digging nails into skin/scratching during therapy

Jan 23, 2013, 10:20 AM

I don't hurt myself, but I tend to do this weird, kind of hand wringing thing when I'm super SUPER upset. My T doesn't comment on it at all, although I know he notices. The marriage counselor we see DOES comment on it and that just makes me that much MORE upset and then I lock up, freeze, and cannot talk at all. I do think my T knows that, and that's part of why he doesn't comment. One time we were talking about something else I do that I think is weird, and he said that those behaviors just kind of dissipate as emotional health improves, so he doesn't feel the need to address them specifically. So, that's the rest of the reason why he doesn't comment.

buy_time · Jan 23, 2013, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by My kids are cool

he said that those behaviors just kind of dissipate as emotional health improves, so he doesn't feel the need to address them specifically. So, that's the rest of the reason why he doesn't comment.

That actually helps me a lot--this is probably why. Oh, what do you mean by "hand wringing?" If you mean like not necesarrily hurting yourself, but twisting your arm, I do THE SAME EXACT thing. They shouldn't comment on it b/c you're not even hurting yourself. I think I do it when I'm nervous, though, so I geuss it's a little different.

Nothing I do in the room is addressed besides for stuff I mention. Like she'll try to get rid of the behavior--doing relaxation stuff or asking if I want something to hold, but she will never outright say why she wants me to do/use them and won't force me to do anything.

Jan 23, 2013, 03:35 PM

By hand wringing, I mean this kind of thing:

digging nails into skin/scratching during therapy

Not the best photos, but the one I wanted would not copy.
I couldn't figure out to describe it, so I thought the photos might be better.

Nightlight · Jan 23, 2013, 07:31 PM

I do that sort of thing with my hands too and also run them up and down the arms of the chair I sit on. I'm not sure I'm always aware of it at first, but I can't stop it for long even when I am. I used to a lot early in therapy and then I think it mostly stopped until all the huge ruptures we've had lately. My T doesn't comment thankfully, although once early in therapy she asked what my jiggling foot meant.

Which was very uncomfortable. I think I just said "I'm a fidgeter" and T agreed. Probably what it actually meant was that this is totally unnatural, the topic is not a normal one for me to say to another living soul, this whole process is uncomfortable...and I'm crawling out of my skin. Sometimes now I do notice her watching what I'm doing with my hands, even though she doesn't comment.

buy_time · Jan 23, 2013, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by My kids are cool

By hand wringing, I mean this kind of thing:

digging nails into skin/scratching during therapy

I put put one hand on my wrist and then twist--I wonder if that's the same thing u do?

Jan 23, 2013, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buy_time

I put put one hand on my wrist and then twist--I wonder if that's the same thing u do?

I don't go up to the wrist level. Mainly I twist one hand around the other. Sometimes, I grip one wrist really hard with the other hand, but I don't usually twist. But it's certainly similar.

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digging nails into skin/scratching during therapy

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