[Nerak67]

All I think about is getting to my next session. I live my entire week for that one hour. I think of reasons to email him that will be acceptable and then worry I've been a bother or inappropriate if I don't get a response.

I know it doesn't help that I don't have much else interesting in my life to occupy my mind.

Then when the hour is over I get depressed because the week of waiting starts over again.

It is good to like therapy but this is really an obsession. Am I the only one? Any suggestions/help?

[refika]

You're not alone. There have been many times when I'm obsessively thinking about my next session, literally counting down the days and hours (1 day, 11 hours and 23 minutes, but who's counting )

I would say bring it up with your T if you feel it's really impacting your daily life (like you're not able to get work done). In the meantime, try to find a hobby or something to occupy your time. If you find a hobby or other activity you enjoy, that WILL make the time go by faster.

[rainbow8]

Yes, I've been where you're at, and sometimes I'm still there. I hope that CBT will be helpful to you. It may be that another kind of therapy would be better to get at what's underneath your obsessing, but with someone more experienced than your former T.

The ways I've learned to stop obsessing are, not in any particular order:

1. Don't try to stop because it doesn't work.
2. Instead, get busy with other people and/or activities in your life.
3. Tell your T what you're doing. If CBT isn't the way to help you, he'll tell you.
4. Do yoga or exercise, preferably in a class. Or swim. Something physical.
5. Connect with at least one person other than on PC every day.
6. Volunteer somewhere.
7. Learn something new, like a new hobby, a new language, a class, or something to keep you occupied.

The obsession ebbs and flows, like any other feeling. It won't go away until you replace it with better things in your life. I'm not an expert; I'm still a "work in progress" but I'm getting there. I hope you find your way too. You're NOT alone!

[sweepy62]

Yes I do that often especially when my sessions are deep but I often journal or find hobbies or read . I also attend my substance abuse group for alcohol so that keeps me occupied. Keep in mind I see my t every two weeks so it's hard in between sessions but I can always call during business hours if I'm in distress and she returns my calls.

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[Nightlight]

For about the first three and a half years of therapy, my life was so difficult for me. Every week was just about surviving until my next session. I didn't have Monday to Sunday weeks, each week was from appointment time until appointment time (really difficult on the occasionally 8 or 9 day week, and particularly the dreaded 14+ day week). I'm not sure that it was a bad thing for me. It kept me going when not much else could have. It was really only after four years and finally living in a better environment that my weeks became less about holding on and only living for my appointments.

One reason that I think I struggled in this way so much is because I have always had trouble holding onto the relationship. For me it existed only within 50 minutes each week. Contact with my therapist made everything better. I guess it depends on what you want to get out of therapy, but I think often feelings like that occur for important reasons. And no, you're definitely not the only one. But I think it highlights the need of getting to a place in life with multiple sources of enjoyment and support.

[Nerak67]

[QUOTE=Nightlight;3352109]For about the first three and a half years of therapy, my life was so difficult for me. Every week was just about surviving until my next session. I didn't have Monday to Sunday weeks, each week was from appointment time until appointment time (really difficult on the occasionally 8 or 9 day week, and particularly the dreaded 14+ day week). I'm not sure that it was a bad thing for me. It kept me going when not much else could have. It was really only after four years and finally living in a better environment that my weeks became less about holding on and only living for my appointments.

That is exactly what my life is like. It is torture. It doesn't help that my job is boring and I don't have many friends or family.

Thanks

[Charl S]

You are not alone.

It's like that for a while. It does change.

[ar2004]

I think a lot about my next T session and it was an unexpected feeling to look forward to going when it took me a while to actually start going. Sometimes I find myself obsessing over it so I try to distract myself with something, anything, else. Right now as we are kind of uncovering the issues it is really hard to not be thinking about it.

[Fuzzybear]

I agree.... When uncovering issues in T it's hard not to think about therapy, hard not to be "attached" to the therapist. In fact therapy wouldn't work if there's no "attachment".

[tinyrabbit]

I find it helps to focus on the positives about why I look forward to seeing my T.

[caseygirl]

I do exactly that. When the session ends I can't wait until the next session. My T is in private practice and insurance only covers so much so only monthly appointments. Waiting until the next appointment; well I'm counting down the days as I'm walking to my car after today's session.

[Blue_Bird]

I also can't wait until my next session after I leave. What helps is focusing on other things and finding activities to take up my time. Self help CBT workbooks are really helpful for me getting through the time between sessions.

[MoxieDoxie]

[QUOTE=Nerak67;3352039]All I think about is getting to my next session. I live my entire week for that one hour. I think of reasons to email him that will be acceptable and then worry I've been a bother or inappropriate if I don't get a response.

That is so me. I will ask questions that I already know the answers to just to see a response in my email.

I will think of things that will make them proud of themselves......like pretend I did well with a certain situation that perhaps their advice helped me with. People want to be with you more when you make them feel good about themselves and will tend to pay you more attention or be more lenient then if you are sucking energy out of them.