Ready To Quit Therapy

[Arctic]

It's not my T. she is solid.

It's me.

I dont feel like I am ready to start tackling the exposure stuff.
or maybe I want to avoid it all - or is there never a good time to start exposure therapy.

probably something I want to bring up?

 

[Tinyflame]

I imagine you need good coping mechanisms in place, ideally support and safety etc (there is a thread on that- the 3 conditions), and some hope to think it's possible to get better or want to change, and that you deserve to.

Best wishes to you, xo

 

[SimplyComplex]

Yeah, I would bring it up. I only want to quit when I am avoiding stuff that I need to be facing. Talk to t about coping skills...are you ready? Maybe make a list of what you have in place and what you think you are weak in and discuss it with T. But maybe (and this would be me) you are coming up with reasons to continue to avoid?

 

[doglover]

Feeling like you need to quit and then I saw your other thread where you feel like you're not being honest - it sounds like maybe you are on the verge of deciding to bite the bullet and face things but are scared too.

Agree with the idea to bring this up with your T.

 

[ronin47]

There's never a "good time" to start exposure. The longer you put it off the harder it will be.

Talk about that with your T. Talk about ways to get past that wall. For me and my T, it took some pushing on his part. I guess you could say he got a little confrontational at times, but that was exactly what I needed. Talk about how you can work as a team to help you get to the nitty gritty. And just keep telling yourself over and over again, "I will feel better afterward."

 

[Srain]

I have nothing to add except good luck and keep us posted.

Peace,
Rain

 

[Arctic]

Hi there,
My T does a good job at pushing. T has said I'm improving, I just don't see it. That's the whole ;distorted perception of reality; thing. Doglover, I think I'm chewing on the bullet, but now wanting to spit it out and not eat it more. You are right.

thanks gang for the support.
-Arctic

 

[Srain]

chewing on the bullet, but now wanting to spit it out and not eat it more.

That's a great analogy, that's about what it feels like each time I take the next step forward. The truth is, I have to trust my tdoc to go further each time and allow her to push me but it's frightening, then we talk about it a bit but I can wait and wait and before long years have rolled on by. Each person is different.

For me it's not easy but it's simple, do something or continue to die a slow death.

Continue to take good care of you.

peace,
Rain

 

[Ruth09]

Artic,

Its totally up to you, but I say, don't quit. I quit my group therapy with Veteran Affairs two months ago.
I didn't tell my T that my back was up against a wall with group therapy. I had a breakdown in group and ran out.

It was great not going to group, for a while. I even stopped taking my meds. But, then, I was back to being stagnant.
Point blank, I was pushed too far. But, people in the world usually need everything spelled out for them.
I'm having to learn this new skill. Its tough for me to do this. So, I can imagine it will be tough for you, too.

Tell her how you feel. And I mean, how you really feel. Tell your T that you are planning on quiting therapy. My suggestion is to write out what you plan to say to your T. I do this myself because I usually get caught up in my own emotions so strongly that I can't think straight. I even forget what I wanted to say. *I'm even getting emotional talking about this.*

My T tells me that I have to feel like I'm in control of the therapy. If I'm not in control of the therapy, then I'm a "victim" to the advice I receive, which I interpret as criticism and out right direct attacks. Yeah, I'm a bit sensitive.
But, it has taken me months of therapy before figuring this out. Now, it is one more item on my PTSD "things to overcome" list.

I start back on therapy,... literally, today. This afternoon I have an appointment to lock down a new set of meds.

But, its totally up to you.

Ruth

 

[Arctic]

gonna stick with it. you folks are great. I completely avoided the conversation with her, as I am good at avoiding things, but promise will bring it up next week.