Posted by beatrix34 on June 4, 2004, at 11:17:55
Yesterday I went for an intensive double session of therapy with the main focus being on trying to move the memory of date rape at 16 from my trauma memory to my long term memory. I guess that the idea behind this is that it better enables a person to call up those memories as opposed to having them rush in at inopportune moments (ie when having intimate relations with my husband).
What we did was focus on the worst and most vivid feeling that came out of that episode and use a flashing light that moved from side to side to help evoke memories around that feeling...stopping periodically to discuss what I was feeling. During the course of the treatment I went through feelings of hurt, anger, fear, isolation, shame, etc. I was encouraged to feel these feelings as much or as little as they surfaced.
At the end of the session I told my 16 year old the things I would tell her as the adult that I now am, and then I told my abuser the things I wanted to say as well.
At the end of the session I felt peaceful, a little sad but that's all. I am hoping that this experience will help me heal from this incident that has stayed with me for many years and shaped many of the decisions I made as a young adult.
Has anyone done this sort of therapy before? Did it help? I would love to hear some other people's experiences if they are out there.
Thanks,
Bea
poster:beatrix34
thread:353739
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040603/msgs/353739.html