[9874]

I've this friend, she takes her child's body temp. rectally. Every time she says it I SHRIEEEEEEEEK! inside, of course, noone hears it. I've told her in the past that I cannot handle the mention of that word. I think she's been sensitive to that, and today she came close to saying it. Or she did but I just disociated. Idunno anymore. But then when I need to go to sleep all these buried thoughts come up. Since I'm not currently seeing a T, this is hard for me. I just wanna shrieeeeek to drown out the iduno-what, I don't have words for it.
I have this image in my mind of my don't-know-which-descriptive-word-to-use-here mother OUCH! having my sister across her lap and inserting the enema, and then would be my turn. Oh, the sheer terror that grips me! I cannot shake this EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!! Idunno what would it take to not get triggered like this. I'm gonna tell my friend to please refrain from coming anywhere close to the topic for the time being. All she told me tonight was that she needs to explain to the camp nurse that her daughter may be running a high temperature but her body will feel cold, therefore it's important to take her temperature. I think the next sentence she was going to say was that her daughter's temp needs to be taken rectally OOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUCH!!! EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So I'm gonna just ask her if she could please refrain from talking about her daughter's temperature, etc. (btw, her daughter is multiply-disabled and is unable to keep a thermometer under her tongue, as she has no muscle control in her body)
I think what would be helpful is to confront this past history in the presence of a trusting T, as I've found such an experience healing in the past. Except I haven't done it with this specific experience of the enemas aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for bearing with me! I am humbled by your patience....

There are some great digital ear thermometers for under 10 dollars and also thermostrips. maybe you could buy her one as a gift. the way to use them is you hold the strip on the forehead for one minute andfor the ear one all you need to do is put it up to the ear and push a button and its done. So much easier to use with challenging children. they don'e even have to hold still for them.

[radio_flyer]

Rectal thermometer gives me the creeps too.. I would not even think of having one in my house when my kids were small. I learned how to tell fevers by touch.... I think if i touched their feet with the back of my wrist and their feet were warm, meant they had a fever.,.. I would also touch them on their cheek with my lips and if warm, they had a fever...

I too rememeber the enemas.... God..... I cringe thinking of them....mother was obsessed with giving enemas.... ooo those red things with long hoses.......if I see those, i freak and get sick to my stomach.. they had to hold me down on the tables... I guess I give them a big fight when they pulled out the table and red thing.. ...THMUMBS DOWN FOR enemas..

[(JD)]

Not only are there ear thermo's but you can always use a regular one and put it under the arm in the armpit... there are even stick on patches for continual wear (like hospitals use!)

with a child who is multi problemed, it would seem to be safer to NOT use the old type mercury thermometer.

[Peanuts]

gives me the creeps also. What is it with giving kids enemas. Why why why ??? My parents did this as well - it was awful. I wish I could ask them why. I've heard others say this has happened to them as well and so I just wonder what !!

[9874]

Sure my friend can use an ear thermometer; however, my concern is more about me being triggered. I can attempt to arrange my life so that I avoid triggers as much as possible, such as by asking my friend to not talk about her child's temp. What concerns me though is the fact that I react so. And the fact that I get triggered tells me that a part of me still needs healing. In order for me to reach a point where I'm not so acutely reactive to the mention of r. thermometers, I need to heal. For me, healing comes about when I'm able to make the emotional connection between the current trigger and my past (historical) experience. I need to be in the company of a safe person and allow myself to be aware of the experience as a child. To allow myself to re-experience the emotions of blank, blank, blank as mother did blank blank blank. When I am able to re-experience the experience of terror, etc. as a little girl, and do so in the presence of a safe person such as T, that is so healing. In healing from other past trauma, I've found that re-experiencing terrifying moments in the presence of a trusting T, was healing. Because a component of the traumatic experience was being all alone in it. Having no other human being present. Alone, abandoned, betrayed, unprotected, at the mercy of blanks.... And in therapy, part of the "corrective emotional experience" is yes having a protective, safe adult present.
Anyway, I've said before that sure my friend can use an ear thermometer, but I am more concerned about the inner work that I need to do. Can anyone relate to that?
Thanks y'all!

Yea I can understand that you need to re-experience it in some way. I have DID and a few DID professionals told me and a past therapist that in therapy for DID re-experiencing the situation while remaining mentally aware (emotionally connected to the situation) is called the process of co-consciousness and integration for people that have separated pieces of memories that they are acting out unconsciously. I have gone though this process a few times and am attempting to go through it again for a specific memory that I have nightmares and flashbacks about.

Hang in there it will happen for you.