Posted by twinleaf on November 30, 2008, at 16:44:32
In reply to Re: I am hating what therapy is bring out in me » Partlycloudy, posted by SlugSlimersSoSlided on November 30, 2008, at 16:00:15
I think the best answer is both a yes and a no. We will probably never heal completely from early traumatic experiences: our brains and our stress hormone levels will be slightly different than they would have been if we had been protected and loved as children. On the other hand, almost all the new information which is coming out about the brain is extremely encouraging and promising. We all form new neurons, and new connections between them every day, even when we are old. And people know so much more about how therapy works- how important the relationship is, as well as the "moments of meeting", which make such a powerful impact, far beyond speech or interpretations. When you find a therapist with whom you can have these new experiences, I think it enables you to move away, emotionally, from the original trauma. The original interpersonal trauma is now not the only relationship you have experienced; you have the chance of kind of "reworking" that old one in the light of the new one. Being in the middle of doing that myself, I can say that what seems to happen is that, although you never forget or forgive, it begins to seem less important. You begin to have a feeling that you can do what you need to do to have a good life, despite your past.. Once you know that, the past, no matter how horrible, begins to have less and less of a grip on you.I'm positive, personally, that our brains are physically changing while this is happening (imaging technology just hasn't caught up enough to show it yet)
Sadly, I don't think any of us can accomplish this without plunging in and feeling just how horrible and lonely it really was.
My therapist wants me to bring in the very worst- no editing or manicuring to make it less painful or more palatable. It sounds like yours does, too. It probably doesn't feel like a blessing now, but I'm betting that it will for you later.
poster:twinleaf
thread:865878
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20081120/msgs/865949.html