Genuinely Wish To Know About Therapy Length.

[maria]

Anni,

Why not ask your therapist? I asked mine this morning, and he said I'm not malingering. Believe me, it's rare to have an entire sentence with unambiguous meaning come out of his mouth.

Personally I think you and I have better things to worry about than someone else's opinion of how long we should be in therapy.

Take care,
Maria

 

[Tija]

'Onebravegirl-It is not a race Anni. It is a journey. It is not about speed, length of time, but endurance. Learning to be kind and patient with yourself will help both you and you family.
Please try and not "should" on yourself, its like walking with rocks in your boots. You have strengths already and appreciating them will help you see how far you have traveled.
O '​

Onebravegirl. Just want to say that your comment helped me today. Thank you!
Tija

 

[Monarch]

totally not a race, Anthony is a wonderful person but also very analytical and those type of people tend to be a little cut and dry. I have been in therapy for almost 5 years, we sometimes go back to the trauma stuff but most of the time now we are talking about things that are going on in my life right now. It isn't always about the past which is awesome.

 

[Claire]

Hello Anni, I personally think the length of time is different for everyone. What I would question though is this, is the therapist you are seeing now helping you get the results you want? You mention a list of symptoms that you still have. I think its not important the time its taking if what you are doing is still bringing results. If its not, I'd change my therapist although I know that's a frightening thought.

 

[anni]

It's really clear, I think, that everyone who has posted lovely replies is extremely aware of what is going on with their own healing. That is progress in and of itself, it seems to me. It is a knee-jerk reaction with me to accept and internalize facts and stats on subjects where others have much more expertise than me, especially when it pertains to PTSD. This makes me a big fat marshmallow, I know. If I were less reactive I'd have been able to ascertain for myself that all analysis has variables in the final figures. Something as mecurial as PTSD would no doubt have an enourmous amount of variables. I did need to hear it, however, from others less mallow-like.

In point of fact, I joined the forum awhile after my therapist retired because I knew I had to get myself back to therapy but didn't have the stuffing to make the dam phone call. A few months later I have numbers and referrals but still haven't managed to make that stupid call. This thread of course will force the issue for me so thank you to everyone who replied.Believe me, I know that often the only way around a trigger is to put your head down and plow through it.
This would be one of those times.

Hearing all this has been so much appreciated- you have no idea! So please also take care,

Anni

 

[ISupportHer]

:) Fear/shame/guilt/dread is smudged all over the lense through which I tend to view the world.

Ever read posts and one phrase sticks out and kind of means something to you? These few words do for me today. Not trying to be trite. It just seemed like a good way to describe it. AND a good example of how we as individuals can help each other here without maybe even trying or being aware you HAVE!

For me, this will be my thought for the day. In a positive way for me, I mean. That I need to maybe clean my glasses. Metaphorically speaking, LOL

ISH

 

[bonnecanyon]

Sometimes, daily life and simply gaining skills to cope can delay the actual trauma work....

This is exactly where I'm at right now.

BC

 

[gdf]

I have to agree--daily life does get in the way of working on the actual trauma. Some times life is just running around putting out fires that threaten to ignite at our feet. We all find our own way and method to heal. A professor shared a phrase on line in her bio that I really liked--I stuck it by my desk:

"If you can look up, you can get up."

It just takes some of us a little longer to struggle to our feet than others. But we get there.

Gina

 

[onebravegirl]

Not all progress is visible. The everyday stuff is a part of the reality of life. It can help us stay grounded. It is also a way of measuring the degree of your coping skills.
"Life goes on"-THANK GOODNESS.
O