((crystalrose)) I WISH I could tell her to talk! LOL
((treehouse)) Yes, I do feel "trapped" by the silence. It causes me to dissociate a bit too. I try hard to avoid that, but usually she can tell when it starts and she asks where I am at. She's good that way.
((dreamseeker9)) Wow, I wish I could get to a place of comfort in silence. I cannot fathom being comfortable with it. Even when I am on the computer, the TV is on. When I am playing games, the radio is on.
Even when I go to bed at night...the TV is on. *sigh* That is awesome that your T can read you so well. I really don't like when she looks at me when I am silent. I get that anxious, wanna run away feeling. I don't know if I could ask her not to look at me. Just thinking about asking her not to stare at me is making me feel anxious. Dang! It's a really good idea, though. It would sure help me! Thanks for the idea. Maybe I will get the courage to talk to her about that.
((sunrise)) I try really hard not to have any silence. Usually, I am talking or interrupting her (baaad habit) just to avoid the silence. Actually, I interrupt everyone if there is silence, now that I think about it!
I didn't think about T needing to think. I mean, she doesn't even get a break when I am in there because I dominate the conversation so badly!
((velcro003))That is EXACTLY what I am thinking and doing when there IS silence and I hate it! I can tell that sometimes T just looks at me to see what my reaction to the silence is. I can just tell she does it on purpose!
((Echoes)) I have said that before!! She was like, "ok, well we don't have to talk" I was thinking..."SAY SOMETHING, WILL YA?!"
((skeksi)) I think that's a good way of looking at it...I don't HAVE to talk if I don't want to.
((billiej))Useless chatter is exactly what I do. I don't usually talk about anything important. It's usually about mundane stuff. I am socially anxious, too. I don't start conversations often. I try to talk to T about something important and it does happen...once in a while...but it is so hard to do.

Thank you everyone so much for the honest and heartfelt responses.
It is comforting to know I am not alone with this issue. It makes me feel like maybe I can talk to T about it next session. I think it's important that I do. I don't want to feel anxious every time I sit on her couch.