[Fartraveler]

I see my T every other week, and our next appointment is on 1/14.

Yesterday I talked with her briefly re: one of my kids. And she said that if I wanted an extra session, I should just let her know.

But I don't know if I do or not. I've got so much going on right now: presenting at a conference, defending this spring (I hope), moving to a new area this summer. I'm having very strong needs to use bad coping mechanisms. But, I just don't know.

How do you know if it's reasonable to have an extra session between times, or if it's just, say, another way to procrastinate?

-Far

[granite1]

far i dont think having an extra session can do any harm and could only help

[Suratji]

Far - Can you explain why asking for an extra session is a way to procrastinate? It's funny you mention an extra session because I'm calling my T today to see if she has any open slots today even though I have an appt. tomorrow. And I want to keep tomorrow's appt. also. Sometimes there's just a sense of urgency - not a crisis and not an emergency, but just a need to unload sooner than we thought necessary earlier. Stuff just comes up and you can't plan for that.

[Fartraveler]

I feel like seeing her may be procrastination because it basically uses up a day, what with travel-time and emotional stress. And there are so many other things that I really really have to do, and am having trouble focusing on.

I feel like I'd do better just buckling down and dealing with these other things.

(Yet, I also am feeling the stress level.)

Isolation is the same problem. In a way, I feel like it is necessary for me to stay at home and get work done. In another, I know it's bad for me.

I don't know how to balance this stuff, is what I'm struggling with.

-Far

[Suratji]

Far - I see your point. wow, that is a problem. Time constraints are so stressful. Does your therapist do phone sessions? That would save some time with travel. Yeah, it's tough to figure out which direction to go. I feel your struggle.

[Sannah]

Originally Posted by Fartraveler

I'm having very strong needs to use bad coping mechanisms.

This ^ could use an extra session.

[mixedup_emotions]

I can totally relate to the balancing issue....and that's certainly a tough one. I try to figure out what my immediate needs are and work from there - even though I do tend to beat myself up and pay the price for it afterwards...so I'm not one for making suggestions about this, I guess.

I agree with Sannah, though. It may be worthwhile to get an extra session in, which may help you be more able to cope better with everything else....

[rainbow8]

If you're still thinking about an extra session, and start obsessing about it, you probably need it. That's the way I deal with things like that. If it becomes more important than what I'm trying to get done that needs to get done, and if I'm finding unhealthy ways to cope, more of a reason to schedule the session. However, if it's just another distraction and the needy feeling goes away, then you didn't need or want it so much. I hope that made sense.

[Sweetlove]

I just made the decision to go twice a week for a while...to get through a "crisis period" and it's been helpful. If you can afford it, I totally recommend "upping" the sessions if you need it. It doesn't have to be forever, but going more often even if it's just for a while, could make a huge difference. Good luck

[Fartraveler]

Thanks.

I don't know where I am with this. I have a ferocious headache, which is probably stress. This has just clobbered me for some reason.

Well, I'm having to deal with things outside my apartment, so my anxiety level is sky-rocketing.

I think the conference thing is the key problem here. I hate traveling, and I hate talking in public, and I just made a hotel reservation but I am convinced that I made it at the wrong hotel or for the wrong day or something like that. And I haven't even started working on the presentation piece.

And I'm almost out of xanax.

I try to figure out what my immediate needs are and work from there

I guess my immediate need to get started on the presentation.

If it becomes more important than what I'm trying to get done that needs to get done, and if I'm finding unhealthy ways to cope, more of a reason to schedule the session. However, if it's just another distraction and the needy feeling goes away, then you didn't need or want it so much.

That makes a lot of sense.

But I really feel like I can't work on the presentation right now.

Also, I have a class tomorrow and I have to prepare for it.

Well, thank you everyone. I appreciate the ideas and the caring, and I am still trying to work my way through this. Getting an extra session doesn't feel like an option, I don't know why. I need to think about this some more.

Gratefully,
-Far

[Sannah]

I see, you have 2 things to get done right now. Why do you think that you don't want to work on the presentation?

if you are thinking about it and t is offering, i say go for it. 2/14 is a long way off... sending safe hugs

[Fartraveler]

I think I'm just feeling overwhelmed by the whole idea of presenting my research to the community. (It's not a huge conference, but it's very specialized, and the people there are focused in my area, more or less. They'll really be able to judge my work, whether it's worth anything or not.) (And I haven't ever presented my research outside of the department before.)

Anyway, I went out snow-shoeing for an hour, and now the headache's gone.

I think I'm going to skip class tomorrow, and spend the day getting a first draft of the poster. I've been working mostly on other school work, but I think I have to put that aside till I get a solid first draft of the presentation.

-Far