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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 Happyflower on May 12, 2008, at 21:23:25
I have T on Thurs. morning and I haven't seen him for almost 3 weeks. It was hard the first week because he stirred up some stuff. But it seems even though I have a virus, my depression symptoms are decreasing and I am functioning better even being
sick.
But now the sh*t will hit me probably this week again. In a way I get that I need to desensitize the bad stuff so I won't be triggered. But for some reason I would like to fake it, and just feel normal for awhile, which this vacation from T has given me. But unfortunately I know all too well that it is just putting a band aid on a cut that needs stitches anyway.
But can I tell you a something, having these new pets somehow give me something to do and it is very satisfying to nurture them and they love me back.
I guess being in T, is a lot like being a new animal in the beginning. It takes patience and kindness before they can trust you. They trust more and more each day, noises scare them less, they have fun playing. Pets can be very healing. But it also is sad because they only live so long, but I guess if you give them the best caring life, when they die, you know you gave them something and they gave you something. Kinda like T, after therapy is over, we part our ways, both sad to go, but knowing things are better(for the T too) because of the relationship.
Posted by twinleaf on May 16, 2008, at 0:17:51
In reply to Think I am functioning better and pet correlations, posted by Happyflower on May 12, 2008, at 21:23:25
are not to be underestimated! I agree with you that pets are so healing, Once they know and trust you, they do give unconditional love. You have recently increased your total household members by quite a bit, and it sounds like the new little members are adding a lot of love and pleasure for everyone!
We don't have any new household members, but we do have a lovely old springer spaniel- she is VERY loving and faithful, and we also have a dressage horse, who lives out of town in a much prettier place than we do! He is in a way the angel of our lives: he screeches with joy when he catches sight of us, and then sniffs and nibbles us all over, leaving slobbers in our hair! But then, in his working life, he is, this year, the high point scorer for adult amateur riders, and also for musical freestyle riders (this is in our area- there are eight areas in the country). I find it hard to believe this is happening- this year his stall is festooned with blue ribbons!
But to move beyond pets, and probably none too soon, I thought you said such an interesting thing- that not only are we helped by our therapists, but, perhaps, they are changed in a good way by having us as patients. I think it's a testament to the wonderful quality of the relationship you have with your therapist that your mind is able to venture comfortably into this area. I do hope it will be so for me, but i do still worry that I might be a really hard patient to have. I tend to worry about that when I first go in to see him; then, the experience of actually being with him gradually banishes those fears. So far, I don't think I'm as far along as you, because I need to address this fear anew every time I go in. Looking forward to when that no longer happens.... (my T is so great, because every time I show him a weaker and more fearful part of myself, he seems thrilled, and is very encouraging and supportive!)
Posted by Happyflower on May 16, 2008, at 11:35:02
In reply to the good things..... » Happyflower, posted by twinleaf on May 16, 2008, at 0:17:51
Twinleaf,
I don't know much about horse, but it sounds interesting about the musical freestyle thing. I always wanted to ride a horse, and never have, but would like to some day. Isn't it just wonderful to have somebody greet you like that when they see you. You can't help it but to smile.
My cockatiel now tries to get my attention first thing in the morning. She hangs upside down and says "pretty bird". But now I have been trying to her to say "pretty, pretty, pretty, bird". It is funny because she gets messed up and says "pretty bird 3 times instead of just saying pretty.
And my "kids" guinea pigs I adore! I just love how they like to cuddle with you and sleep on you. It is hilarious when they are running circles in their cage so fast. The one piggie, Cookie, talks constantly, it is so cute. I think I would recommend piggies to anyone who wants a first pet. They are social, they snuggle, kinda like a mixture between a dog and a cat in their personalities.
My daughter caught our bullfrog in our pond outside today, and she had to hold it in both hands, I have never seen a such a huge frog in real life. Neighbors 3 houses down can hear him croak and they love it. I just love my little nature sanctuary in town. Someday I want to move to the country.
Posted by Dinah on May 16, 2008, at 11:54:42
In reply to the good things..... » Happyflower, posted by twinleaf on May 16, 2008, at 0:17:51
Musical freestyle sounds like fun. Congratulations on your successes!
They now include dance in the dog competitions. Last time I was involved in obedience, etc. it was just an exhibition thing. But the dog world has gotten so much more exciting lately with agility, flyball, and everything else. I bought my latest dog in large part for this sort of thing, and hope to rouse myself to participate fully.
Posted by raisinb on May 16, 2008, at 12:12:22
In reply to the good things..... » Happyflower, posted by twinleaf on May 16, 2008, at 0:17:51
Every book I've read about being a therapist--or therapy in general--has expressed that good therapy transforms both client and therapist. I think the idea is that a truly intimate relationship, however restricted, can't help but be transformative for both parties. I think I even read somewhere that studies have suggested that deep relationships can alter pathways in the brain.
Posted by twinleaf on May 16, 2008, at 22:05:23
In reply to Re: the good things..... » twinleaf, posted by Dinah on May 16, 2008, at 11:54:42
I have been noticing, lately, on google, that they do have a musical freestyle for dogs! With horses, you have a rider, and everything is worked out to the music to the very last step. But with a dog, it must be quite different, because he's basically a free agent. You probably need a dog with a lot of personality and liveliness, so that whatever he does, it will look like it goes well with the music. I bet it's a lot of fun!
Posted by Dinah on May 16, 2008, at 23:01:08
In reply to Re: the good things..... » Dinah, posted by twinleaf on May 16, 2008, at 22:05:23
The first time I ever heard that song "You will always be beautiful in my eyes" was with a woman and her dog.
And even though I know how to train a dog to watch you (and it has less to do with adoration than with liver), and even though I could see the commands given, it still made me cry like a baby.
I'm a sucker for those things. :)
I'm not really a very good trainer, so I doubt I'll ever accomplish much more than bonding and fun. But that's plenty!
It must be a lot of work to train a horse to do everything so precisely.
Posted by twinleaf on May 16, 2008, at 23:47:26
In reply to Re: the good things..... » twinleaf, posted by Dinah on May 16, 2008, at 23:01:08
is that you video them in their natural way of moving, and then have a sound engineer alter and adapt the music to fit them. It looks wonderful...like they are dancing to the music.... but, in reality, the music is actually dancing to them. The end result is still delightful, though.
Posted by Dinah on May 17, 2008, at 9:47:22
In reply to the secret with horses... » Dinah, posted by twinleaf on May 16, 2008, at 23:47:26
:-)
Sort of like dog training, then. There is a lot of work in it, but knowing how to present it is important too.
Like devoted eye contact and liver.
Posted by twinleaf on May 17, 2008, at 10:05:28
In reply to Re: the secret with horses... » twinleaf, posted by Dinah on May 17, 2008, at 9:47:22
Yes! Exactly.
This is the end of the thread.
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