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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dissociative Jane on June 17, 2003, at 7:50:12
As I've mentioned in another post, I have been in therapy for 1 year and I am noticing something about myself.
I seem to be noticing that I isolate myself from friends and family.
To give you an example....I have an upcoming vacation and I don't even want to go.
I'm wondering if being in therapy has something to do with it.
Is this something that any of you have experienced after beginning therapy?
Posted by bookgurl99 on June 17, 2003, at 10:25:21
In reply to Is this normal?, posted by Dissociative Jane on June 17, 2003, at 7:50:12
jane,
i haven't experienced it.
but if you feel that it is related to therapy, maybe you could question why -- or even bring it up with your therapist!
maybe in therapy you're discovering things about your family that makes you not want to be around them. or maybe you know that you'll have to change your behavior with your family from what it used to be, and that is also intimidating.
or, are you going to have to 'miss' a therapy session and are worried about how you'll do without that booster shot?
books
Posted by Eddie Sylvano on June 17, 2003, at 10:35:53
In reply to Is this normal?, posted by Dissociative Jane on June 17, 2003, at 7:50:12
> I seem to be noticing that I isolate myself from friends and family.
> To give you an example....I have an upcoming vacation and I don't even want to go.
-----------------This doesn't seem surprising or unusual to me. When you don't feel well, it's much harder to carry on your expected roles in a social settings, which is just stressful, and certainly no fun. For me, anyway, it's a matter of not wanting to dissapoint anyone and not wanting to talk about how I feel with them either. If I'm not cheery and responsive, people will think I don't like them (or something else negative). If I tell them why I feel like that, they either don't understand, or just think other negative things (I'm lying, I'm selfish, etc). So yeah, being alone is much easier and doesn't necessarily mean that you don't appreciate your family anymore. You just can't relate to them at the moment.
Posted by deirdrehbrt on June 17, 2003, at 22:43:10
In reply to Re: Is this normal? » Dissociative Jane, posted by Eddie Sylvano on June 17, 2003, at 10:35:53
Jane,
What you are experiencing is normal for people in our situation. There are times when I just don't have the energy available to deal with people. I don't want people to tell me that "all I need is to relax and have a good time. Then I'll be amazed at how much better I feel". In my mind, all I need to do is to tell them that listening to them is going to make me puke.
If you are feeling like you don't want to go, then maybe you are looking at the amount of energy you will spend to "have a good time". Maybe there will be people there you don't want to interact with.... Look at yourself, and try to find out what the hesitancy is, then you'll be better able to decide if you really want to go or not.
I hope this helps,
Dee.
Posted by wendy b. on June 18, 2003, at 9:29:21
In reply to Is this normal?, posted by Dissociative Jane on June 17, 2003, at 7:50:12
Maybe it's not related to therapy at all... Sometimes the depression or bipolar issues give us those symptoms of irritability. But, of course, maybe your linking them is right on the mark: perhaps the therapy has revealed them to you, now, strongly. I know many times I have felt UNABLE to deal with family bull__. So I avoid the get-togethers if I feel not up to it. You are ok in feeling that. Just honor the feeling, and take it to therapy. It's all grist for the psychological mill!
best,
Wendy
This is the end of the thread.
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