Trauma workshop

[FauxLiz]

I have had a rough summer this year with extreme S/I in June, an attempt in July and an inability to beat this round of depression. I have been seeing my t for almost 3 years and I trust him more than anyone in my life now or the past 30 or so years. A couple weeks ago my t gave me a flyer for a trauma workshop in our ar ea and recommended that I attend. Both he and my pdoc have stated that they feel I need something more than what I am getting now with meds and therapy. Pdoc was on the verge of involuntarily admitting me but decided to see where I am at my next appt. I don't feel that inpatient or partial hospitalization is an option for me as I am a single parent, sole financial provider for my household and an extended duration away from work would cost me my job and ultimately my home.

I am trying to be smart when deciding about this workshop but for me there are two very major deterrents to my signing up and attending.The first is that the workshop is put on entirely by female practitioners understandable as it is for women that have experienced trauma, but for me I don't deal well with other women in a healing capacity. I have tried female doctors, dentists, therapists etc but I freeze up each time, have flashbacks, panic attacks and ultimately am unable to manage their being responsible for my care. I just don't trust other women. The second issue is that the workshop focuses on expressive arts, guided imagery, meditation and restorative yoga. I have attempted all of these in some manner in the past unsuccessfully.

My question here is if your t recommended a trauma workshop to you would you attend? This is for 5 hours three consecutive Saturdays which means it is a significant commitment.

 

[Rumors]

Yes I would go only because you never know when something will sit with you differently and stick. I also don't think you can go in to this expecting it not to work bc you haven't worked well with other women. I am sure you will make the right choice for yourself! If you go, I wish you the best and hope something sticks!

 

[FauxLiz]

@Rumors thank you. I will most likely go because I trust my t and in his words he has not seen something like this offered in his career and he knows one of the women that is offering the workshop. I spoke with my son about the workshop as it would mean altering some of our plans to attend and he said "I don't know T but if he is recommending this for you, go."

 

[Muted]

I will most likely go because I trust my t

I would go too for the same reason.

 

[MyWillow]

I would go but I would have a bunch of grounding/coping mechanisms written down and maybe even a schedule of when to check in with your own needs/feelings...I'm the sort of person that tries to push through and disregards how I'm feeling.

 

[EveHarrington]

What do you have to lose?

Or, more importantly....

What do you have to gain?

 

[Deleted member 541]

Not all women are bad, I think having this thought might help you to relax a bit and maybe end up getting some help.

 

[Justmehere]

Avoiding a trauma seminar because of trauma symptoms seems counterproductive to me.

In fact, a trauma seminar might be just the place to work through trauma symptoms. If any therapists might be qualified and equipped to help you work through the trigger of female healthcare providers, it would most likely be those leading the seminar. Really good solid trauma professionals know that trauma survivors are not all going to trust them and that's ok. Treat it like they are instructors teaching a class rather than people taking any of your power and you might get through it better and gain more from it. I'd also suggest arranging for your therapist or you to connect with them beforehand about this concern so they have a heads up.

The second issue is that the workshop focuses on expressive arts, guided imagery, meditation and restorative yoga. I have attempted all of these in some manner in the past unsuccessfully.

Have you done them with professionals trained in trauma work? If not, then I'd give it a try. It could be quite different. Some expressive therapies click for me and others don't at all. If they don't work for you, that's ok, then you at least know you gave it your all and can look into other types of therapies.

 

[ladee]

Yes I would go.... Especially if SI has been your constant companion for awhile now... sometimes just meeting new people helps.... not to mention your oppurtunity to explore new ways to heal.... you never know until you try.... you really have nothing to loose, and a lot to gain... if nothing else, confronting your fears about why you don't want to go... hope it helps you !!!

 

[barefoot]

I would go too and would work with my T in the run up to it to come up with some strategies to help me manage some of the challenges I foresee.

It could be a really interesting and helpful opportunity. And if it isn't and if it has a really negative impact on you, you can always leave/not return next time.

But I would definitely give it a go in the first place if I thought there was any chance at all that I might gain something positive from it.

 

[UnicornSightings]

We really cost ourselves so many opportunities when we expect things to be the same way each time. I traveled alone last weekend and panicked like crazy on the first flight. I did breathing techniques again and again to get me through but one of the worst thought I had was "oh no, how am I going to get through 3 more flights?!! I can't keep this up!" and then I caught myself. Just because I had one experience that was pretty awful doesn't mean the next one will be the same. And I learned things. I learned 4-7-8 breathing helps most if I can do it as soon as I start to panic. I learned belly breathing does NOT help me. I learned counting to 7 on the inhale and 7 on the exhale works after I've slightly calmed down. I learned that I need to have some guided meditations downloaded for future flights in case. I learned writing about it while it's happening helps. I learned talking to others on the plane while I'm going through it about random stuff really helps. My point is, I wasn't the same person after that first flight. I learned what helps. So the second flight I panicked for the first hour but it was better. I listened to guided meditations and then the rest of the flight I was completely fine. On the way back I didn't panic at all on either flight. So what you've experienced will never be the same. There will be some improvements, even if your thoughts are recycled. You've learned. And I'm a big fan of working from where you are. So bring your distrust of women into the group to work on. I wish you so much luck!!

 

[FauxLiz]

@ladee, @barefoot and @UnicornSightings thank you all for the encouragement. It took about 3 attempts but I finally called and left a message about wanting to register for the workshop. Now I just have to wait for the call back and carry through with it.