Posted by annierose on July 17, 2011, at 12:18:49
My therapist takes more time off than most ... I think she averages 6 - 8 weeks off per calendar year. So you would think I'd be use to this interruption and/or after so many years that it wouldn't phase my psyche. But as soon as she announces her vacation plans, it feels as though I've been kicked in the stomach.
And I do feel less desperate than in years past. So that is (some) progress. What I have noticed most this time around, the weekends are the hardest. By Thursday I am already anticipating the loss that comes around on Monday morning when I will have missed my appointment. However, once I get past Monday, the rest of the week sort of takes-over, work, kids, dinner, chores, some evening activity, etc. And it all comes screeching to a halt on Thursday when panic sets in.
Another thing that I find that helps is exercise. I'm old :) But doing some cardio that elevates my heart rate really does send some of those happy chemicals to my brain that calms the panic.
And all of us, always make it through. I remind myself of that too. I ask myself, "why does time move so slowly when she goes away?" "why does her absence affect me so much?" "why does it matter?". My daughter will be off to college in another year. But that will be different ... I can call or text her occasionally, she will be accessible.
I guess this post is me thinking out loud. And I want to give encouragement to those whose therapist start taking vacations in August. It's never easy but we need to keep putting one foot in front of the other and before we know it, they're back.
poster:annierose
thread:991236
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20110706/msgs/991236.html