[Suratji]

My T encouraged me to get in touch with my emotions which have been quite buried for some time.

The result of doing that is that now it seems like the floodgates have opened and I'm on the verge of drowning. My T says that the intensity will pass since this is new to me and to just hang on and sit with the discomfort.

Well, I'm not sitting with it. I've found that the best way for me to cope with strong emotions is daily intense exercise.

Now, I did exercise half-heartedly before therapy. NOW, I have to put in 2-3 hours daily - breathless, sweat dripping down my face, type of exercise. It really really really helps with the emotions.

So, even if I don't make progress mentally in therapy, I am experiencing much needed weight loss and becoming more physically fit. Yaaaay!!!!

[PTSDlovemycats]

Cool! Way to go!!

[WePow]

That is good that you are doing something healthy with the energy you have because of the emotions. When I was in college and started seeing my first T, I did the same thing. Ended up with 16 inch biceps!! (( I am a petite female at only 5ft)) Would spend hours in the gymn and turned into solid muscle.

But it was avoidance still. I had to go through the trauma healing many years later. ((last year)). And it hurt. This time I didn't escape though. I had to learn how to be with those hard feelings and process through them.

My point is just to be careful and be understanding of what you are doing and why you are doing it. If you are working out to avoid the emtoins and the pain that goes along with them (what I was doing), it is OK to do it - but just remember that you still have to face them one day.

But if you are allowing yourself to feel the emotions and are using exercise as a way to vent THROUGH the emotions, I think that is very wonderful!

[granite1]

wow great way to vent i think i just power walked a 10K race yesterday venting a lot of my emotions and it was awsome so much stuff just went through my head and just out all the fear anger everything.i am thinking of starting to run as soon as i can get an ok it is an awsome outlet.BYW i finished it in 2 hrs and 36 sec

[WikidPissah]

I started doing 2 hrs a day at the gym about a year ago. I am down 5 sizes! It really worked for depression and anxiety. I kick ***** down there 6 days a week. I was in agony when I had to stop for a month for medical issues.

[SpiritRunner]

I am glad you are discovering a positive, healthy way to cope that is making you feel more fit physically! Feeling more fit physically can help so much with mental/emotional health - give us strength to deal with the stress of daily life, or of therapy!
I know about this.....I exercise intensely often, too, and love to lift heavy, heavy weights! I may look quite small, but take pride in how much more strength I have than I look like I have!

[Suratji]

Originally Posted by WePow

But it was avoidance still. I had to go through the trauma healing many years later. ((last year)). And it hurt. This time I didn't escape though. I had to learn how to be with those hard feelings and process through them.

My point is just to be careful and be understanding of what you are doing and why you are doing it. If you are working out to avoid the emtoins and the pain that goes along with them (what I was doing), it is OK to do it - but just remember that you still have to face them one day.

But if you are allowing yourself to feel the emotions and are using exercise as a way to vent THROUGH the emotions, I think that is very wonderful!

thanks WePow for your cautionary words. You're right - if someone is just doing physical activity to avoid, that would be a problem. Luckily for me, I'm working closely with my T and the exercise helps me get from session to session in one piece.

I forgot to mention the regular hot tub and sauna routine - 3-5 times each week. That is very very new to me and it's so relaxing.

How great that you've found a healthy way to process your emotions and get yourself from session to session! I really admire you as I still so often turn to all the wrong things to get me through.

And the soothing/relaxing hot tub and sauna sound like a good, 'healthy' counterbalance to all the hard work as well.

Thanks for sharing!