Hi Esthersvirtue,

I think if it is scaring you to keep this information private....because you know you are not safe....then it is a good time to talk with your T about it, even though I know that is a difficult kind of conversation to have. Hopefully you've built up enough trust that you can talk about it with your T. If you are more comfortable writing, you could try writing about your feelings, and bringing those into therapy for your T to read. I've done that before. You could email the thoughts and feelings to your T, which is an option, but I tend to think this is better to discuss in person at least the first time, if you've never talked about it with your T before at all.

As hard as it is to talk about these important things, sometimes it is the best thing just to get these issues out on the table and share them with somebody, even though it is hard to talk about them. It is okay to talk with your T, too, and tell your T that you want to handle this without going into the hospital. I think many Ts will respect that decision if they think they safely can, once they can find out how you are doing, and if you can make a contract with them. I think for a lot of clients, it can help just to be able to talk with another person about the struggles they are having with these ideas, and that itself lets out some of the pressure, and the situation eases. I think a lot of Ts know that.

Thinking of you - wishing you well with this, I know it is hard.

Take care,
ErinBear