Since starting some really intense work in therapy over the last few weeks, I've been in a highly anxious state and have started having severe panic attacks again. I wasn't sure if this was coincidence but could think of no other reason/trigger. My therapy session on Wednesday was very intense, and T pushed me pretty hard (my fault, I told her to use a 'cattle prod'!) and I ended up accessing some hurt and anger that she tried to get me to work through, but I was so mad I couldn't. In theory I know what I have to do - forgive myself - but that isn't simple for me to do! Anyway, this is the first session I ever got angry, and I felt such rage I could have put my fist through a wall. T brought me around and I was smiling as I left, but I started feeling sick on the ride home, and have been struggling with panic - and therefore nausea/vomiting, faintness, dizziness etc, ever since. I've been feeling so shockingly ill and exhausted I've barely got out of bed (basically just to the bathroom and back.)

Get the violins out, eh?

I just wondered if anyone else has experienced similar problems after intense sessions - especially when accessing emotions and the 'true self', maybe old memories? - and if so what you did about it? Did you 'push through' and just deal with the physical symptoms/anxiety or did you tell your T you needed to back off for a while? And, is this at all normal, or am I just strange?