[Toughcooki]

Had a 2 1/2 hour 'new therapist' appointment today, at which I had to give highlights of all of my traumas so she could decide on a treatment plan, etc.
I was able to get through it, but I feel like total crap now. I spend a lot of effort NOT thinking about this stuff so I don't feel like crap so this was really tough.

[Skeezyks]

Yes, I can see how this would be tough. I've never gotten 2 1/2 hours worth of any mental health professional's time! But I can certainly appreciate how having to dredge up all of that old stuff... especially with a new therapist during an initial appointment would be really challenging. I have to say I don't know if I could do it. Kudos to you for forging ahead. Hope you begin to feel better about the experience soon.

[Toughcooki]

Originally Posted by Skeezyks

Yes, I can see how this would be tough. I've never gotten 2 1/2 hours worth of any mental health professional's time! But I can certainly appreciate how having to dredge up all of that old stuff... especially with a new therapist during an initial appointment would be really challenging. I have to say I don't know if I could do it. Kudos to you for forging ahead. Hope you begin to feel better about the experience soon.

Thank you. One of my issues, I guess, is just doing what I'm told, so they told me I had to do it, and I just soldiered on. The appointment wasn't supposed to be that long, but apparently I have a lot of issues. T was like, "We're going to start with childhood, then talk about your time in the military, then about your time after the military." And I was like, 'buckle up'
I do feel better now, thanks. Just need a few more days to tamp it all back down, lol. Some of it I've literally never talked about before and there she was, asking these probing questions I had to answer. It was awful. But, over now.

[Open Eyes]

It’s definitely hard to try and cover what can amount to several traumas in ones past along with current traumas. Often a patient may not realize how our past can contribute to our ways of navigating that may contribute to the patients susceptibility to developing ptsd should that person experience something traumatic enough. I know for myself that I had no idea my history made me more susceptible.

Each patient is different and hearing the history can help a trauma specialist map out things that can be important to delve into with a patient that can help them heal and understand better.

Yet you are right in that it can be exhausting to talk about ones history in that a person can be very sensitive to experiencing overwhelming feelings they would just asoon not think about.