I do understand what you are saying, Brown Owl. Being seen so deeply is very hard and painful. It can be enlightening and wonderful too, but in our quietest and most painful moments it can be extremely hard.

I agree with Mouse that it takes a lot of courage, but I also believe that to get to that point of being able to tolerate the level of vulnerability needed in analysis, you need to work with a therapist for a while; you have to relax into the relationship and allow your defenses to lower at a rate you feel comfortable. I do believe, in this rush and hurry up and get through this world, some therapists move too quickly. It doesn't have to terribly wound their clients with the rush to "heal" but every person is an individual and the rate they get to that place of safe vulnerability and openness is different for each person. I think you are courageous and open to analysis, but maybe you need to pull back a little and let your therapist know how painful the process is for you right now and you need to slow down a bit. Even talking about slowing down and quitting is a great topic in psychoanalysis!