• We are a multilingual website again. Read the notice about this.
  • Understand AI use at MyPTSD: all AI use is explained in our AI help page. AI use is by choice here. It exists if you want it, but does nothing unless you choose to use it.

Therapist going away and i've been in crisis for a month

Status
Not open for further replies.

agirls

Bronze Member
A little back info: I've seen my therapist nearly four years. She diagnosed me with PTSD primarily related to prolonged sexual
abuse and stalking by a neighbor. I have pretty significant abandonment issues and have also had to work really hard to acknowledge how bad the trauma was. About a month ago I finished a Mindfulness class taught by my T. Stuff had been stirred up. We knew that was a risk. But the stuff that emerged was way worse than i expected. I started having body memories of worse sexual abuse and knew they didn't fit with my neighbor. After about ten days I realized it was my father. My sister was sexually abused by him so this all makes sense. I'm 47 and these memories as best I can date them are from very early childhood. Like toddler and preschool age. They've been surfacing quickly and getting worse. My sessions have been upped and my contact in between has been more frequent. Every time I get a new memory I have to talk to her before I can even begin to acknowledge that it might be accurate. I don't trust myself. I trust her implicitly and find her presence to be a place of tremendous comfort and safety. She has spent a lot of time lately holding me while I sob. And a friend who sees her said she (the friend) was talking to thr T about how she can't even imagine what I'm going through and T cried. Not sobbing. Just eyes brimming with tears. So I know she cares deeply and respects how much pain I'm in. But she is going away. Just for a week, but it will feel like a year. I'm seeing her twice a week now which we've never done except on occasion in crisis. But this has been regular since these new memories began emerging. I've gotten through as long as three weeks without her before. She has said she can be available by phone while she is away but I don't want to bother her. I do find her voice very soothing. Would it be out of line to ask her to leave me a message on my phone before she leaves so I can listen to it when I am having a hard time? Or if I can take something from her office until she comes back? I feel like this will be the longest week ever. I can barely make it three days without her now. I still have two sessions before she goes.
 
I think the message on the phone wouldn't be too out of line. I keep a couple of guided meditations from my T on my MP3 player for when I just need to hear his voice. It helps reduce the driving need for contact when they are out of reach.

Hope you two can work something out, but I'm glad it will only be one week for you.
 
She has said she can be available by phone while she is away but I don't want to bother her. I

I hear what you're saying loud and clear. I can relate quite well.

You have obviously been given the invitation to contact her and so you should. Perhaps plan to on a day when you normally have a session.

I have that same permission to contact my Therapist when he is out of town or in between sessions. I always feel like a bother when he's away, so there are times when I don't reach out. Then he reads me what I call "The riot act." It's happened several times. Same lecture.

If you reach out, she will answer as soon as she's able. She may not be able to answer her phone immediately, but I'm sure she will call you as soon as she can.

She's given you permission... take her at her word.
 
We had a great conversation about it today. I asked her if she could leave me a message on my phone. She asked if it was more about just being able to hear her voice or if I wanted something directed to me personally. I wasn't sure so she is going to send me a recording of a body scan meditation (part of the Mindfulness I've learned through her) that she has recorded, so it's her voice but not directly for me. Then when I see her on Thursday I can tell her if that's good or if I want her to leave me a message specifically for me. She also explained to me that it's totally okay if I call her when/if I'm having a hard time. She explained her mindset when she's away, that yes she needs a break from her job, and that's why she goes away, but she also realizes that life here goes on and she isn't removing herself completely from that. So it won't ruin her vacation if I need to talk to her. She is also going to talk to the marriage counselors my husband and I see so that I can go in and see them alone if I need a safe space to go and process stuff, since she will physically be out of town and can't be in her office even if things get awful for me. So it's a solid plan and I feel very supported and cared for. That's a good way for me to go into this.
 
Thank you so much for answering this. Keeping a connection with your Therapist is very important. So is the safe space.

It sounds like you had a really good conversation and brought a lot of your concerns forward. Very important.

Are you satisfied with her responses? Do you think you'll be able to work with this?
 
Yes, I'm very comfortable with this plan. She did indicate that she will be in and out of cell service areas so wouldn't necessarily be able to reply immediately. I'm okay with that. I know she gets how hard a time I'm having now and has made herself very available. I trust that she'll balance what she needs with what I'm asking of her. Thanks for the feedback. It made it easier to ask.
 
I'm so glad. Very glad to help in any tiny way I can.

That's what the forum is all about. :hug:
 
I'm on Worker's Comp for my PTSD, the insurance company cut me off without warning late last year.
I went through therapy withdrawal and crashed. Yep, actual withdrawal, I hadn't realized how much I depended on my PysD.
Gritting it out wasn't going so well, so I starting sending email messages, which he answered promptly. I was reminded by him that I had a handle on the situation, had learned a great deal and he said wasn't going to abandon me. We exchange messages every few days, it does help and I feel secure. It bothers me to keep on with this and not be able to pay for his time.
 
A little back info: I've seen my therapist nearly four years. She diagnosed me with PTSD primarily re...
not at all. when we are in these situations we often feel that we don't want to bother our confident or in your case your therapist. I see / feel you have a good relationship with your therapist and for her to leave a reassuring message sounds like a brilliant idea. We may often feel we are a burden but we should not need to apologize for something outside our control. I think you need to do this . I shall check here to see how you are and if you have responded. You are not alone
 
Hi
I've been seeing a therapist for a couple of years and today I had my last appointment before she heads off on a 7 week break. I broke down after I left today we just mainly talked about self soothing, mindfulness, and breathing etc I can do when distressed whilst she away. I didn't talk to her about how difficult it's going to be not having anyone to talk through things with for 7 weeks!!! I now regret this and cannot imagine how I'm going to manage. Feeling very overwhelmed and emotional!
I totally realise and support her need for a break but I'm not sure how I'm going to manage.
Anyone be
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Donation drives

2026 Donation Goal

Goal
$1,800.00
Earned
$910.00
This donation drive ends in
0 hours, 0 minutes, 0 seconds
  50.6%

Trending content

Featured content

Back
Top Bottom