Sensitivity And Tolerance In Therapy

[Hot chok]

Hi guys 20 yo ctrauma sufferer from the US.

I find therapy difficult because I'm so sensitive. Going into tough issues can do damage for me and yet I know I need to go 'there'.

Sometimes everything's fine in a session and then BAM completely hyper sensitive and I'm like a child.

I dont really know what to do here. My T, she says you need to talk about your issues in therapy because that's what therapy is.

 

[anthony]

Going into tough issues can do damage for me

How so?

If you're definition of damage is a huge spike in symptoms, then that is normal, not damage. A huge spike in symptoms from trauma therapy, absolutely it may lead to behavioural issues afterwards... again, normal, not damage.

You have a simple choice with trauma therapy. Either accept that you have to endure short-term pain for long-term gain, OR, continue suffering another 20 years as you already have.

It really is that simple. It's a choice, and one that only you get to make for yourself.

 

[RecedingMoonlight]

Hello friend, welcome to the forum!

While anthony is correct, know that understandably, accepting to talk about the trauma is not easy; and understandably so. Please don't think you're the only one struggling with opening up - there are so many people that relate and understand how you feel :)

Perhaps a good way to learn how to talk about them more, is ask your therapist what kind of techniques or therapies you can utilize in order to help reassociate 'damage' from talking about issues, to something like 'symptomatic reactions'. I'm a supporter of a sufferer, so I'm not quite sure if there are techniques like that, maybe someone else may want to weigh in on this...

Still, know that the hardest and biggest step is always the first move. It's never easy, and your symptoms might worsen for a bit. But slowly but surely, you'll notice things gradually getting better in the long term. It's never easy to talk about issues, but know that once you take the first steps, things will get better from there.

Hope things go well for you!

 

[Klo]

For some people in some cases, it might help to think back to times when you were severely triggered and upset.

Note how:
1. You survived it
2. You didn't hurt anybody
3. You didn't do anything terrible
4. You found ways to cope and you got through it
And all even though it probably seriously sucked.

Remember, to remember how strong you really are.

 

[ladee]

Fear has a way of making things much more complicated... I fear_________..... fill in the blank! You have been given some great suggestions... what we are telling you is.... it is hard, you can do this and you are not alone....