our work still continues. She may be out of sight, but definately not out of mind and I believe she still keeps me in hers. She will return phone calls for when I am totally panicking.
I feel as if I am just waking up from a long long fairy tale in which my answer was to have a majic wand and be turned back into a little girl only to be raised without the abuse and torment.
What a realization it was when I found out I needed to go into the pain to get better. I have tried for so long to get rid of it by self medicating, making excuses about other things to talk about etc.
Now the time has come and it is not a pleasant ordeal. I know there is hope from this board and people I see who can cope with life. I just can't wait for the day when I see why and like being alive and that life is something to be a part of, can be enjoyable and fulfilling. I just want that right now.