If a counsellor or 'shrink' said that you will be having a phase of 'delaying gratitude' what would this mean

Question

In a day to day sense?

Answer 1

Delayed gratitude refers to not realising that someone has done something beneficial for you until after the event. It tends to mean you are not going to like something but it is for your own good in the long run. An example would be being fed vegetables by your parents. You may not have liked it at the time but with the wisdom of age, you see they are good for you. It may be that the treatment or counselling process may become a bit harrowing but you will feel better for it. Alternatively, you may not be able to express gratitude because of the state of your mood. People suffering depression can find it hard to see the good in a situation.

As others have said, don't feel you can't ask your psychologist to explain what they mean. Psychology has its own jargon and workers often forget that lay people may not completely understand what they are being told.

Good luck with your recovery.

Answer 2

You should never leave without understanding what the shrink meant....ask questions. But what it usually means is that you won't reap any benifits from some type of work you are doing until it is finished, it may even seem like you are wasting your time, until you're done and can look back on what you've done.

Answer 3

Use of the term "delayed gratification" depends on the context. It could mean that you don't reward yourself for your accomplishments within an appropriate timeframe, or it could mean that you are unable to save for a rainy day.

Answer 4

It means you should change your counsellor. They're not supposed to mystify you with gobbeldegook!

Answer 5

Say 'thank you' faster in future