[MoxieDoxie]

cause you to feel like serious crap the next day?

For once in my 7 year of therapy finally someone asked me to discuss my 10 year abusive oppressive first marriage (not one therapist every talked about the battered wife syndrome symptoms and the after effects after escaping) and then we talked about my mother, I went zero contact with her 20 years ago, and her possible undiagnosed mental illness.

That night I could not stop the flooding of feelings and different snippets of images of events which led to me being in a child part today and struggling.

[precaryous]

Im sorry, that sounds very difficult and painful.

I don’t know how to explain it well, but this happens to me, too. Discussing trauma in therapy can take me right back to the traumas and intense feelings. Afterward, I feel depressed, agitated and can think of new aspects of the trauma(s) and even new questions I have about them since sometimes I’m seeing the traumatic events from a different perspective.

It’s like grief- Kubler-Ross wrote of the stages of grief. But there is no order to the stages and we may go through similar stages several times before we reach a resolution.

I think trauma memories/feelings/details behave in a similar way. They take you *back there.* again.

[susannahsays]

The therapist I see has said before that talking about stuff sometimes makes it feel more real than when you're keeping it inside.

[FearLess47]

Originally Posted by MoxieDoxie

cause you to feel like serious crap the next day?

For once in my 7 year of therapy finally someone asked me to discuss my 10 year abusive oppressive first marriage (not one therapist every talked about the battered wife syndrome symptoms and the after effects after escaping) and then we talked about my mother, I went zero contact with her 20 years ago, and her possible undiagnosed mental illness.

That night I could not stop the flooding of feelings and different snippets of images of events which led to me being in a child part today and struggling.

Hi MoxieDoxie,

This is quite common. I have heard it called it a "therapy hangover." It can feel exhausting, exposing, confusing and a bit scary. Especially when the "stuff under the stuff" is finally discussed.

Many therapists might say this is a good sign, as it means the real work has begun. Be extra sure to take care of yourself during these times...rest, lots of fluid, compassion and a sense of curiosity. But also make sure you are somewhat cautious, that you feel comfortable with your provider and that you communicate when things go too fast, feel unsafe or are too overwhelming. There can be a tendency to want to "rip the bandaid off" but in the case of long term trauma...a gentle step-by-step approach can often be more effective in the long run.

It is also very courageous for you to be willing to open up about all of this.


FearLess47