[GenCat]

So I'm curious, have you ever walked/ran out of a session with your T because of something that happened, besides taking a phone call or some other kind of emergency? Walked out because of an argument, anger or something T said.

If you did, what did your T do/react? I always hope and wish my T will chase after me before I get into my car and drive off in a maddened rampage.

No, I never have. I prefer to work through things as that is why I am there in the first place. I have no rescue fantasies about my T. I've had enough real situations where my T has been there to help me through real crises.

[Arethusa]

I've walked out during group therapy, always hoping that someone would run after me and beg me to come back to group.

[Freewilled]

No never, but ive thought about it...I even told my T about my thoughts and imagining myself quickly standing up, leaving and slamming the door on my way out. I'm not sure what would have to happen to cause me to choose this response but its crossed my mind more than once...

[content30]

Oh gosh...no way...never! I am and always have been a super major rule-follower (proper, manners, etc.). I'm such a perfectionist, and I would never want anyone to think ill of me. Even if I wasn't that way, I can't imagine my T ever angering me like that. She is very calm, and I have the same demeanor. I guess that is good, since I am in grad school to be a T now. We all have our issues (obviously one of mine is that I worry about my image and what others think), but getting along with people and smoothing things over are some of my strengths. I am also not easily offended and am patient in general.

I was in group therapy for a few weeks once. We had a girl leave. She had just given me her number, and I was able to text her and then call her. I talked her into coming back. So, I am a "pursuer" in that case. I guess a couple of you would have been happy to have me in your group therapy--hehe.

[stopdog]

No, but if I ever did storm out, the therapist following me would be an extremely bad plan. I expect the therapist to stay back and wait for me. I dislike being chased down.

No I've never had to run out of the office...because I dissociate so its my own version of leaving the office... if it becomes too stressful...too deep...too vulnerable..I'm gone...without even having to get up.

[1stepatatime]

So far, no...I've not done that. The closest I ever came to that was when we had one of those awkward silences that seemed to go on for an eternity and I said "okay, time for me to go" but it was right at the end, anyway.

[haier]

I did! When i was 18 yrs old i had a t who i liked but had no connection with. She brought up some stuff and i did not want to talk about it so she said fine we will sit in silence then. I got really angry, started crying and got up and headed towards the door she blocked my way..sitting in her office chair with wheels..tried to grab both my arms and i lost it. She kept telling me to calm down and i was furious i never sat back down, she called two other people and then after seeing i was overpowered i decided to keep the peace. That didn't go so well....i feel sad thinking about it. I saw her maybe 3 more times then ended up being hospitalized, then day treatment program. Never saw her again.

[Blue_Bird]

Yes a few years ago, I tried to walk out of an appointment with a T and did the same thing to the psychiatrist I was seeing (same place,different appointments) but my T got up and stopped me before I could get out, in my other appointment my psychiatrist chased me down saying he's trying to help me. I had never done anything like that before, I just all of the sudden felt to much emotion and was afraid of what they might say. I was frustrated and upset because I had admitted I had slipped up with s.h then I regretted telling them and my reaction was to just run. The only reason I went back was because I was afraid of being put inpatient again. I felt bad about it later because I never have lost control of my emotions like that in front of anybody before to the point of making me feel like I need to leave or run, they didn't do anything wrong.

[manymiles]

Early in treatment I ran out the room mid session. I left the building bolting to my car. T came out the building called out to me, I stopped we talked a little in front of the building then I went back in and we finished the session. I was such a runner then, still am in some ways but can't imagine doing that now nor T responding the same way. It was just where we were in the work at that time.

[Flooded]

Yes, I do it often. Can't explain why though.

[BlessedRhiannon]

I've felt the need to flee from a session before, mostly due to anxiety. But, that same anxiety, plus my own stubbornness keeps me firmly planted in the chair. Not too long ago, I was completely overwhelmed. It was the end of a session, and I stood up and told T that I needed to leave right then. We both recognized the suddenness of that urge, and the extremeness of it. T suggested we walk to the kitchen first so I could get a cup of water. She was basically giving me what I needed, to get out of her office, but not letting me run out in a panic. It was a good middle ground and worked well for me.

[The_little_didgee]

No. The closest, I have ever come to fleeing was wanting to end a session early. Our arguing wasn't getting anywhere. I decided the best thing to do was talk it out, so I wouldn't have to leave angry. I also could not flee on my therapist, because I respect her, a lot. Anyway, she goes out of her way to help me.

