Sometimes therapy itself reminds me how alone in the world I am...and have always been. Sitting with my therapist feels right, even though it is very painful to let out all those old ghosts. But then I have to leave, to reenter a life that has no one that listens like he does and no one who knows the whole of what happen to me. So I leave feeling sad. Sometimes I wonder if the "after" is worth it.

I think figuring out what I've avoided feeling all these years has knocked me off center and I'm not yet sure it is better than being numb. My therapist tells me he is holding the hope right now - the hope for true healing and inner peace.

So perhaps you should also hold onto that hope and not stop half-way. I'm not sure that taking a break won't simply prolong the hard part. Have you ever asked your therapist how he feels when you leave? Does he feel progress?

I never know the answer to this - is taking a break avoiding the hard stuff or self-care? And how do we know?