[ABC1357]

My therapist will be on vacation for a while during holiday season. How do you cope with it when you cannot have regular session for whatever reason? I once had a month between sessions, and I remember that was quite overwhelming. I'm quite vulnerable to irregularity (that makes my anxiety worse), so holiday season itself is hard. What should I do?

What I used to do is journal during those times.I would write everything that I would be saying during sessions.I even wrote what I thought my T would say in response.It helped!

Actually,I still do it,and I haven't gone to a session in about a year and 1/2.

[LadyShadow]

What I do in between sessions is actually come here and vent. PyschCentral has been a God send and it has helped me very much when I am without my therapist.

So keep posting, and remember we are here!

[FairyLeaf]

I try to make myself a schedule where I plan activities or things to do. It could be something easy and simple as watching a show or a movie, at least I know I have something going on for that time for that day.

You could see if there is any free events or things you can go to, that way the time for your next session will go by fast. Keep busy.

That is what I normally do. It's hard but in the end some things I wouldn't have done if I had a session, so it sorta forces me to do something.

[ABC1357]

Originally Posted by CrispApple

What I used to do is journal during those times.I would write everything that I would be saying during sessions.I even wrote what I thought my T would say in response.It helped!

Actually,I still do it,and I haven't gone to a session in about a year and 1/2.

That sounds great idea. I would try it. Thank you!

[ABC1357]

Originally Posted by LadyShadow

What I do in between sessions is actually come here and vent. PyschCentral has been a God send and it has helped me very much when I am without my therapist.

So keep posting, and remember we are here!

This is indeed nice community. Thank you for the idea.

[ABC1357]

Originally Posted by FairyLeaf

I try to make myself a schedule where I plan activities or things to do. It could be something easy and simple as watching a show or a movie, at least I know I have something going on for that time for that day.

You could see if there is any free events or things you can go to, that way the time for your next session will go by fast. Keep busy.

That is what I normally do. It's hard but in the end some things I wouldn't have done if I had a session, so it sorta forces me to do something.

I would try it. That's true. Better to keep ourselves busy.

[annielovesbacon]

I keep a journal, and every time I think of something that makes me say, "Wow, I wish I could say this to T right now..." I write it down. Then, when I finally get to have a session again, I review what I wrote right before and tell my T about the important things I wish I could have told her.
This is a little crazy (but I'm a little crazy, lol), but when I'm alone I will pretend to have a conversation with T. I talk aloud what I would say to her and imagine what she would say to me. It's helpful sometimes when I know exactly how she would respond, but sometimes it's just how I wish she would respond or sometimes I don't even know how she would respond at all, so it ends up making me feel worse. So, that's a hit or miss.

I use to just struggle through. Not realising then, that it was in the struggle, where the connection lay.
I don't struggle now. It gets better.

[MBM17]

_Mouse, what do you mean?

As for me,
ugh.
When I realized it'd be 2.5 weeks without a session, at first I was super super upset and panicked. Then I decided I'd cut some of the bond between me and my therapist, to cut the reliance so it wouldn't hurt so badly. I'm pretty sure this was the unhealthy way to manage it? But it kinda worked?
I've been trying to write stuff out. That's my go-to coping skill during this break.

ABC1357, how are you holding up?

[ABC1357]

Originally Posted by MBM17

As for me,
ugh.
When I realized it'd be 2.5 weeks without a session, at first I was super super upset and panicked. Then I decided I'd cut some of the bond between me and my therapist, to cut the reliance so it wouldn't hurt so badly. I'm pretty sure this was the unhealthy way to manage it? But it kinda worked?
I've been trying to write stuff out. That's my go-to coping skill during this break.

ABC1357, how are you holding up?

It's been quite hard. Having all anxiety, depression etc. itself is hard, but holding it inside and dealing with it alone is even harder. Journaling and talking back helps. I also contacted suicide prevention online chat once, when I get extremely unstable and suicidal. I'm trying to spend as much time just sleeping, but I have insomnia... It's been already three weeks. One more week till next session...