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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by DaisyM on January 12, 2004, at 23:42:55
In Therapy today, I asked (ok, I whined) if EVERYONE found therapy THIS painful!!! So we talked about the process, why it was so hard for me and how to separate the pain of the issues from the therapy, if this was possible. We made actually made a list of the hard parts of therapy.
Now I'm suppose to do two things: on a scale from one to ten, how painful would I rate most of my sessions.
And, I'm suppose to make a list of what has been/is good about therapy...not him specifically as a Therapist, though he said if I wanted to throw in some good stuff about him too, he'd be ok with that. *grin*
So, please help me with the list and I'd like to know about your experiences as far as the pain scale goes.
Posted by Elle2021 on January 13, 2004, at 5:54:41
In reply to Need Homework Help, posted by DaisyM on January 12, 2004, at 23:42:55
> So, please help me with the list and I'd like to know about your experiences as far as the pain scale goes.
1. His constant prodding to try and get me to disclose the childhood I'm trying to forget.
2. The way he seems so distant.
Those are the only ones I can think of right now, maybe I will have more for you later. :)
Elle
Posted by Poet on January 13, 2004, at 14:23:56
In reply to Need Homework Help, posted by DaisyM on January 12, 2004, at 23:42:55
Hi Daisy,
Is the scale 1 being the least pain and 10 being the most? This is how I'll rate myself okay?
Childhood pain- specific trauma 10
Childhood in general 8
Anything that makes me say "I don't know, I really don't know, I don't want to talk about this..." 8
Trust (I have trust issues with everybody) 5
Current relationships- family, friends 3
Why I think I'm unlovable 4
Why I think I'm a total failure 1
Career woes (which WILL end next week, please!)1Poet
Posted by naiad on January 13, 2004, at 15:09:54
In reply to Need Homework Help, posted by DaisyM on January 12, 2004, at 23:42:55
Therapy is painful for me because:
1. I am sure that I am not good at it, that I can't be as open as my T wants me to be
2. I am often consumed with thinking about what my T has said, but fear that I didn't really understand him
3. I hate that my feelings for my T are not reciprocated
4. Even when I get some insight into an issue, it doesn't make it go away! Like when I realized that I don't really hate my mother, I just have been yearning for nurturing all of my life. I still feel sad and awful about my reltionahsip with her.
5. The big fear is that I'll never get better.Thanks for asking the question -- its always helpful to look at the specifics and not just the overarching feeling of pain. I guess thats why I keep going to therapy!
Posted by DaisyM on January 13, 2004, at 18:05:55
In reply to Need Homework Help, posted by DaisyM on January 12, 2004, at 23:42:55
Thank you for your lists...they look a lot like mine!
But, none of you listed anything good about therapy... there has to be SOMETHING...yes?
Posted by gardenergirl on January 13, 2004, at 19:46:06
In reply to How about the good parts? , posted by DaisyM on January 13, 2004, at 18:05:55
Daisy,
I would echo what others have said about what's painful. What's especially painful for me right now is that I am SICK of a particular neurosis and the behavior that goes along with it. Having insight into why I feel that way and how that leads me to behave is fine and dandy, but I don't WANT to be that way. I feel helpless to have any real change right now. Which leads me to not want to talk about it.What's good about therapy:
My T validates that I don't want to talk about it, but somehow always gets me into it. As much as I hate to sit there and cry every week. And as much as I feel so drained after each session, it IS helping in the long run.So I guess I also appreciate his patience with me in dealing with my irrational desire to wave a magic therapy wand and make childhood stuff go away like it never happened.
I also appreciate that I have somewhere where I can just ramble and bitch and say the same stuff without driving someone away. It's all about me, you know! :) How often do we get that in the everyday world?
That's really a tough assignment! I hope some of this helps a little.
Take care,
g
Posted by Dinah on January 13, 2004, at 19:52:30
In reply to How about the good parts? , posted by DaisyM on January 13, 2004, at 18:05:55
He's my secure base, my safe place. His support makes it possible to go out into the scary world. I would have left this board over a year ago if it weren't for his support, insight, clarity, and reality checks.
Posted by Poet on January 13, 2004, at 20:02:05
In reply to How about the good parts? , posted by DaisyM on January 13, 2004, at 18:05:55
Good parts? It's so much easier to think of the bad parts, I guess it's because pain lasts so much longer than feeling good.
Realizing that even though I'm not perfect at everything, I'm good at things that are more important to me.
The first time I spoke in class and didn't have heart pounding anxiety. The voice in the back of my head wasn't keep quiet, you'll look stupid. It was my therapist's saying you're intelligent.
The feeling that she really does care about me.
At the end of a bad session, when she says you can call me, if you need to, I know this was painful.
If I think of more, I'll post them.
Poet
Posted by Elle2021 on January 14, 2004, at 5:11:31
In reply to Re: How about the good parts? , posted by Poet on January 13, 2004, at 20:02:05
> I agree with Dinah. It's really nice to have him there for a "reality check" when I need him. I love it when he says, "oh, no, don't worry thats completely normal." It's comforting. :)
Elle
Posted by lookdownfish on January 14, 2004, at 5:35:41
In reply to How about the good parts? , posted by DaisyM on January 13, 2004, at 18:05:55
Good stuff about therapy:
Learning how to accept and explore my character flaws, and no longer be ashamed of them.
To have my problems and worries validated, rather than disagreed with, suppressed, criticised
To be able to be difficult, stroppy and snippy and as a result be understood instead of being rejected.
Exposing unconscious thoughts and feelings in order to understand my past and how it affects my life
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