Therapy hangover

[SinkorSwim]

I struggle with being useless after therapy. I come home after every therapy session and lay in bed so exhausted. There are things that need to get done like my new summer class starts tonight online. I should really be looking at stuff I need to get done by Saturday. Instead I'm laying in bed feeling exhausted from all my thoughts during therapy. My therapist says I need to let things process and take the night off if I need to. I just can't give myself a night off without feeling guilty for not being productive. How can I go about helping my view on this?

 

[piratelady]

I’ve noticed I’m the same way for about a day. I’ve started trying to give myself that night to just ponder stuff and by the next morning I’m better usually.

 

[Justmehere]

In training for sports, one has to have regular rest and recovery periods as part of training for the sport.

In therapy, same kind of thing.

It’s not really time away from being productive, but rather giving your brain the best chance to work through things the most productively.

 

[MrMoonlight]

I just got back for therapy and am feeling the hangover hard...with migraine right now. I'm always completely wiped the day of and the day after therapy emdr or otherwise. I am lucky in that I have the ability to spend time processing and resting without too much concern. I know what you mean thought about giving yourself a break. Go easy on yourself and know that you can't possibly get everything done within the hour of your appointment. You absolutely need the down time no matter what your brain tells you.

I'm currently behind closed door, in pajamas lying in bed about to decompress with some netflix. Today was particularly difficult in therapy as we dove into a new topic for me, domestic violence, stalking, mental abuse..etc.

 

[Friday]

I just can't give myself a night off without feeling guilty for not being productive. How can I go about helping my view on this?

Use something you already use, like exercise. Push too hard and you don’t get stronger, you break yourself.

 

[somerandomguy]

Yeah this describes me, too. Unfortunately I have to go back to work after my T appointments and I never get anything done. No one's noticed so far ....

 

[SinkorSwim]

Use something you already use, like exercise. Push too hard and you don’t get stronger, you break your...

This is very true. Obviously I'm bad at resting lol! I think I might find something on TV to distract me rather than just laying and ruminating in my guilty thoughts.

In training for sports, one has to have regular rest and recovery periods as part of training for th...

Great analogy! I broke my hip last year while running because I didn't rest myself properly. I see it is necessary now.

 

[Joan]

Therapy and working towards getting better is hard work. What about viewing it as another class? It is a huge part of what you need right now and requires a lot of energy and time. Giving yourself time to rest after I think in the long run will give you more energy for those other things you need/want to do. take sweet care of yourself.

 

[EveHarrington]

Well you could always just keep pushing yourself and crash so that you learn by experience!

Except if you’re like me, you do this a million times and still don’t learn your lesson. Lol.

 

[SinkorSwim]

I am still struggling today. My mind is going in a hundred directions. I was afraid of this. I think I tend to process things too long and can't let them go. I feel like I got hit by a bus and I can't keep my eyes open.