Do you forget what T said to you?

I used to record sessions with my first T, but I don't think this one would let me. I never asked. But it's so annoying to forget right after a session! My H said to take notes, but that would destroy the connection between her and me. I remember some, but not all, of my session today. I'm frustrated. Part of the problem is that I like to replay in my mind every word she said. Maybe that's an OCD issue? I remember she was smiling a lot, except when she got teary-eyed about something. Oh, about volunteering somewhere and how good that made me feel.

So, do you forget the words T says to you, or do you remember them?

How was your session today, Rainbow? Are you saying you cant post about it because you dont remember it???

Just kidding. Yes- its frustrating! Do you ever remember more bits and pieces as the week goes on? I feel like that about today's session, so much went on in the 40 (short) minutes. It should come back to me though....But it does happen that I cant remember or go blank when I leave there and that day.

You seemed to remember a lot about yours. Sometimes I do remember more later. I'm just feeling a little let-down, but will post that in my other thread.

I forget a LOT of what my T says. I lose almost entire sessions sometimes.

Somehow, do think I internalize a lot of what he says, though. I have changed A LOT since starting therapy, so something he is saying must be getting through...

It IS frustrating. There are even times I think "I am really going to make a point of remembering that he said that" and later I am at home wondering "what WAS it?"

Obviously, the more I dissociate, the more I forget. But even when I feel like I'm "there" the whole time, I forget a lot. And T seems to remember EVERY. SINGLE. THING. I don't know how he does it!

i normally disossiate all the time so i miss alot anyway..and the more peeps show up the worse it gets...sometime i get the general drift of what was talked about but thats about it.

the worse was last year...due to major overmedicating i lost most of my memory from december 07 thru aug 08. i know i went to every session except for when i was hosptialized...but damned if i could tell you what we talked about...actually or anything during that time period at all. yeah it was special....t says she gave me her best pearls of wisdom during that period. i take her word on that.

Because of dissociation, I often lose chunks of sessions, too. Like Tree, I'm glad to see that I seem to be internalizing what goes on, regardless of whether I can consciously remember.

Two things have helped me: one, I review sessions with T right before I leave whenever possible--he tells me the 'big idea' we discussed. Two, I keep paper and a pen in my bag so I can go out to my car and jot down whatever I do remember immediately afterwards. If I wait til I drive home, it's all gone from my head. I find these notes really helpful when I'm preparing for the next session--it helps me feel the thread of continuity that I otherwise often miss.

I don't think I dissociate, but it's just too much to remember. I try to concentrate and listen, but it could be that I'm already thinking about what I'm going to say next. It's hard to sit there and listen even though I want to hear what she has to tell me! I know the general idea, but forget many of her words.

I remember almost everything about my sessions with T. Even the most random, little words, I tend to remember. I try my best to remember, because it gives me something to hold onto when I'm not with T.

seems to me thats the important ingridient here, not so much the words, your remembering the connection..words are just conversation, the connection is the iceing on the cake.

Ten years ago after the events that led to my PTSD I had a weekly appt with both my therapist and psychiatrist. Every week I would walk into see them and repeat the same questions. I know that we had talked about it already but my head was so scrambled that I had no recall of the conversations. Fortunately they were both very patient with me. It was at least a couple of years before I could progress beyond the same questions over and over. Ten years later I have dealt with my PTSD about as well as one could and I now have discussions that I do remember and it is no longer the same issue over and over.

I forget the majority of what is said in sessions which makes me believe not much is said of any value! I can remember the odd sentence which i'll then focus on till the next week. It is irritating because we'll have a 'good' session but i'll focus on the one bad, scary, worrying sentence/thought so forget all the good stuff. She often says we were connected at such and such a time and i'm like 'we were? how did that feel then?'. I can't remember it. Although she does seem to think connection means getting to somewhere deeper which is usually when i float off into the abyss. I think connection is when i feel she 'gets' it. So yeh i don't often feel remember much, i think the majority of the time that is because what is said is usually a repetition of stuff i already know and have already said. I get bored of talking, how does that help reduce the pain? She says 'explore the emotion' but i don't get how that works. There was a time when a lightbulb flashed on in my brain and i understood but i can't remember the explanation she gave me so i just remember the feeling of getting it. I don't any longer.

I forgot loads of what T (and me) has said, and we record every session for exactly that reason. WHen I listen to the tape back it amazes me that I said those things coz I honestly cant remember it at all!! We had a couple of sessions where Ts office was being used and there was no recorder available, and I really cant remember what was said in those at all.

I forget a lot of the very important things as well, the things she really needs me to hear. It's like I just shut down when the conversation is tough or when she starts to say something nice to me.

I leave and think what was she saying at this point, ugh.....why can't I remember...

It's frustrating to no end, sometimes I wish we could record the session so that I can remember the important things......

I try to review the session pretty thoroughly in my mind after i have a t session, and for a day or two afterward. That keeps it in my mind. However, because i compartmentalize, i usually only recall the most recent session in any detail. I try to journal about my therapy for that reason.

Having a conversation with someone for 40-60 minutes is a lot of talking. It's only natural for you not to remember every little detail. Mostly I just remember the key focus of what the session was about. And if the T says something that shocks, upsets or makes me feel better, that's the only time I can remember what they said word for word.

Maybe before you leave make sure you go over the key focus of your session with the T to make sure you have everything remembered. On your way home and to the car keep going over in your head the details and what you remember. One problem is, you may not be aware of it, you may be distracted by other things so your mind doesn't process the conversation as well. Try to stay focused during the entire session and try to make sure you pay attention to every single word he says...

I wish you luck and hope that you can find a way to remember more! Take care!!!

I feel very fortunate because I remember just about everything...and quite vividly. I remember his words and his expressions...maybe the expressions even more than the words. Maybe it is easier for me because my sessions were sort of "journaled" by my weekly notes, which I still have. I wish I could relate more to what you're feeling, Rainbow. Does this happen outside of T as well?