[wotchermuggle]

How long did it take for you to share your abuse history with your therapist? How did you go about it?

[Mama Char-Lee]

As of this coming Wednesday, umm... *counts down the years* ...technically 27 years? I have an appointment, and I'm crossing my fingers that it goes alright. I think this place (psyche central) has helped a little bit. I think it's easier to write than to speak, especially when I can't physically say these things without breaking down into a choked up mess whenever I try.

*edit* I "went about it" because I had to sign a waiver at the hospital saying that I promised not to kill myself and that I would follow up with the psychiatrist they appointed to me this past Friday. It's been a rough week.

[wotchermuggle]

Originally Posted by Mama Char-Lee

As of this coming Wednesday, umm... *counts down the years* ...technically 27 years? I have an appointment, and I'm crossing my fingers that it goes alright. I think this place (psyche central) has helped a little bit. I think it's easier to write than to speak, especially when I can't physically say these things without breaking down into a choked up mess whenever I try.

*edit* I "went about it" because I had to sign a waiver at the hospital saying that I promised not to kill myself and that I would follow up with the psychiatrist they appointed to me this past Friday. It's been a rough week.

I just wanted to encourage you not to feel forced into sharing any abuse history. I was sort of pushed by a former therapist and it did not help in the slightest. You should be able to go at your own pace. Good luck.

Anyone else want to share their experience?

[healed84]

I think it took about 5 or 6 months to share.

T asked.. I answered honestly. It was the first time I had ever answered the question honestly. It took me sometime from there to actually talk about it in details, but I am getting better at opening up and sharing more and more each session.

[Butterflies Are Free]

I shared at my intake because I was joining an adult survivors support group. That was over 15 years ago and that group T is now my current T. But don't share until you feel you are ready...

Last week was the very first time in my entire life that I had ever revealed one word about my 'situation' to any member of the psychiatric profession. I actually think I said what would amount to a couple of paragraphs.

I wonder if this is why my chart reads "unwilling, difficult patient?"

Babysteps,

-Fleeing Bellocq

[Little Me]

I'm thinking about joining a group but don't know if I will be ok to do that. Sounds so encouraging you have been a part of one. I started with a group 2 years ago but it was more of a skills group and after 1 year I never had any connection to anyone other than the 2 therapists that I loved. I miss them but need more support. I haven't had any luck finding anything so far. It has to be a woman's group though.

[skeksi]

Once I finally got into therapy (many years after the abuse happened), it took just a few weeks to admit that *something* happened. Then the details trickled out over the course of a couple of years.

There are no words for what a relief it was to finally unburden myself of what happened. It's not easy to live with it, but sharing made me feel a lot less shame.

I saw a therapist in college and talked about the physical abuse and kind of hinted at the sexual abuse. The college T point blank asked about the sexual abuse at one point, but I balked at discussing it. Therapy in college was only for two semesters.

I started therapy again about two and a half years ago. We were a solid year and a half, almost two years into therapy before I started talking about the sexual abuse. We are still discussing it only sporadically.

[lrt1978]

It took me about a year before I said anything

It came up whilst doing a thought sheet for therapy I couldn't tell her I had to write it down on a piece of paper and had it to her, I still find it very hard to say the words out loud

[Mama Char-Lee]

Well, I went to the therapist today. Didn't accomplish much, other than answering a few awkward questions and going over medical history and all that jazz. He wants to refer me to a psychiatrist that works almost an hour away from where I live. I don't know if I'm that emotionally invested in myself to drive over an hour to pay more money than I can afford to babble to a complete stranger about my miserable past. All they'll do is throw more drugs at me, and even though this Vistaril seems to help, I'm not digging being put back on antidepressants (or any drugs for that matter). I would just like these massive anxiety attacks to stop but he said that my coping mechanisms quit...basically, he told me exactly everything I already knew.

I know this was just a preliminary meeting and that I wouldn't get much accomplished. I certainly didn't walk in there with any misconceptions of leaving "cured." I don't think there is a cure, unless they start bringing back the icepick lobotomies. After thinking it over and looking at the bigger picture, I will probably feel this way regardless of who I talk to, sooooo...why should I bother? If they can't "fix" this mess my brain is in, and it's something I'm going to have to live with, why should I waste the money and gas and time?

Sorry, I'm just in a dark funk, trying to hash out my brain matter and make sense of all of this.

[Nammu]

My first T knew before I did. I was going because my ex was abusing me and I needed to leave him. But at the time I was having flashbacks and alters, losing time, disassociating and just in general not doing to well although if any one had asked me, I would have said my life was "fine". I was the most clueless one around.

After that, it depends on the T, some of them I never told or talked about it with them. Others were easier to be with and "safer" whatever that is for you. I've known people who can call T's and tell them their background history and ask if it's something that they could deal with, it's different for each person and every relationship between a client and T. My current T I think I may have told her the broad outlines minus details when I started, it took a few months to establish a relationship before I got to the details but there are things I've never yet talked about with anyone.

I wish you luck and a good match with your T.

I think I hinted at the physical abuse at my first session. It probably took 18 months or so to even hint at the sexual abuse, and it was 3 years before I really opened up and about the worst parts.

There is a lot still left unsaid. I want to feel like I've told "enough" but I'm not sure I'm there.

It was so hard - SO HARD - but it honestly is a relief to not be alone with it any more after SO many years.

[geez]

It took me about 5 sessions before I spilled the beans. When I made the appointment initially and saw her I told her I just needed to get some things off my chest. I felt comfortable with her instantly but was afraid to tell her what I wanted to say. I felt so relieved when I told her and she is still my T and that was 4 years ago. I'm still processing some of the abuse. I have CPTSD/ trauma.