[trdleblue]

I've been on edge since my session this week, and it doesn't seem to be changing. On Tuesday I had t, and several things set me off before it started. There were a lot more people in the waiting area, and I could also hear more coming from the office I was sitting near. Then when I went into the session I could hear people in the office next to ours. I was very sensitive to everything around me, and it all made me so anxious. Usually I can push myself out of feelings like that, but this time I just wasn't able to. I barely said anything the entire time I was there, and when I looked at the clock 40 minutes had already gone by. ???? It really only felt like a few minutes. Right now I don't even know how I'm going to go back. I'm embarrassed about the state I was in. I'm also worried that I'll notice all the noise, and people again which will set me off. I've been trying to find a way to feel safe (anywhere but especially in t,) and now I feel even less safe.

[sconnie892]

I am sorry you're struggling right now

Does your t have a white noise machine? That can help cancel the noise from other rooms sometimes. My t has one right outside her door because the door is right next to the reception desk. It really helps cancel out noise of other patients coming in and out of the building.

[trdleblue]

Thank you Sconnie. Yes, they have those machines in front of every office. I don't know if I just was more aware of the noise, or if it was just louder then normal, but I could still hear things over the machines.

[feralkittymom]

I totally get your discomfort. I was hyper vigilant about noises, especially people coming and going, outside the door. It was only a problem in my T's last office space, but it really bothered me. In the previous offices, he was alone, and I saw him at night, usually his last client, so it was never an issue. Perhaps a change of time might make a difference?

[Anne2.0]

Did you ask your T to help you feel safe, and acknowledge what you were feeling and why?

It doesn't take much for me to feel unsafe, so what you say resonates with me. I wonder if it might help you to develop some skills to work on this directly with T (assuming that you didn't just work on it). Because for me, knowing how to stop importing old threats into current, non threatening situations was and continues to be really helpful in my daily life. It stinks to be reliving old scripts and to be able to live with mindfulness (in the moment) is so much better.

[trdleblue]

Originally Posted by feralkittymom

I totally get your discomfort. I was hyper vigilant about noises, especially people coming and going, outside the door. It was only a problem in my T's last office space, but it really bothered me. In the previous offices, he was alone, and I saw him at night, usually his last client, so it was never an issue. Perhaps a change of time might make a difference?

I don't know if a change in time will work for me. It's not anything that has bothered me before, so I hope that it won't again.

Originally Posted by Anne2.0

Did you ask your T to help you feel safe, and acknowledge what you were feeling and why?

It doesn't take much for me to feel unsafe, so what you say resonates with me. I wonder if it might help you to develop some skills to work on this directly with T (assuming that you didn't just work on it). Because for me, knowing how to stop importing old threats into current, non threatening situations was and continues to be really helpful in my daily life. It stinks to be reliving old scripts and to be able to live with mindfulness (in the moment) is so much better.

Not feeling safe is the norm for me. This time though, the feeling was amplified. I did say what was bothering me to my T. The whole thing just makes me feel more peculiar. There really was no reason for me to feel so anxious.

[sconnie892]

Originally Posted by trdleblue

Thank you Sconnie. Yes, they have those machines in front of every office. I don't know if I just was more aware of the noise, or if it was just louder then normal, but I could still hear things over the machines.

I understand that. The one in my t's office doesn't block everything either. It can be disconcerting to hear other people outside the door. I am often thankful that the office is slow when I see t. Sometimes I am the only person there.

[critterlady]

I totally get that. When I'm in my T's waiting area, I can hear voices in his office, just not what they're saying. It still makes me uncomfortable when there's someone in the waiting area during my session.

A couple weeks ago, there was an electrician running some wiring in the ceiling of the office. I could hear him sniffing, so I'm sure he could hear what we were saying.

[sittingatwatersedge]

Safety is #1 for me, always.
T doesn't lock her door during sessions and last week someone turned the knob and then opened the door.

T said something like 'not now' and the person went out again, and she nodded to me to continue like nothing had happened.

i didn't say anything or show how I felt about it, but looking back I think I should have handled it differently. don't be afraid to say something - your safety is what enables you to keep going in that room!!