Couch 181: The Symmetrical Couch

Me: I'm mad at you!

Seriously don't hold back. Better out than in as Shrek says.

I dare you to show it to her when you're done.

Thank you!

I didn't buy a full orange one as those were too big and priced at £2.60 a kilo. The one I bought was a teeny 350g green pumpkin that looked more like a pepper than anything but was only £0.85p a kilo.

I saved the stuff from the inside and will make soup with it.

Cat Rule number 1: Never underestimate your pet.

I hope you're feeling better soon.

Do you watch the original British one or the other one?

The OTHER one? Is that what America has become now? The OTHER one?!

I just figured this out. You guys had an earthquake?

I went to the doctor today because I've been feeling ectopic heartbeats and I've been feeling breathless. I also met with someone whose service dog (trained to detect high levels of cortisol in people for use of people with adrenal problems) started barking at me , signalling its owner, which was a bit worrying.
My doctor thinks its anxiety attacks. Which makes sense. I think therapy has been too much lately. Other areas in my life aren't particularly causing me stress though I am having a lot of trouble concentrating on things and feeling motivated to do things. I am ignoring messages, failing to do washing, overeating, things like that. Think I need to slow down with the therapy stuff.

Sometimes less is more, slowing down if you feel it's not going well sounds like it might be a good idea.

I started my SSRI medication a few days ago, so far no side effects (besides a bit of a headache, but not too bad).

I told Info I was taking a break. I’m tired of driving 25 miles one way to have an experience I find unpleasant at the best of times even with better therapists that with her usually comes with a bonus of frustration and aggravation.

Of course she’ll probably think it’s me trying to keep her away, like pretty much everything I say in criticism of her in there.

I think breaks are a good idea. Therapy was never pleasant for me - it ranged from somewhat neutral to incredibly frustrating. I truly do not understand (which is not the same as criticize or deny it is possible for others) the descriptions of therapy as something one would look forward to doing. For me it was always a girding of loins to endure something that was going to range from unpleasant to awful.

I think I might have to think about taking a break without taking a break. That is to say, my attachment to him is such that not seeing him would cause additional stress (quite a bind) but also continuing the way we are is going to burn me out.

Can you try switching to something "lighter" for a bit? Usually for me that means talking about something important but less emotionally laden, like an annoying thing in my marriage I would like to handle better or some present-day anxiety. After a couple of sessions of that, I'm often ready to get back into heavy stuff about my past or my self-perception. My T is also usually pretty good about helping me regulate the intensity of the session if I tell her that I feel like therapy is making me struggle too much in my everyday life. Then I still get the pleasure of seeing her and doing productive therapy work without feeling like I've been run over by a truck.

I think that's what I am getting at with "take a break without taking a break".

I often pressure myself to get my money's worth from therapy but actually I think that I ought to view a couple of lighter sessions as worthwhile too. I kind of just want to hang out with him for an hour tomorrow.

Thanks LT. I stayed at my parents and I told my Mom how I was feeling. I went to bed really early (like 6 PM) and just slept. My Mom came and checked on me through the night and I was able to stay safe. I am going to call the PDOC because my appointment is still 3 weeks away and I don't feel very well at all. Thanks for the hugs. Kit.

Grandpa is getting closer to . He is no longer eating or drinking. So it is just a matter of time. He is almost 90 years old. If he makes it to November 18th he will be 90 years old, but I don't think he is going to make it to his birthday. We were going to have a party for him early but he just is very out of it and not real lucid. It's really sad. Kit.

Noooooooooo. I will always picture America as Jo's America from Little women, but my heart belongs to Seattle.

I will always picture the UK as Black Adder's Britain from Black Adder.

My Mom just called me at work and Grandpa passed away this morning. We knew he was close but now it's happened. Kit.

I‘m sorry for your loss.

Which incarnation?

Sorry Kit

((SK))

Oh, Info...when a client says they need a break from you as therapist, don’t come back with “therapy can bring up painful things.”

It’s not therapy. It’s you.

Thanks for the hugs everyone. That means a lot. Kit.