Therapy

Hi Everyone,

Need some advice please?

I wrote a while back about some help i needed:
https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=19&p=1&m=2240979#m2264335

I need some further advise again.
I'm currently in therapy. However, I'm having a really hard time talking. I usually don't like talking about myself since I usually keep everything to myself on the inside.
I know that the only way my therapist can help me is if I talk but I'm not sure why I can't. It's been three months since I've started and most of my sentences to her are one (1) word answers. She has to ask me specific questions to get answers.

Sometimes I really feel horrible and hopeless but not sure how to tell my therapist this. There have been small improvements since I've started but I still feel hopeless.  and I feel as if I'm moving backwards. Most of the time I feel like giving up on life and letting go.
Not sure what to do anymore.

Has anyone every been in therapy? How were you able to talk and tell your therapist how you're feeling?
Is there another way or something I can try that would help me talk?
Should I write down a list and give to my therapist? What should I put on the list?
Should I do a journal on my feelings for her?

I would really appreciate any help and advice you can provide me with.

Thank you all in advance.

Post Edited By Moderator (getting by) : 2/22/2012 9:22:37 AM (GMT-7)

Hi there,

I think you are on the right track. Journaling really helps, and carrying a list of things to the counselor helps too. I often do that, because my mind will go blank if I don't.

I had to take out once sentence in your post because we can't talk about self harm, but I think that is important to talk to your counselor about. Please tell her what you are doing. That is the one way to get help with it.

I really hope that you start to feel better soon. I really do believe you are on the right track.

Hugs, Karen

Hi Everyone,

Jim: I am comfortable with my therapist. She makes me feel comfortable. I think it's just me. I don't trust anyone after being hurt and deceived by the one person who I trusted.

Karen: It's okay. I understand the reason for removing the line...

Everyone: Thanks for the advice. I think I will try writing since sometimes what I can't tell someone, I may tell them via written message (phone, e-mail, etc).

I have my appointment tomorrow. Just hope we can move forward.

Thanks again everyone.

What you have written really struck a chord with me because I've experienced so much of the same things you are going through, one of which is difficulty in talking during therapy. I've been seeing the same therapist for 6 years and still have a hard time communicating. I agree with the others: a written list of thoughts and feelings that you could show your therapist is a big help. Another tool I use is a chart that my therapist put together. Every day I assign a number to my mood and check it on the chart. I take it with me every time I go. Sometimes I end up just handing my therapist the chart because I can't find words to describe what's been going on. It gives him something to work with at least.

Keep trying to find a way to communicate with your counselor. For me it (counseling) helped me to deal with my abortion. Have heart, it is possible to find healing with time.

Hi UA,

It sounds like you had a productive therapy session today. I am truly happy for that. Keep up the journaling. But make sure that instead of worrying about how you are feeling all the time, that you stop and take time to live. We can dwell on this too much and it makes us super sensitive to everything. Too much is not good.

But write other things in your journal such as what you did that day, you might find a pattern there.

Try not to feel guilty about your abortion, I know easier said than done. It is something you will work though. And you did what you felt was the best at that time. I know it is hard. But we can't change what we did. There is no sense in feeling guilty or anything like that.

I hope that you continue to feel better. It takes time... Be easy on yourself.

Hugs, Karen

I agree with you Karen. I guess it will just take time for me to change the feelings.

I'm trying to write a journal on a daily basis.
I'm also recording my feelings on a daily basis since they seem to vary each day as well as during the day. I"m also trying to keep track of what triggered it off.

Abby: A letter sounds like a good idea but when i think about it I feel scared and emotional. Not sure why.

Thanks

Thanks Karen

Thanks