Ever Reach End Of Session While Still In Flashback?

[LizBeth1]

Hi all,
Last week I happened to go into a supercharged flashback about halfway through my session. My T had an event to go to right after our session. When it became clear that the material that had come up was so charged that I wasn't very successfully "coming back," we went a little bit overtime and then had to end the session. We managed to get me partway back, but I was still fairly out of my body when I left (numb limbs, wobbly consciousness, etc.). The effects lasted several days... wobbling through the week.

Are there ethics about this, or is it just par for the course that sometimes you'll leave a session while in a trigger? I survived, but I didn't know if there were standards such as 'never allow a patient to leave the session if they are in an unsafe space' or anything like that.

What are your experiences w/this?

 

[SimplyComplex]

Im sorry you had such a strong flashback.

My T says she wishes she had a magic wand. She wont even go over (she is very firm with boundaries which I appreciate). I think if they think you are suicidal or homicidal, they will admit you. I know I have left feeling very low before and struggled through the week. I doubt it is unethical to let you go. Cause...somedays they wouldn't even be able to go home. So I think it is par for the course. I think if you feel like you need to go into the hospital for your safety, you could ask? If you struggled all week, your t cant keep you in their office all week.

I also think it is part of healing to walk out of those doors and learn to cope, deal, ask for help or do what you need to do between sessions.

 

[KP the nut]

Lizbeth I am sorry you had that experience. My sessions are 90 minutes, which is broken into 60 mins therapy and 30 mins ensuring I am back in the room. My T is great at guaging where I am and how long I need to come back.

Prior to begining T he made sure I had a safe place and taught me grounding techniques so he could guide me back. At the end of our session I was still not allowed to leave and had to wait for another 15 minutes to ensure I was spacially aware.

I wiah you well
KP

 

[LizBeth1]

Thanks, Simply and KP.

I can respect the boundaries of therapy and that the T needs to keep it to a limited time slot. KP, it sounds like your T is really good at working well within that time slot to make sure you're back and present.

I just remembered my T saying when we first met that it was important to ensure I was grounded when I left the office... so when I wasn't, and it was time to go, it was confusing. I'll have to ask her about it.

Thanks,
LB

 

[SimplyComplex]

Yeah I think it is something to talk about. I hope you are feeling better? It is really hard to have a flashback infront of someone, let alone having to walk out and struggle through the week. If you want to talk at all, I am in and out of chat and message me. I dont mind.

 

[LizBeth1]

Thanks SC! Appreciate it. I'm a bit better although I can tell there are a lot of inner children who want to express, and sometimes it happens in the most unsuspecting situations, and can sometimes throw a wrench in things. My concentration isn't very good now either. But I'm def better than I was last week!

 

[KP the nut]

. If you want to talk at all, I am in and out of chat and message me. I dont mind.

Same with me Lizbeth. I am pleased you are doing better this week.

((HUGS))
KP

 

[LizBeth1]

Thank you KP!

 

[Maryann]

Tried to post, hit the wrong button. Hope I don't post twice. Anyway, I like this thread! This has happened to me and it can be difficult to come back to the present! Even today in T my thoughts were all over the map jumping from past, to present to future with incomplete thoughts. They were flashing too quickly for my speech to make any sense (major dissociation). When session ended, but my thoughts continued, but the pace slowed down some and I was partially in the present. I set in my car a while to try to concentrate on the here and now before driving home. I'm sorry this happened to you. Especially for such a long period of time. I'm still learning how to manage my symptoms.

 

[LizBeth1]

Thanks Maryann. Sounds kinda scary! Esp if you had to drive. Your thought flashing is exactly what I am experiencing now; my brain cannot concentrate on anything for more than a minute or so. My T tells me that it means there's a lot going on internally and I can ask those parts of me to let me know what's going on so I can respond. That's kind of difficult too when the brain can't settle. She also said it may mean I need more sleep...
I hope you feel better!
LB