[Bipolarchic14]

I saw my therapist in the grocery store. It surprised me how horrified I was. She was talking with someone. I panicked and turned down the closest aisle. I don't think she saw me. I never did get my yogurt. I just quickly paid and left.

I always imagined myself being calm if I saw my therapist in public and just casually saying hi on my way by, not cowardly dodging her and running in the opposite direction.

I am disappointed in myself since i have felt fairly comfortable around her. I don't know why I acted that way. I have fantisied about being friends with her after therapy. Intellectually I know this is not possible but that does not stop the emotional me from wanting this. It can be hard at times to realize one of the people you feel most comfortable discussing your life with is someone who will never actually be apart of it. It is weird when your internal "fantasy" world is interrupted by the harshness of reality. I have to wonder...would she even remember my name if I had approached her??? She has so many patients. Weird to think about since I usually feel really connected with her in therapy.

Does anyone want to entertain me with your reactions to seeing your therapist in public?

I would have done the same thing.

[musinglizzy]

I've talked to my T about seeing her in public (she brought it up) and I'm quite sure I'd be happy to bump into her and would go up and say hi. She had mentioned how if that ever happened (not likely), I would need to make the first move. I have heard some people say they are uncomfortable about seeing T even outside the therapy room (say in the hallway or something). That doesn't bother me, has happened several times, and have run into her in the parking lot too, and talked briefly.

It's awkward the first few times it happens. After a few times, you'll probably be able to manage the calm reaction that you imagined. I've felt awkward, too, when I see one of my medical doctors in public.

[dj315]

I once saw mine in his car while I was walking to class. I was trying to cross in front of a street and he happened to be the person who let me go...I subconsciously registered that I recognized whoever was in the car, so there was this awkward moment of me staring too long to figure out who it was. We both recognized each other at pretty much the same time and had an awkward "Oh, I know you, hi." moment. Did I mention it was awkward?

We only bumped into each other one other time on campus and I wanted to disappear. Ts don't exist outside of their office...It's like seeing an alien.

[Ad Intra]

I would have done the same thing lol. I once saw my old-T but that was when we first started. I walked to CVS one day and looked at the line of people and noticed someone but I couldn't place them. When I came to the back of the store it finally hit me it was my T.
I think most people would have dine what you did. More than likely your T is used to running into clients.

[Crescent Moon]

I think your reaction is perfectly reasonable and nothing to be disappointed in. If I saw my therapist in public I would avoid her too. I don't want to know her outside the therapy room.

It's hard to know until it happens. I have been horrified when I see other non-therapist professionals out in public. Once, I was in line at the store, turned around and saw my dental hygienist right behind me. Without even thinking, I put my hand over my mouth and swore I had been flossing. All I could think was that she was checking out my plaque. It's even worse running into the hair stylist.

[Bipolarchic14]

Originally Posted by licketysplit

It's hard to know until it happens. I have been horrified when I see other non-therapist professionals out in public. Once, I was in line at the store, turned around and saw my dental hygienist right behind me. Without even thinking, I put my hand over my mouth and swore I had been flossing. All I could think was that she was checking out my plaque. It's even worse running into the hair stylist.

Lmao...this made me smile.

[ScarletPimpernel]

Seeing people I know in public causes me panic attacks. I have to leave immediately. This is why I'm glad my T and I live in different cities and we very rarely travel to each other's city. The only time I'd be okay with seeing my T in public is if it's planned or an emergency/hospital. I don't even like seeing her in the hallway of the building she works. And I refuse to use the bathroom on the same floor as her office.

[nervous puppy]

I felt the same way when I ran into my T at the grocery store too. However, I wasn't able to avoid mine. Met up face to face by the shopping carts. She saw me first, had a big smile and said hello. I must've looked like a deer in headlights. I managed to reply with a simple "hi" and kept walking.
my new t tlod me on day one that if she saw me in public, she wouldn't acknowledge me. For confidentiality reasons. I think it takes the pressure off if there is an encounter.

[doyoutrustme]

I've seen mine in public many times. He's seen me but I flat out ignore him.

[baseline]

My T said he saw me last weekend where I work. I asked why he didn't say hi. He said i was talking with someone, it made me feel awkward.Why say anything then.

[KayDubs]

Originally Posted by licketysplit

It's even worse running into the hair stylist.

Ha! The thought of this freaks me out even more than running into my T in public. It'd probably happen when my hair is pulled back in a messy bun, wearing a wool cap...

[stopdog]

I doubt either the woman or I would recognize the other out of context, but if we did, I would ignore her and I believe she would do the same thing.

[jaynedough]

I once saw my PDoc in Costco. He was wearing shorts. We talked for a couple of minutes. I used to go to the same church as him, too.

I did have the flight reaction with my PCP once. A couple hours after I saw him, I pulled into the drive-thru line at DQ and realized I was right behind the doctor I'd just seen. I pulled back out pretty quickly.

