Apologies, I totally missed absorbing what the real issue is, and I can certainly empathize with you on this, because I recently had to stop therapy again because it was triggering and re-traumatizing me TOO much!

On the one hand I feel like a failure, defective, & damaged beyond repair ... But, on the other hand, I think our intuition lets us know when it's important to take a break. I just hope this one doesn't last as long as the last one (3 years).



However, it is imperative that we remain functional so we can go about our daily lives, isn't it?

To me that means putting a lot of unfinished business on hold which means it isn't getting processed which means it's just kinda hanging around like a dark shadow inside my mind.

But I also believe there is stuff we can do outside of IP/OP therapy to help us as well ...

Affirmations For The Inner Child by Rokelle Lerner helped me to learn how to start being patient, gentle & kind with myself:



The Portable Therapist by Susanna McMahon helped me to find answers & meanings to some of the other stuff I was struggling with like life in general, spirituality, and empathy and compassion for self and others:



These both are very simplistic in their presentation so they aren't too overwhelming, yet at the same time they are very profound in the messages they deliver to us regarding learning to love, care and nurture ourselves.

I still utilize them twenty years later, especially when I'm facing flashbacks and other difficulties that seem to want to hang around and cling to my pants leg like a lost kitten or puppy.

Maybe you can find copies of them at your local bookstore and find them helpful as well?

Sometimes we can't do therapy because it's too big and powerful ... That's when I find reading and being here at PC with others sharing the same struggles to be just as helpful and healing in between.

Is it okay I give you a hug?



And, again, my apologies for missing the bigger picture!