Posted by Pfinstegg on November 12, 2004, at 20:38:17
In reply to forgot to add, posted by underthecs on November 12, 2004, at 19:47:01
What you are enduring is terribly hard. I am similiar to you, in that I always felt that *something* happened, but did not have any memory of it- just all the signs of chronic PTSD- like you. The thing that is working best in therapy is to re-experience the feelings- the fear, panic and shame- without trying to put definite memories to them. My T seems to think that getting in touch with those feelings, and sharing them with him, will be healing in itself. He also encourages me to let my mind go freely, and not to worry whether any thoughts which may come up are fantasies or realities. We know for sure that emotional neglect and physical abuse definitely happened. With the question of sexual abuse, it seems probable that it either did happen, or that as a little girl, I was terrified that it would.( I had a very punitive, narcissistic father, who sexualized all of my interactions with him) So we are concentrating on feelings, not exactly whether a particular thing did or didn't happen. Gradually, some real memories- just fragments- have come up, which makes us think that I do have additional unconscious memories of csa that I can't get to yet. I think it's a really good way to approach it, as I've at least gotten a lot of the feelings out to a trusted person. I am feeling better. Would this be an approach which might be helpful in your work with your T?
poster:Pfinstegg
thread:415216
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20041104/msgs/415227.html