[dismantle.repair]

I've seen her in meetings (she's looked at me and I just smile.) I feel awkward any time I see her though.

We've worked on the same project, but different parts so we didn't much get involved with each other, which I was grateful like heck for!

We MIGHT speak at the same conference. (I simultaneously hope so and dread if it happens.. I want the woman to see I'm not a blathering idiot all the time.)

Once though, I was speaking to a friend who works in the same department as her at some orientation and I didn't realize she was standing behind me. I almost stepped on her and felt so badly after. My friend automatically started to introduce us to each other. I just kinda looked at her and blushed. A LOT. And then said hi casually.

I think once we can keep our relationship professional, it's fine. We've terminated though, more or less. So it's no big deal anymore.

[wotchermuggle]

I had almost the same reaction. I thought I would be fine running into my T, but when I saw him at the grocery store, I immediately turned my back and pretended to be interested in organic cantaloupe. When I peeked a look, he was gone. I tried to continue shopping but I was so worried I'd be walking down he isle and he'd be coming down the opposite way, so I just left (and in a panic!).

With my new therapist, I never really worried about running into him. Then go figure, the week before he moved to another city, I ran into him at the liquor store. I was horrified as we were in different check out lanes. I pretended I didn't see him and got out as fast as I could. It was like seeing a fish on land, seeing him there. Out of place and concerning!

[Ad Intra]

Originally Posted by wotchermuggle

I had almost the same reaction. I thought I would be fine running into my T, but when I saw him at the grocery store, I immediately turned my back and pretended to be interested in organic cantaloupe. When I peeked a look, he was gone. I tried to continue shopping but I was so worried I'd be walking down he isle and he'd be coming down the opposite way, so I just left (and in a panic!).

With my new therapist, I never really worried about running into him. Then go figure, the week before he moved to another city, I ran into him at the liquor store. I was horrified as we were in different check out lanes. I pretended I didn't see him and got out as fast as I could. It was like seeing a fish on land, seeing him there. Out of place and concerning!

Wow, that would be embarrassing for me! I always figured the most embarrassing time to see my old-T in public would have been if I had alcohol and razor blades in my cart.

[musinglizzy]

Is it bad that it feels to me like T is just a person...and I wouldn't panic at the sight of her in public? Seems like that's not the norm. curious why the panic, what are your thoughts?

[Bipolarchic14]

Originally Posted by musinglizzy

Is it bad that it feels to me like T is just a person...and I wouldn't panic at the sight of her in public? Seems like that's not the norm. curious why the panic, what are your thoughts?

Oh I know she is just a person and this is how I view her. We don't have the "blank screen" therapy relationship. We talk and joke like friends do while working through my issues. I flat out told her I did not want her to just agree with me on everything. If I wanted that I could purchase a bobble head much cheaper. Ironically in my last session we were talking about nutrion and she referred me to a nutrionist the session before that. I actually had all fruits and vegetables in my cart and lean meats. No junk food at all, so I did not have to hide that.

I thought about the panic I felt. When I saw her, I suddenly felt exposed like I was standing there naked. Suddenly everyone in the grocery store was going to know I am in therapy and know I am bipołar. Logical me caught up with panicked me out in the car.

Originally Posted by musinglizzy

Is it bad that it feels to me like T is just a person...and I wouldn't panic at the sight of her in public? Seems like that's not the norm. curious why the panic, what are your thoughts?

That's how I feel about meeting my T. I meet him on my way to or from work sometimes, because his office is halfway between my workplace and the bus stop. And he apparently lives somewhere not far from my workplace, because I've met him in the street that runs past the campus where I work, a few times.

The first time we met I felt a little awkward, but he simply said hello and smiled and walked on, so I did that, too. (Note that he said hi first, so he doesn't have any self-imposed rule about not greeting clients outside his office.) These days it's exactly like meeting any other acquaintance in the street - smile, say hi, walk on. It's actually really nice. I asked him recently what he'd do if either one of us were walking together with someone else, and he said that in that case he'd take the cue from me, and say hi or not depending on whether I greeted him first. Which is exactly what I would have expected, because it makes all kinds of sense to me.

[elliemay]

I hate it when therapists are out free range like that. When I lived in a small town, I would run into my therapist a fair bit. Your reaction was a lot more stable than mine. I've abandoned shopping carts, left money on restaurant tables....

They should live in their office. Really.

[ManOfConstantSorrow]

I was slightly disconcerted to meet my T in the street as I slouched towards her office (I was five minutes early for our appointment so window-shopping to kill some time). I recovered quickly but I was embarrassed that I was daft enough to be disconcerted - she may or may not have noticed my fleeting expression of dismay and embarrassment. But she just said 'see you in a minute' in a friendly normal way and walked on, leaving me slightly dissatisfied with myself. It is a silly little thing but real none-the-less.

[musinglizzy]

EllieMay... I'm sorry, you made me smile! Free range....like a bunch of chickens running around. Sorry! LOL