[MASIMO]

I have a chronic illness and have been so ill and so tired this week. This weeks session, my T was talking about if I get a respite from the illness, to try to change my life by getting healthy with exercise, other things, blah, blah...versus medications which have really screwed me up.
I dont know what happened but his soothing voice started to hypnotize me, my eyes grew heavy, and they closed for a few minutes. I heard him say, " I put her to sleep and I didn't even know it" I told him later that he should be flattered. That I have never fallen asleep sitting in a chair, let alone with someone talking to me. That I must feel very safe with him,
and that his voice is comforting to me. Also, an indication of how exhausted I truly am.

Earlier on in the session, his phone kept going off, there were bells and whistles and my startle reflex was in overdrive. I almost walked out. I told him that too. He said I was right, that he would make sure he turned off his phones during our sessions in the future. So I went from just about walking out from being frightened from the noise to falling asleep all in one hour. What a weird day.

[WePow]

Wow! Your T should be a hypnotherapist! :-) I think that is very insightful that you said you felt safe enough to fall asleep with him talking to you. That is kinda cool :-)

Masimo, it is cool that your t has such a calming voice... gentle is the word i usually use.. i like the word calming as well. as that is a part of self soothing that i am working on...

the phone going off would truly interrupt my train of thought; glad t was able to respond and let you know it wouldn't happen again.

sending safe and happy hugs

[learning1]

that sounds really pleasant

[skeksi]

I really relate! Sometimes I am so jumpy and hypervigilant that by the time I get to therapy, I am ready to dissociate, detach, and snooze out (it's not atypical for me to get sleepy when I am overwhelmed). Sometimes I wish I could curl up like a cat in T's office because it feels so safe. I said that to him once and he said it would be fine if I fell asleep. That makes me feel really nice.

I'm glad you had that moment of pure safety, where you could fall asleep and it was all okay.

[sugahorse1]

Wow - that sounds great!

Just wondering - should he not be putting his phone off (or at least on silent) while he's talking to you?