[BlessedRhiannon]

It hasn't even been a week yet, and I'm already missing T. I have sessions on Thursdays, but my T is on vacation for the next two weeks, and then I'm on vacation the week after that, so I will have to miss 3 weeks of T.

I tend to start getting overwhelmed by anxieties about 5 days after a session, and sure enough, it's settling in. Normally, I can tell myself..."you can do this. You see T in two days...48 hours...the anxiety is managable until then." Just something about T's office is peaceful, and talking to her usually makes my anxieties melt away. Oh, they come back (obviously), but for a while, the constant worrying voices are quieted. But, telling myself "you can do this, you'll see T in a month" just doesn't have quite the same effect! I hate that I rely so much on T to help me manage my anxieties right now. I was doing really good with it, and then we started dealing with some issues that are difficult for me, and it's harder to manage now.

I want to call her, but she leaves the country tomorrow, so I know she's probably super busy today, and I don't want to bother her with my petty concerns. It's not like I can call her and say "this one thing is making me anxious." No, this is the general anxiety that seems to permeate my life...and I know I can handle it, but it's just hard.

[geez]

(((BlessedRhiannon))) I'm in a similar situation. I have anxiety as pertains to an assignment I have to do before my next appt and my next appt is three weeks away (I'm hoping to change that). I too keep trying to tell myself you will be ok but I don't want to believe it right now. I just want to feel comfort. I want the uncomfortable feelings to go away. I hope you find some comfort soon. Perhaps we can lean on eachother??

[Splintered]

T breaks are really hard Maybe on thursday you could take some time to write to t and tell her what you would tell her if you were having a session - you don't have to give it to her but I know it usually helps me feel a little better just to write to t whether she reads it or not. Also you could try imagining being in t's office when you feel anxious - maybe that would help. I know nothing is good as the real thing though. Hopefully the time will pass quickly. Well at least until you're on vacation - don't want that to pass too fast!

[dizgirl2011]

We are all here for you and know just how difficult breaks of that long are very difficult.
Do you think that there would be a way to maybe help you feel you are working towards seeing your T and releasing your feelings also, perhaps by journalling your feelings each day; or maybe on the day you normally see T you could maybe write down the things you think you would have talked about that day, you could imagine what T would say. Or you could also maybe change focus to your holiday, are you going somewhere nice? You dont have to say where or anything.
I know none of these things are the same as seeing your T face to face but it may help.

[swimmergirl]

((((((((((((((Rhi)))))))))))

Sorry this is tough for you. The only advice I have to is to count down the days and try to distract yourself by staying busy. I like the advice of others too to write down what you would say in a session........or make a to do list of what to talk about the next time. Remember to be gentle to yourself as well. I know how hard it is. (((Hugs)))

[Suratji]

3 weeks? OMG. That is so tough. I freaked out with a 13 day break. And next month I'll be gone 2 weeks and I hope my T isn't taking a break before or after that. I think I'll ask her if she does phone sessions so I can still be connected while I'm gone.

My T has suggested that I not fight the anxiety - not try so hard to push it away - get 'comfortable' with the discomfort. I tried it somewhat once and just paid attention to how it all feels in my body. I just sat quietly alone and noticed what the bodily feelings were. That kind of attention helped a lot. It was like I could notice the discomfort without being engulfed in it.

[BlessedRhiannon]

Originally Posted by geez

Perhaps we can lean on eachother??

Thanks and absolutely we can lean on each other.

Originally Posted by Splintered

Maybe on thursday you could take some time to write to t and tell her what you would tell her if you were having a session ... Hopefully the time will pass quickly. Well at least until you're on vacation - don't want that to pass too fast

I do have her permission to email, so I may write to her...or I may leave it in my drafts folder. Thanks for the reminder that I have that option. Yeah, I hope the next two weeks pass quickly, and the third (my vacation week) passes nice and slowly.

Originally Posted by dizgirl2011

Do you think that there would be a way to maybe help you feel you are working towards seeing your T and releasing your feelings also, perhaps by journalling your feelings each day; or maybe on the day you normally see T you could maybe write down the things you think you would have talked about that day, you could imagine what T would say. Or you could also maybe change focus to your holiday, are you going somewhere nice? You dont have to say where or anything.

I always journal, and that does help. Staying busy and connecting with friends helps too. I ended up going out to a movie with a friend tonight, and then on the drive home, watched the lightening as a thunderstorm moved in (I love thunderstorms). My T did say I could email her, even though she won't see it until she gets back from vacation, and I may do so on Thursday. I do need to do some vacation planning and I'll probably do that next week. I don't mind saying where I'm going...I'm visiting a friend in Colorado. Driving up there with one of my dogs and we're going hiking and sightseeing and just hanging out.

Originally Posted by swimmergirl

The only advice I have to is to count down the days and try to distract yourself by staying busy. ... Remember to be gentle to yourself as well. I know how hard it is.

Thanks and staying busy isn't the problem, since work is really busy right now...it's staying busy and not stressing out that's tough! I need to schedule some relaxation time in there!

Originally Posted by Suratji

I think I'll ask her if she does phone sessions so I can still be connected while I'm gone.

My T has suggested that I not fight the anxiety - not try so hard to push it away - get 'comfortable' with the discomfort. I tried it somewhat once and just paid attention to how it all feels in my body. I just sat quietly alone and noticed what the bodily feelings were. That kind of attention helped a lot. It was like I could notice the discomfort without being engulfed in it.

My T has offered a phone session when she gets back and I'm on vacation...just not sure yet if I'll take her up on it. It depends on how my vacation is going and how I feel.

About the anxiety...yeah, I've done the whole noticing what I"m feeling and paying attention and letting myself feel it thing....and it helps. But, it just seems harder when I know I don't have T to fall back on if it just gets too big and overwhelming.