As the next session approaches

I have been noticing a pattern whereby I go through some type of turmoil in the days following my sessions but it always seems that by time my next session approaches I am able to "put myself together". It then seems stupid to me in session to talk about things that happened serveral days ago if I am no longer experiencing those feeling in the present session.

I don't know if this is some subconscious attempt to protect myself or from the habit of always projecting a certain "successful/happy" image to the outside world.

Right now I'm in a pretty dark place and have been for the last few days but I know by time Thursday comes around I probably won't feel like this.

Does this happen to anyone else or does anyone have insight or recommendations?

Yes, this happens to me A LOT. I shut down my emotions - not consciously, it just happens. A few times I've gone in completely numb. I hate it - I need to bring those feelings into session.

One thing that's helping is to write down what I'm feeling and take it to the session. Sometimes I chicken out, but I have been able to force myself to bring things up even if I'm not feeling much. Much to my relief, I've found that often the feelings will come back when I talk about it in session.

I think the feelings we have after sessions are important, and I hate to feel them going away, as I rationalize them away, or block them, or whatever. Maybe try writing them down and bringing them up anyway, whether you're currently feeling them or not? This is the only thing that's helped for me. Maybe others will have some ideas.

This happens to me all the time.

The classic example is feelings of abandonment. The closer I get to seeing T again, the less abandoned I feel. When I'm actually there, it seems pointless to mention it.

I do this too. I start wondering why I go to therapy. Then I go. Then I FREAK out for the first few days after a session. Lather, rinse, repeat.

I definitely had that feeling when I was only going once/week. Now that I see T twice/week, I don't really have time in between sessions to lose the emotion of the session. Of course, that means I'm pretty emotional most of the time, unless I shut down almost entirely (which is what I've been feeling since mom died). It's getting exhausting.

Ditto to all. I assumed that is was part of the "process". It is why the appointments are spread out- to give you time to "process" the emotions, figure out some coping skills, show back up, discuss, repeat. And repeat. And repeat. And repeat. You know where I am going.

That's EXACTLY what I do...most sessions. After my last appointment I ended up in such a bad place, I don't even have the words to describe it. I wrote about it and I've been taking in my writing and sharing it, but I feel silly about it because by the time I've reached my next appointment, it's like I've only just managed to shove it all away somewhere and it feels like the reaction I had was such an overreaction. I think like you said it is some sort of protection, for me. Firstly it lets me get on with life, file things away even if they're not dealt with, and secondly it probably means I don't have to be a complete mess in front of someone else! I also think I manage to file it away when my appointment is getting closer just because I know, finally, I am going to have help and not be alone with it, and that alone helps.

I actually find it helpful to take the writing in to T because when she reads it, I feel some of the filed away emotions again. So, obviously it's been filed away but not really dealt with. Even when it feels like it has passed, I think it's important to go back over why it was so hard.

And during the actual time that I feel like that? I really don't know. I really, really struggle. I do write, with the intention of sharing the writing with T, which makes it a tiny bit less lonely. To know that in a week someone will know.

Sorry that it's what you're going through at the moment! I've only just got myself out of that place and I absolutely get how how it is.

I'm the same, take my last session, it was a tough one, couldn't function for about a week, was in a horrible place, my next session is Friday and I will be a mess when I wake up and getting ready then I do this, Must pull myself together for therapy and that what happens so when I get to my session I'm all smiles.