[Jannaku]

Hi PC people,
I've been in therapy because my husband has narcissistic personality disorder. That's another story but to summarize the last 20+ years of my life have been spent with an emotionally abusive man. My therapist has asked me how I feel about certain issues and events that have taken place and I can't give an answer. I just can't identify them. I can identify anger and fear but the rest are a blur to me. The fact that I can't identify and subsequently express these emotions is stressing me out. It's like brain fog. Obviously she is putting it out there for me to identify why he is able to incite anger and fear. I just can't identify all the other crap. How the hell do I get past the anger and fear to identify what caused that? I've come away from therapy today despondent and disheartened with myself. I feel like giving up because this fight is futile. Unless I can get in touch with myself, what is the point? Any ideas on how to find those hidden emotions?

[yellowfrog268]

While we don't know how long you've been in therapy, it sounds like it is helping. The therapist has you thinking about the issue which is always a good start. Identifying emotions and getting in touch with yourself may take some work. Have you asked your therapist----"Any ideas on how to find those hidden emotions?"

[Jannaku]

Originally Posted by yellowfrog268

While we don't know how long you've been in therapy, it sounds like it is helping. The therapist has you thinking about the issue which is always a good start. Identifying emotions and getting in touch with yourself may take some work. Have you asked your therapist----"Any ideas on how to find those hidden emotions?"

I've completed approximately 10 therapy sessions to date. My T has given me homework to do which is to go away and think about how I felt at certain times in the past. I'm going to take it one step further and keep an "emotion/feeling diary" and try and be more conscious of my feelings. My husband pushes my buttons and I tend to overreact with anger so she is trying to find the feelings that are the precursors to my anger. I've been out of touch with my true feelings for so long this is a real test for me.