[JonB]

It's vacation time of year. Are you all having the experience of your pdocs and Ts being on vacation? I know everyone needs a vacation this time of year. Too bad it also seems like we need the most support this time of year too. It's frustrating to be going nuts, so to speak, and have to wait until everyone gets back from skiing or whatever. But, I will wait patiently with the rest of the world and hope my docs come back well rested and ready to hear me gripe about the horrors of the holiday season. Best wishes to all who are having to get by without their usual support systems...

[(JD)]

While I'm sure my T is enjoying the holidays and has all the same errands to run that we do, he is in town...and on call for me

(((hugs))) to those who don't have access to a T ... and thanks for being here at PC!

[pegasus]

Well this year my T is around, thank goodness.

....................But last year he was away for three weeks and I remember very well how unsure I felt without him.

Use all your best coping strats you can.

And thank goodness for Psych Central too!

Yup my T is away until jan 8th...I did a lot of writing about how I feel and worked out that part of me is like that 2 yr old wanting that "instant gratification " I want mum and I want her now....recognising that has helped me a great deal...I could pin point where the anxiety was coming from and tell myself that I CAN "carry on" with my life and hold T firmly in my mind also and KNOW she will return and I CAN wait!!

Working this out has helped me to feel so empowered :-) I am no longer a prisoner to my emotions as such :-) ho ho ho lol

[Sarah116]

My Psychologist and Psychiatrist are probably going to California. They go there a lot. i think for those of you who will not have your Pdoc while they are away should make a time for a chat!

[jacq10]

I hear you ... my T is gone until the 8th of January also, and because of the beginning of xmas break i haven't been able to see her since Dec 1st ... journaling can only do so much ....

[Monty_girl]

Yeah, mine will be out of town until the first of the year and so is the regular back up T. So this year they have a new T in the office that's on call. Not sure if I could call her if I needed to since I don't know her.

[Perna]

I hear you Monty girl. My T use to encourage me to call the on call person but I had enough trouble calling my own T when I needed to, nevermind someone I don't know. I had a "relationship" with another T in my T's group, we talked a little bit in passing before my T would arrive or whenever and once even had a meaningful conversation so my T would encourage me to talk to her if I needed to when she was away but I couldn't do that.

[complic8d]

Yup, mine's out next week too. Have to get through the holidays without her. I do have her home and cell numbers if I need them. (One time I didn't know she was on vacation, and when I called, she said, "I'm in New Hampshire." from Michigan- oops) I hope I don't have to bother her at all though. Hope everyone gets through the holidays ok, maybe even with some joy!

[Brookester]

Although another professional to talk to is preferable to speaking with no one, don't all therapists/psychiatrists have someone "on call" for them when they are away, out of town or cannot be reached? I thought this was a regular standard of care in the psychiatric/psychological industry.

[Sarah116]

Uhmmmm, I don't think so, I know they do check their Email some of them and some have cell phones. But I do not think they do that.

[(JD)]

WOW I didn't realize how many of your Ts are unavailable for you at this tough time of year!!!!

[January]

Hi Jon,

Most pdocs and t's have someone on call for them. If you need to talk to someone, call the office number and it should connect you to an answering service that can help you get in touch with someone.

My very best at this stressful time of year,

Jan

Mine is here and I saw her today. I'm not sure why though; she wanted to keep it 'light' because of the holiday. I felt like I wasted my time. The holiday is nothing to me.

[wanttoheal]

I'm so sorry for so many that are without support right now. My T and her staff do not take vacation this time of year because Christmas time is so hard on their clients. They take vacation days other days of the year and then make sure someone is available for the client to call. That's so hard. I'm so sorry that you guys are having to deal with that on top of a really hard time. Please take care. I hope the time goes quickly for you all. Please be safe.

[(JD)]

I will be around some on Christmas day, if anyone needs to rant to me in a PM

[jbug]

My pdoc was out of the office last week. I think she was available after hours though because I think I called her on Friday night. I don't remember much about Friday night but I think I called her. She will be back in the office on Tuesday. My T won't be back in the office til Thursday which is when my appointment is. I know the T on call this weekend though and if I need her tonight when I get home she's there.

Jbug

[(JD)]

<center>

<font color="green">[b]MERRY CHRISTMAS!

[Hopefull]

I don't talk to T outside of appointments. I sometimes leave a voice message but she never returns my calls. I assume its because I usually end with some comment about looking forward to seeing her. I think she knows that I don't need her much outside of session. But, I might miss her soon because I don't have an appoinment until the ninth. I usually only put two weeks in between. But, she put three weeks in between.

[Sarah116]

I have not seen you around lately Hopefull, anyway I hope you all have a calm and happy holiday while your Psychologists, Psychotherapists andPsychiatrists are away! Best of luck, Sarah116

[jennie]

my counselor is on vacation now, too.

our last appointment, she introduced me to some other counselor who would be available to help me if i needed to do so.

ka poohey!

i appreciate the professionalism, courtesy, and effort my counselor took time out of our appointment to ensure my needs could be met when she was gone. but . . . and this is a huge "but" . . . AS IF (talking '80 valley girl) . . . !!!!

i could not, would not, will not eat green eggs and ham.

translation: I don't intend on bothering some stranger with my petty anxiety problems.

my t is taking 2 weeks off over christmas and new year.

bummer.

last session... i'm not trying to punish him or anything... but i guess i felt sad about his not being around. i hate christmas anyway so that makes it hard for me. just want to ignore it and treat this time of year the same as any other time of year but that is impossible to do when people insist on taking time off. sigh.

he was determined i felt sad about the holiday. but i don't know. i wasn't trying to punish him... but i didn't want to talk about feeling sad. i didn't want to feel sad. i don't want to feel sad.

%#@&#! him for going away right now...

i don't have any noticable memory gaps but... christmas... i can't remember christmas when my parents were together. you would think that would have been a happy memory... but i can't remember.