New to process, have concerns about my last session...

[MistiLuna33]

Hi, I am new to this forum & have what might be a weird question I'm not sure...

I have recently been diagnosed with PTSD and also sustained additional trauma about 2 weeks ago, a very stressful and potentially life-threatening event. In my therapy this past week there was heavy concentration on reliving fear-based feelings and connecting them to the body. It almost felt like relentless interrogation. I found this to be really overwhelming but didn't process until the next day what had happened.

I woke up feeling like something was missing, and I realized the body part which I had identified in the session being connected to fear (the stomach) now has no feeling associated with it at all. Also my head feels very empty, like a void or something, and my thoughts seem to be originating from another location in my brain. Did my circuits get fried? What has happened, does anyone know? I didn't know something like this could happen with talk therapy and I feel injured...

 

[Tinyflame]

Overwhelm and numbness?

Welcome to you.

 

[Crow]

Sounds like you're doing a form of somatic experiencing therapy. If so, you did too much and those areas of your body went into collapse. You should probably call your therapist and give a heads up so she'll know before your next session. Some of us require a slower pace.

 

[MistiLuna33]

Thank you @Junebug & @CrowFeather for responding so quickly... I do have overwhelm and numbness a lot but this seems more extreme; it is hard to describe-- I hope the situation is reversible my next appt isn't for 2 weeks so maybe this will start to go back to normal. ( or what is normal for me)

 

[Crow]

If you're comfortable with it, sit quietly and imagine breathing into each area. While you're doing that, literally talk out loud and tell that part that you're safe, it's safe, that whatever it is scared of happened long ago, and whatever else comes to mind that is comforting.

This is not unusual. Even if the numbness lasts until next session, it totally isn't permanent. So try not to worry.