Only one session left!!

I posted a while back about my T going away for 7 wks. It has come around quickly, and now I only have one more time left ....next week. I feel really nervous about her going away. The thing that bothers me most is when Ive missed only a week or two in the past, it feels like like she becomes more "distant". I keep thinking that maybe this might be a good time to end the whole therapy process. Its kind of like I'm testing myself... If I can go 7 weeks, I can go forever!! I just feel so mixed up and confused about not having her around for what seems like forever!! She has talked about it with me over the last few weeks and has said I can e mail her if I want to. I don't feel right doing that though. AAAaaaaaaahhhhhh.... i don't know how I feel.......alone, sad , like a little child, abandoned, yet telling myself to "grow up" and realise she has a life. I know you'll all have some comforting advice for me........please!!!

I would take her up on the emailing...my T posts his email address on the web site...I have felt free to use it...

He always calls or responds in some fashion...She's given you permission...use it as you need it...

I agree with Direction. You have an invitation to email and it will help ease the separation. It's natural to get a lot of feelings around this type of situation. I'm going through it now myself.

Wow, 7 weeks is a very long time. I can understand why you would feel abandoned, and I can also understand why you would think you could handle ending! It must seem like an eternity!

However, I would take her up on her offer to email in order to stay connected. I really struggle when my T leaves. We have worked on ways for me to cope in his absence. Sometimes he gives me something from his office to keep for him while he is away. Once he gave me a book he likes so we could discuss it when he returned. Another time I journaled about how hard it was while he was gone for us to discuss.

And while he is gone, it's distraction, distraction, distraction! It's the only time my house gets a thorough cleaning!

I really feel for you.

((( kindergirl )))

7 weeks is a long time.

she offered the email option because it is okay with her, so go ahead and use that without worry. she has given you the ok and I'll bet she looks forward to hearing from you.

i would imagine in her preparing you and her for this separation it has felt to you like a distancing and in a way it is because otherwise it would seem so abrupt; plus you already have the 'distance' of 7 weeks on your mind. i think she just wants you to be prepared and okay during the break.

are you imagining that she wants a permanent break?

are you thinking of ending the therapy process as a punishment to her for the break?

or as a punishment to yourself for feeling sad and abandoned about the break?

you can miss her to stay connected, email her to stay connected, think about when you will be able to see her again to stay connected. it's going to be a hard time but it has an end to it when the 7 weeks is up and you see her again

(( hugs )) to you. this must be so hard!

Kindergirl,

My T has given me things to look after for her when she has gone away, like Plats, or a blanket. Maybe you could ask about borrowing something of your Ts to keep the connection going. I have also been given a tape to help me get through long seperations.

7 weeks is a long time and I know it will be hard. I will be thinking of you

Don't beat yourself up about 'growing up.' There is nothing childlike about forming a connection with someone, and feeling awful about that person going away for a considerable amount of time. I practically die if I don't see my T for a week. You have every reason to feel the way you have described. Please try to take care of yourself for the next seven weeks. Email her if and when you are ready. In the meantime, keep posting! We will help you get through.

Thank you all so much for your replies. It helps so much to know that others understand. I'm not used to being having such strong emotional attachement....its all new. I will keep posting on here - for sure. Thanks again everyone.