Quote:
Originally Posted by Tongalee
This week has been a real struggle with my break down last weekend heading things off. I was able to get into see my t a day before my schedule appointment. She was so sweet and just listened as I cried and told her the whole story. We had our regular session the next day and now tomorrow is my last regular session for the week.
T asked me what I wanted to work on tomorrow (because I asked her if we could start planning things out in advance to curb some of my pre session anxiety). I told her that I wanted to finish taking through a traumatic repetitive dream I've been having. I could tell she was hesitant to agree to that because the last time we looked into the dream I had a really hard time: I dissociated into a flashback/body memory, and it took her awhile to get me back.
I know that tomorrow is going to be difficult, but the dream is really in large portion just a memory of the sexual abuse. It's the exact scene that I can see when I think about what happened, and I feel like I need to tell her. I don't want her to have to pull me back into reality if I dissociate, but I want to say this dream out loud.
Do you think it's okay to force the issue, even though I know my t didn't think I'm ready? I know this is my therapy to use in whatever way I want to, but I also need to think about her comfort and ability to do her work here. Should I wait until I'm "ready", or more able to handle it? Or do you think I can just insist we try and get as far as we can and pick up the pieces later if need be? Also do you think my t will be mad at me if I end up in a bad place?
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Hello Tongalee: You know... I'm not qualified to answer these questions & even if I was, I don't know enough about you. So, from my obviously limited perspective, I would say you should follow your T's recommendations. The reason you have her, presumably, is because she is qualified & experienced & she can guide you safely along your journey.
It seems to me, forcing the issue would be like if you were climbing Mount Everest, your Sherpa's tell you to go one way, but you decide to disregard their advice & just charge off on your own... not constructive... There is a saying one sometimes hears used in the practice of yoga: "Do not move into pain." I think the same concept can be applied here. Move forward gradually & deliberately with the guidance of your T. But do not force yourself to move into pain.