How long after a therapy session do you feel low?

[BoyfriendqwithPTSD]

Hi everyone.

My so has had about 4 therapy session in the course of nearly 2 months. He hasn’t been able to go every week. Sometimes he has 3 weeks in between therapy.

I have realized that he is quite symptomatic and low in mood for a couple of weeks after therapy. I know the PTSD symptoms can get worse after a therapy session. My question is, can the effects of a therapy session hold on for ‘as long’ as 3 weeks?

Maybe a bit of a silly question but my so has been a lot worse in terms of moods, symptoms, fatigue and so much more after he has started therapy.

Thanks everyone x

 

[UnicornSightings]

What are his thoughts about it? Does he feel it’s helping him or does he see a point to it?

 

[Swift]

Hey. I'm not a supporter, but I'm a PTSD-haver.
Is therapy new to your boyfriend?
If so, it's pretty understandable that a three-week hangover is happening.
Sometimes I struggle to put things back in their box after therapy.
3 weeks is a long time, though, especially if it's every time.
When I was new to therapy, I really don't know much because I was so dissociated, but now it takes a coupla days to settle down.
Seriously, take care of yourself. He may be angry (yelling and swearing), or sad (melancholy, crying), jumpy

 

[Swift]

Whoops. Sorry.
I definitely notice an up-tick in my symptoms after therapy. Still.
I hope you're looking after yourself and doing things for you. Idk how to phrase this, but thankyou.

 

[EveHarrington]

I think the effects could last that long?

For me it used to mean a few days of sleep. Now I just need the rest of the day to decompress. Of course I’ve been in therapy for a long time now.

 

[Justmehere]

For me, when I first started therapy, symptoms didn’t spike after every session, but spiked overall for an extended period of time.

Is it his choice to go once every 2-3 weeks? Many people start off once a week, and then it can vary from there. He may benefit from going weekly to help stabilize in light of the predictable symptom spike. I had to do some sessions on the trauma, which stirred up symptoms, and some on symptom management, which calms them down.

 

[Still Standing]

Mine can last for a week. It depends on how much they have been processed. If he is in session so few times, he may only have enough time to touch on them and then he comes home with much of his trauma not resolved properly. I know, I can swim in my trauma memories for quite a while. And some people progress faster than others. He may need time to hash the trauma out before it burns itself down to a manageable level. But, it seems that he would benefit to having his therapy spaced closer together than he currently is doing.

 

[BoyfriendqwithPTSD]

@UnicornSightings I wouldn’t think he feels like it is helping him at the moment as he is still early in to the process. However he is going to feel better and to learn how to cope. I’m not sure if he has done calming methods yet, but he is starting EMDR in a few weeks.

@Swift thanks for your reply and sharing. He is early on still. He’s had 4 session (I’d say that’s still pretty early on in the process?). He had felt very down after each session with his symptoms getting worse. The awful thing is that he has a therapy hangover and then has another session.. which also creates a therapy hangover so.. it feels like he’s in that state often.

I’m also doing a lot for myself now, meeting new friends and making an effort to be myself and enjoy my own life. It is helping me, but as he has been my partner for long I do find myself thinking of many things and just wondering ‘how common is this with other PTSD sufferers’

@EveHarrington @Justmehere @Still Standing
Thanks for your replies and sharing. Due to work commitments he hasn’t been able to go every week, however his therapist has firmly said that when they do EMDR, he will have to go on a weekly basis. I have noticed his mood is a lot lower than it was before therapy. He stated himself that some things he had forgotten about but had to re experience in therapy hence he now has ‘another thing stuck on his mind’.

He also feels like there is a lack of excitement in his life. He doesn’t like his job, he has questionable friends, he has had the same routine for years, he finds our relationship stressful. He says that nothing excites him anymore and he feels ‘extremely empty’ and like he doesn’t know what he is doing with life.

He has almost always had this need for newness/excitement in his life otherwise he starts feeling extremely low. Anyone else with PTSD who can relate?

Thanks for all replies, support and wanting to share experiences. It means the world.

 

[Still Standing]

Yes. I can only speak for myself. I would prefer to be having fun or doing something that is interesting, creative, or enjoyable. It keeps my mind occupied and distracted from the depression that keeps me locked into a dark place. The normal everyday responsibilities, routines and tasks just add pressure to be and look normal. I hide behind and in the ever-changing things that are fun and ever-changing. It is the stimulation of pleasure that pulls me out, temporarily, from the depression and memories.

 

[BoyfriendqwithPTSD]

moment as he is still early in to the process. However he is going to feel better and to learn how to cope. I’m not sure if he has done calming methods yet, but he is starting EMDR in a few

I meant: he is positive that it’ll make him feel better **

 

[Freida]

He may benefit from going weekly to help stabilize in light of the predictable symptom spike. I had to do some sessions on the trauma, which stirred up symptoms, and some on symptom management, which calms them down.

This was me ^^^^ Learning the coping skills was just as (if not more) important than the trauma work for the first year or so. I'm toast the day after -- but it can linger for a week or so.

but he is starting EMDR in a few weeks.

Batten down that hatches because EMDR is brutal. Chances are his symptoms will spike dramatically. I'm in isolation mode for a good 24 hours afterwards.

It's all for a good cause -- when it works it is nothing short of miraculous. But it is ugly. I think there are some threads around here on it -- you might want to take a look so you are prepared when he starts.

 

[Friday]

He’s had 4 session (I’d say that’s still pretty early on in the process?).

6 months, a couple sessions a week, is still pretty early in the process.