Post appointment sadness

[Punky143]

It can take hours, sometimes even days to regulate back from the trauma work done in session. I never really have much time to think about it before I'm thrown into the million other things I do. What seems to be an ongoing feeling for some of my parts is this intense sadness. Ashamed by how I feel. Ashamed of how I must look when another part takes control. It's questions after questions from different parts and different perceptions of what was said. And I have no one to talk to or relate to after session and it's both physically and mentally draining to continuously reassure them. My t and I are working on building places for each part so they have a place of their own. For my entire life they have always floated around never having a spot to call home. I have to go

 

[Freida]

My therapy usually knocks me on my ass for about 24 hours - so I've learned just to call it a day off and binge some netflix

 

[Skywatcher]

Mine hits me the day after. I didn’t think that I had anything to process this week after emdr. I was wrong. Driving to work was a “lovely” ride of discovery and horror. My T replied to my email. That helped some.

 

[somerandomguy]

I have to go back to work after therapy and most days I really don't get anything done. I just sit and process and websurf. At least now I have a private office so in theory no one knows how unproductive I am.

 

[Harmonics]

It can take hours, sometimes even days to regulate back from the trauma work done in session. I never...

That post-therapy hangover. Yup...after every difficult session. I either take time off work, delay going into work until I feel ready (I have a flexible schedule), or tell T that we can't do anything difficult because I have to be present for work after the session. The first time it happened was after a really difficult session. I went to work and was out of it. Thankfully, it was shortly before Christmas and I had cards to write for work. That seemed to help ground me. I really couldn't do anything else that day. After that, I just planned to be out of the office after therapy. A large chunk of my therapy day is blocked out on my calendar at work so no meeting requests come in during that time. Occasionally the hangover lasts longer. Then I have to really focus on self-care so I can continue to function. For me, functioning is a big deal. I used to be on disability (I have medical issues as well) and just last year, I finished college and started a good job. I don't want to mess that up in any way, shape, or form. As far as self care, I have used guided meditation, journaling, coloring, playing piano, knitting, and even just setting aside some time to sit with my feelings for a while (in a private, safe place with a timer so I can't get too lost in the past). In my journal, you can find post therapy descriptions that talk about feeling kind of stunned and like the wind has been knocked out of me. I am learning to pay attention to that and know that means more self-care is needed to recover.