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I'm glad you reached out to your therapist. Please don't be reluctant to post. This is a great place to get support, even if you just want to vent. I'm sorry your therapist didn't have any openings to accommodate you, but offering you another tool that was helpful is a good thing. Talk with her...

I'm actually in the same situation right now. I'm doing EMDR and I've put off all of the most horrible memories, and now it's time to tackle those. I keep trying to avoid them, but my therapist sat down with me this week and we talked about me needing to do it. We figured out that I am scared of...

Hello, unfortunately in "talk therapy" (CBT, DBT, etc) you have to talk about the trauma. Talking about it over and over helps you to come to terms with it, normalize talking about it, and realize that you are not at fault and you cam work on a different perspective and heal. I had a really...

I can't cry. It wasn't safe to cry, not because it was 'weak'. It was because it made him more mad and I got hurt more. So now I don't cry. I fight it because it doesn't feel safe. I fight it and my voice gets hoarse and I hate it. I often worry that not being able to let out the emotions...

yep, me too. It's common, and it wears me out afterwards. I read that when we remember the traumas, our body is going through the same stress we went through when it happened. Don't know if that's true or not, but it makes sense and could explain the crap we feel with the memories.

You are doing great Skywatcher! It is hard. It's so hard to do this healing thing. It's ok that you need help. Please remember that you are worthy of support and help. You deserve to see your therapist extra when you are struggling. You don't have to 'white knuckle it' when you're having a hard...

What DharmaGirl said. And also... The absence of no does not mean yes. Consent needs to be clear, coherent, willing, and ongoing. There is no such thing as consensual sex or non-consensual sex. There is sex, or there is rape. Rape is not a type of sex. You wouldn't say breathing swimming or...

Yep, I'm doing it now, been doing it for some time. It works. This is what I said about it on a recent thread...

EMDR has helped me a lot. I started with the 'easier' memories and I got relief pretty quickly, several times in one session. Now, as we navigate the more intense trauma, it's a longer process. I'm always tired afterward, but when I finish and process a memory, I feel amazing. Have you done...

It was confirmation for me. I knew I had PTSD and I put off going to therapy for years. I don't feel negative about having the diagnosis, I feel negative about all of my symptoms and all I go through to deal with it.

I also read and heard that EMDR is best for single traumas and not so great for multiple or complex trauma. Nevertheless, I gave it a shot. I have 25 years of complex trauma and EMDR is working for me. My therapist is really good at trauma work and our approach is unique and tailored to me. I...

I did talk therapy for over a year and felt the same way. I felt I wasn't getting anywhere and it's so hard to talk about the traumas and made me feel worse. I'm now doing EMDR and have seen a lot of success and improvement. With EMDR there is very little talking, there is some. You have to name...

This is the best one I've ever heard. I'm going to throw some oranges in the freezer!

Yes, I was able to process that one memory in one 40 minute session. I've since gone on and done 2 "rooms" in that house that had many memories in them, all in single 45 minute sessions. I did a 4th "room", but it took 3 sessions and had a bit more memories. I'm now working on another area that...

When I first learned I had PTSD, I didn't know what to think. Now I think of PTSD as an injury, or even more as my body's response to what happened to me. I don't tell anyone I have PTSD because of the stigma and literally no one would believe me or understand. I certainly don't tell people I...

What DharmaGirl said. Since starting EMDR, I get tired and want to do nothing. The talk therapy didn't hit me like that, but some days it wore me out. My therapist always tells me as I'm leaving to rest, do self care, and to remember my tools to help myself if needed.

Hi C12 and welcome. I'm going to say the obvious first. I'm not a doctor, but I do work in the medical field, and you should definitely go and get your chest pain checked because you may be having cardiac issues. That being said, yes, this is also a "symptom" of PTSD and even stress. The...

Hello, I am fortunate that I don't disassociate around others very much, or for very long, but when I do I tell them things like, "Oh, sorry. I spaced out for a bit. I have slept much lately." or "My brain is tired from lack of sleep." or even that I'm having an off day. We shouldn't have to...

When your coworkers tell you that you're making a mistake by finding another job, don't they realize that you are losing the job you have now? And even if you are able to retain your current job, can you ever really trust them after what they did and how they did it? I mean, are you kidding...

Yes, exactly what I was planning. It's not to smooth things over with him. It's to help me be less stressed about it coming up and having to deal with it and any backlash that will most likely occur. I'm not in a place emotionally where I feel ok with dealing with that crap. Yes!!! I agree...

There is definitely a problem here. This "therapist" doesn't listen to you. That alone is horrible, but add in the ridiculous fact that they defended your abuser or people who have traumatized you? That is absolutely unacceptable in any situation. You are feeling the red flags and second...

Thank you all for the suggestions. They are very helpful!! I've decided to write out something simple, short, and to the point and have it handy so I can just read it if I need to while I'm on the phone with my brother. Letting him know ahead of time will help me feel better about it as well...

Thank you StartingFire. No, they haven't asked to come over, but they would assume, since that's what is the norm. I'm just trying to figure out the right words and the way to say them to keep them away. I appreciate your suggestion.

Your description sounds like a good reason to me. Write it out and read it if you have to, but tell your therapist what's going on and what's bothering you. It doesn't matter if it makes sense or not, it's what you need help with right now, and that is exactly why we go to therapy.

Hello, my brother and his wife are coming to visit from the other side of the country. They mainly want to visit our Mom who is assisted living near me. I do not want them to come to my house or visit with me in my house. I don't want to spend any time with them, but I probably will not be able...