Long Term Therapy A Waste?

[Changing4Best]

I have been in therapy for a dozen years or so. I only need to go once a month now. That works for me now, although when I started I needed several times a week.

 

[Digz]

I think if the way she is talking to you, responding to you, your life and your symptoms is not what you would like, you have two choices -
1. Tell her so. Be very honest and say - "I felt like I shouldn't tell you about what happened to my dog because... .... I know you want me to progress, I want to progress more than anything, but this is how you are making me feel...". If this doesn't help the situation and things aren't working any better, then I think you need to look seriously at option 2, which is a new therapist. It might simply be that this therapist is not the right 'fit' for you. I saw a therapist that I found just to be too harsh and I didn't respond well to her. I would just find myself being pissed off after therapy, most of the time.
Long term therapy with the right therapist, or therapists, over time should help you get back into your life. But a therapist can't just shove you into it or talk harshly to you by claiming your having a 'pity party' to get you back into that life. In my opinion, they need to help you address the issues that are making you shy away from it and while they are doing that they can encourage you and help you set realistic goals... e.g. this week I will go to... You've got to take it one step at a time.

 

[Rumors]

Gotta tell you, I think you are incredibly brave to go into therapy. If I lost my son, I am not sure I could go on. You are strong beyond words. I really hope you are able to work this out with your T or find someone you might click better with. I think the greatest honor you can give to your sons memory is finding peace. He would be proud... Sending HUGE hugs your way and loads of support.

 

[PTSD NON VETERAN mom]

Thank you for your responses. I have been seeing my therapist for almost a year. She has labeled my flashbacks as psychotic episodes.
I missed my appointment this week so she is probably concerned about what's going on with our therapy after last week. I need to be open and more honest next week. Just taking things one day at a time...

 

[SeaQuel]

I think that's an excellent way to proceed. There are others here with a lot more experience with this stuff than me, but I don't consider therapy, particularly trauma therapy which is inherently a slow process, to be "long term" in a mere one year period. You have been through A LOT, and I have found it is very important to not go too fast in therapy or you could risk retraumatization or increased symptoms (i.e. flashbacks). For this reason, I think it's great that you are going to try be more how open about how you're feeling so your therapist can gauge how fast or slow to go. No idea about the characterization of certain flashbacks as "psychotic episodes"... that doesn't sound right to me, but I'm no expert.

 

[rightkindofme]

I've been in therapy for 30 years. Heh.

Ok, so it has been off and on. When I'm in good phases I try to maintain a once-a-month-check-in policy with a therapist. I'm chronic, which is good and bad. It means I need to always have treatment options in place and immediately available. It's bad because I'm in treatment a lot.

But! I make progress. Folks who have known me since middle school are very impressed with how far I've come. They take the time to specifically acknowledge what behaviors have improved. Yay!

I stay in therapy because life is hard. Life is traumatic. I start out with a stacked deck for needing help with processing the difficulties of life *AND* less support than average. So yeah, I stay in therapy.

But I need different kinds and quantities of therapy at different times. That's ok too.

 

[shimmerz]

I need to get my life back on track

if you are not telling her everything you can't be shocked if she makes this call. However, if she knows about what is happening in your life now, plus the tremendous grief you must be feeling this statement not supportive at all. If you are suffering from dissociation every day then of course you isolate. It is impossible not to isolate while dealing with chronic dissociative episodes.

My mother called and asked me how I can stand doing nothing day after day

Really? The ignorance of people shouldn't surprise me anymore. It does, but it shouldn't.

I am hiding flashbacks, dissociation and other symptoms from her so she feels like I'm progressing

It is not your job to protect your therapists ego.

It sounds to me like you need more supportive people in your life. You can only gather support when you are totally honest with those who support you and not being open to those who are not. So are you not being open to your therapist because she isn't supportive or is your therapist not supportive because you aren't being totally honest?

I would also talk to your therapist about your meds. I am sorry, but I don't buy into (as others have stated) that flashbacks are psychotic.