[Willowleaf]

Sort of. One week very early on I left with 5 minutes still to go. I didn't realise how cross I was and apparently I shut the door with enough force that it jammed and she had to climb out of window. She told me a while later and we both had a bit of a laugh. She also got door fixed!

I have had the urge to leave a few times, and said so to T. Once, T's next client came half an hour early(!) and tried to get in - T's office door is locked if you try it from the outside so he couldn't actually get in. T went outside and told him to come back at his scheduled time. I panicked rather seriously and told T I thought I might have to leave. Other people coming into the therapy room is a frequent nightmare for me, as T also knew. It was partly the fact that T was visibly angry at that other client that helped ground me enough to stay. I got the impression that it was not a regular client.

So no, I never actually left an appointment early. I know T would not come after me if I did. That is, I assume he wouldn't.

[looking4polaris]

Great question! Been there. Done that...A few times when I've been really overwhelmed and just could not stand to stay in the room a second longer. I almost feel like the room gets smaller and smaller until IT pushes ME out the door. And a couple of times if I dissociated and then got a little confused.
But T always sits there silently and lets me walk out. He never says anything or comes after me. Now that I think about it, there's usually a lot of silence preceding my flights, as well....
No, my T is not a rescuer. If I were drowning, he would not rescue me. But, I do believe that he would genuinely want to know what I was feeling while I was drowning and he would stay there and empathize and reflect.

[content30]

Originally Posted by Willowleaf

Sort of. One week very early on I left with 5 minutes still to go. I didn't realise how cross I was and apparently I shut the door with enough force that it jammed and she had to climb out of window. She told me a while later and we both had a bit of a laugh. She also got door fixed!

This is one of the most hysterical things I've read on here. I don't think many people can say that they made their T climb out a window, LOL!

Yes I walked out in the early years. It was the only way I could communicate strong feelings then. It's not something I have done in the latest yrs. I'm able to verbalise more now.
I think it's about wanting T to feel the desperation we are feeling.

Originally Posted by Willowleaf

Sort of. One week very early on I left with 5 minutes still to go. I didn't realise how cross I was and apparently I shut the door with enough force that it jammed and she had to climb out of window. She told me a while later and we both had a bit of a laugh. She also got door fixed!

This is really funny Lol.

I have never walked or ran out of T but I have felt like it a couple of times,I have told my T too in the next session and she just asks why.

[lrt1978]

It has run through my mind on a couple of times whilst in therapy session but never had the guts to act on those thoughts of leaving, I have really wanted to but felt like I was glued to my chair and couldn't move plus I don't think I would go back if I did run out of a session

[Solepa]

I walked out once we were talking about diffucult topic and I started to feel big urge to cough and couldn´t stop so I went out to get more air and water. I came back after the coughing stoped. My T said that is my way of running away from the topic. Oh well my body has mind of its own can´t do anything about it.
I´m horrified by the idea of crying in front of T I´m sure I will walk out when and If that happens. I hope she will not try to stop me physicaly bc that would send me into a panic.

[Bloem]

I've never walked out of a session....But my T has walked out of a session, she had to take a deep breath and a walk before she came back.
I was not nice to her!
she is a psychiatrist and psychotherapist....i sAid i didnt came to talk, and that she had to do it fast, write a prescription for me.

I was angry with her, but i needed medication. I was very rude...
She told me later that she had to walk away to stay calm.....

Bloem

I walked out of my first session with my first therapist. He was spouting some drivel about therapy putting me in touch with emotions I had shut down and closed off and in the course of therapy I would feel anger and rage and pain and sadness. I was like, "No. No I won't." And I left. He seemed so surprised to see me the next week, and I was perplexed about that. I didn't say I wouldn't do the therapy; I just refused to feel the stuff he was talking about.

I have bolted from my current therapist's office to be sick. At least twice. I returned when my stomach stopped revolting though.

[mixedup_emotions]

I left group t early once because I was so irritated....but other than that, no I have never ran out on T.

The idea of doing that makes me nauseous, actually - because it's the type of thing that my former friend used to do as a form of attention-seeking - "I'm gonna run out of here in drama like fashion and then expect someone to chase after me".

If I felt the need to leave, I would hope to get to a place where I would be able to do so in a healthy way and have a good understanding of what I needed in that moment - and acted on that, rather than some ulterior motive.