[Asiablue]

i had a full on panic attack type thing (not sure what it would be described as) in therapy today after doing some quite deep work, i felt really dizzy and warm, a spaced out and was crying and struggling with my breathing, i was struggling to concentrate on what my T was saying to me as she tried to calm me down. Now i just feel ridiculous for getting in such a state.

We were both surprised by my reaction at the end of the deep work cos i seemed ok all the way thru it, until we were coming to the end of session.

[critterlady]

I think delayed reactions like that are pretty common. I can hold it together during a crisis, or the retelling of a traumatic experience, but as soon as it's over, I fall apart.

There's nothing ridiculous about it, or about you. If you can't have a panic attack in therapy, when can you?

[rainbow8]

I've had delayed reactions, usually after a session, but I agree with critterlady. If you're going to have a panic attack, therapy is a safe place to have it! I'm sure you aren't the first one, nor the last one to act like that at the end of a session.

My T saw me in a weird state during a session once, and I was embarrassed, but to her, it's "all in a day's work". I think I was almost dissociating; I was almost lying on the couch and she said she "couldn't bring me back". I don't think that was exactly true; I didn't want to come back. She asked me if I wanted one of her rocks to take home, and I said, "I don't like your rocks!" Then there was the time I sat in the waiting room because I couldn't leave, and I couldn't talk to her, just nodded.

Please don't be embarrassed!

Please don't feel ridiculous Asia, you were doing some deep work and sometimes we have no control over our bodies reactions when we are delving into the subconscious and unconscious.
How are you feeling now btw?

[tinyrabbit]

Originally Posted by monalisasmile

Please don't feel ridiculous Asia, you were doing some deep work and sometimes we have no control over our bodies reactions when we are delving into the subconscious and unconscious.
How are you feeling now btw?

Seconded!

[Asiablue]

Originally Posted by monalisasmile

Please don't feel ridiculous Asia, you were doing some deep work and sometimes we have no control over our bodies reactions when we are delving into the subconscious and unconscious.
How are you feeling now btw?

I'm... okay i suppose. I feel sadness and anger at T, even tho it's not her fault. She said next time we'll take is slower. This is all EMDR work and we went way way back to infancy and basically did these visualisations, using a different part of the brain. It felt ok at the time, almost trance like, and i did push myself to do more when i was starting to feel overwhelmed because that is just what i do. T constantly checked in if i was ok, and would calm me when she could see i was getting upset but i told her i was ok to go on and maybe i should have listened to my body when i felt it getting too much. But now i feel like, i'm maybe plunging to depths of my unconscious that maybe just needs left alone.

I feel angry because she gets to open all this up and then i'm left for another week to process it. What sense is there in picking thru infancy when there's no implicit proof anything was wrong. I'm angry because i lost it in therapy, i had a panic attack over some dumb exercises and it doesn't feel like there was any point to it. I'm angry because i have to trust her that this stuff works.

[Raging Quiet]

I think it's scary when our body reacts after we spend so much of our time wearing a mask and burying our emotions.

I hope you are okay - I know when I've had an attack they make me feel really spaced out and tired afterwards.



xx

[BonnieJean]

Things get churned up while doing deep work. My t always tells me I need to treat myself gently and with compassion.

[Brightheart]

Whatever feelings you had during session and are having now are all okay. I hope you can be gentle with yourself.

Putting faith and trust in the process, especially when it's so painful, can be very difficult, I hear you. It's okay to tell your therapist if you feel this is too much for you to cope with right now.

Wishing you serenity. Take care of you.

[Asiablue]

Originally Posted by Rect0pathic

I think it's scary when our body reacts after we spend so much of our time wearing a mask and burying our emotions.

I hope you are okay - I know when I've had an attack they make me feel really spaced out and tired afterwards.



xx

I have been very sleepy ever since actually.

[refika]

Asia, you're doing great work, hang in there! Feeling very sleepy and physically exhausted is a result of the deep work you're doing. If you can, listen to your body, get the rest. Resting will help your mind settle and rejuvenate, and help your body recover.

I'm going through similar issues myself. Ever since my T came back from vacation, I've been doing some deep work with my childhood issues dredging up the past. I found that after sessions, sometimes I'm so exhausted, I can't even drive home. Just hang in there and know this is all for the best in the end.

[Asiablue]

Originally Posted by refika

Asia, you're doing great work, hang in there! Feeling very sleepy and physically exhausted is a result of the deep work you're doing. If you can, listen to your body, get the rest. Resting will help your mind settle and rejuvenate, and help your body recover.

I'm going through similar issues myself. Ever since my T came back from vacation, I've been doing some deep work with my childhood issues dredging up the past. I found that after sessions, sometimes I'm so exhausted, I can't even drive home. Just hang in there and know this is all for the best in the end.

That is the only thing that is keeping me going back at the moment. That the only other option is to stop therapy and just stay as i am, and that is no option at all.

Asia, you are doing such good work at the moment and your new t seems more skilled than old t, Do you really think it is a good idea to stop therapy?

[Asiablue]

Originally Posted by monalisasmile

Asia, you are doing such good work at the moment and your new t seems more skilled than old t, Do you really think it is a good idea to stop therapy?

No, stopping isn't a good idea. But.. yuck i just feel so vulnerable just now.

[rainbow8]

I was usually very tired after doing EMDR. That's normal. Sometimes it stirred things up right away, and sometimes it didn't. I don't think it worked so well, which is why my T says SE is better for me. But I do remember the exhaustion afterwards, and sometimes a delayed reaction of feelings. It was always different for me. I'm glad your T realized that she was going too fast. EMDR is not supposed to be intolerable. You can drop it for awhile and come back to it. Your T will be more cautious now and may have other ways to be sure you're okay with it.

[Asiablue]

i just feel scared that she isn't available for me outside of session and i'm left to deal with all this on my own.

[rainbow8]

Your T isn't available at all in between sessions? Sorry if I've forgotten your situation. Can't you call or email if you're having a hard time after the EMDR?

[Asiablue]

i don't know, technically she's not available in between but obv if i was truly freaking out and asked her to call she probably would. But just for checking in or comfort, then no i don't think so.