[rainbow8]

A couple of years ago T and I worked on my wanting to be able to say anatomy words out loud. I made some progress but not that much. Before I quit therapy or die, I want to rattle off all of those words plus some obscenities. I just want to accomplish this as part of being less inhibited. Like singing in therapy. I can do that. I still want to cry in session but I can't. I know I will start to say a word and then stop even though I'm not afraid of my T. Any ideas about how to say the words in spite of my embarrassment?

practice supposedly makes perfect:-) keep a positive mindset and try repeating some terms regularly till you lose any inhibition you may have at the moment

[Argonautomobile]

Hmm. If you can't say the words yet, can you say a similar word and then "accidentally" let the forbidden word slip? Like, say "duck" out loud, a lot, quickly, and, before you have time to worry or think about it, start one of those ducks with an 'F.' Or say "happiness" a bunch, but forget the "ha" part. This might help you see that a word is just a sound, maybe?

After you can say them-even if it's just a whisper--say them often. Loudly. Proudly. Say them to yourself, your dog, your mailbox, whatever. Pretend you're a comedy actor doing a tasteless and ill-informed (but still sort of funny?) impression of tourette's syndrome.

After enough exposure, I bet the inhibition will lesson considerably or go away.

I couldn't say some words like "abuse" aloud. Or phrases which T would say like "Your parents hurt you".

I started by picturing them in my mind, example picturing the words "my parents hurt me". Picturing words is easier than having visual imagery of events or scenes, which might make me shut down.

After I got used to that, I tried whispering them.

Maybe you can try that? Just a suggestion though.

[rainbow8]

How can someone be ashamed of the words when they're just words? It's thinking of those parts as belonging to me that makes me feel ashamed. I don't think I worked on this enough in therapy, especially the excitement/shame aspect. I could talk freely to T this week and I said 2 of the words. Somehow I did that!

Thank you for the responses. They're helpful.

[Argonautomobile]

Originally Posted by rainbow8

How can someone be ashamed of the words when they're just words? It's thinking of those parts as belonging to me that makes me feel ashamed. I don't think I worked on this enough in therapy, especially the excitement/shame aspect. I could talk freely to T this week and I said 2 of the words. Somehow I did that!

Thank you for the responses. They're helpful.

Good on you for the couple words! Every step counts.

We're ashamed of words because they mean things. They get all coiled up in their histories and become associated with pain, and pleasure, and whatever else. If words didn't matter, we'd still be grunting and pointing. I get it.

[velcro003]

Originally Posted by Argonautomobile

. If words didn't matter, we'd still be grunting and pointing. I get it.

hahha, so true! there is a reason we say to 2 year olds (and older), "Use your words," because they DO point and grunt, or scream!!

[SallyBrown]

Sometimes I can say things I otherwise couldn't if I read something I've written down, but that is a kind of a quirk of mine. Are you able to write the words? Could you write a short essay or poem or letter or something incorporating those words, then read them off of paper or a tablet or whatever as a first step?

Also, I think everyone has words they have trouble with. They just vary from person to person. Argonautomobile hit the nail on the head about that.

Originally Posted by Argonautomobile

Hmm. If you can't say the words yet, can you say a similar word and then "accidentally" let the forbidden word slip? Like, say "duck" out loud, a lot, quickly, and, before you have time to worry or think about it, start one of those ducks with an 'F.' Or say "happiness" a bunch, but forget the "ha" part. This might help you see that a word is just a sound, maybe?

After you can say them-even if it's just a whisper--say them often. Loudly. Proudly. Say them to yourself, your dog, your mailbox, whatever. Pretend you're a comedy actor doing a tasteless and ill-informed (but still sort of funny?) impression of tourette's syndrome.

After enough exposure, I bet the inhibition will lesson considerably or go away.

Took me a moment o figure out the 'happiness' bit then it really made me laugh.