How to bring up topics?

Hey all.
Over the past few weeks, I've had many topics that's I've wanted to bring up to T but each time I have the opportunity it's like I completely forget what I wanted to talk about, the topics don't seem all that important anymore, or I just get side tracked with other things.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to bring certain things up? I was wondering maybe writing down every time I am struggling with something like for example "eating disorder" or "sex" etc and putting them all in an envelope. Regardless of how small the topic may be. Then next Wednesday before session, filtering out the topics that I was able to get through on my own and need no further discussion ex. "Problem with coworker" so that the only pieces of paper left in the envelope are important and still real to me. Then in session, maybe closing my eyes and just picking a topic at random because they will all be extremely important.

Does this make sense? And does this seem like a good idea?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I send my T a text the night before or morning of my session with a bullet point list on what I want to talk about. Could you do that or email your T? Or maybe write it down on paper and bring it in with you?

I could do that. I just always feel like I'm burdening her, so I would probably rather write it down and bring it with me. But even still I feel like I might not bring things up. Why is therapy so hard?!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I second the idea to text or email or leave a voice mail outlining the issue. Gets it out in the open, and your therapist will hopefully pave the way into the conversation in the room then when you come in.

Write each topic on a separate piece of paper; walk into her office and throw them on the floor/desk.
Then ask her to pick one.

it could be worth trying .... i sometimes get frustrated when i don't talk about the topics I'd wanted to and get sidetracked by other things but then maybe we also need to talk about those sidetracks? difficult knowing if they are needed or if they are diversions to keep us from discussing the hard topics at times

I usually see if the woman will agree not to talk, and then when she does, I tell her.

Sounds effective. I would definitely give it a try! Have you communicated your communication difficulties with T or asked for their thoughts on the envelope idea? Either way, I'd go for it to see if it helps any. Let us know how it goes if you decide to try this! I am also struggling with "going blank", forgetting certain details, and even fear of bringing up certain things. It is tough and I'm still trying to find a working solution.

Thanks!! No I haven't discussed it with her. Even when I want to discuss it, I usually forget about it by the time I'm in session. It's like that room has some mysterious power to make me forget everything that exists outside of there. So weird!

I think I'm just going to go for the envelope idea and bring it in. Even if I don't use it, at least she'll see it and ask what it is so I can't possibly forget that I brought it!

I will certainly let everyone know how this goes Wednesday after my session!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I would start a therapy discussion journal, kind of like a dream journal and when you think of something you want to discuss, write the date, time, what's going on and what you want to discuss, maybe do a page a week -- each evening write 1 issue/difficulty/incident from that day and while you're waiting for your session whenever it is, read the week's 7 and narrow it down to 3 and then start with one of those. I would pick; doesn't matter what your T wants to discuss, it's my therapy and about what is important to me; if I cannot pick what is most important to me at any given moment, I would discuss that difficulty?

Make a list and bring it with you.

With my Pdoc, I write down everything that's changed whenever I notice it, as well as when I take as-needed anxiety medication, because we always discuss that last thing because I'm afraid I'm taking too many.
Then just before the session I review everything I've written down, cross out everything that isn't relevant anymore or is just plain unimportant, add anything I want to talk about, and bring the list with me.

With my T, I sometimes send her e-mails. Sometimes they include a three-page auto-psychoanalysis, sometimes it's only a "Can we talk about this next week".