I opened up big time today at my therapist appt.?

Question

and she even said I have been doing a good job in opening up. I feel lost though and I want to hate her for seeing me opened up and I want to hate everyone else because I hurt. I dont know what to do I really dont. What can I do? I dont want to close up completely again. I feel all weird in my skin. arggg

Answer 1

Katt.

First of all, well done for feeling able to open up, sounds as though that took some doing for you - and although you are hurting now, hopefully this "opening up" is going to hreally help your therapist work more effectively with you from now on.

There are some strong emotions here - the hate and feeling lost - as you have perhaps been told by your therapist right at the start of the sessions, it is often the period of time BETWEEN your sessions that things "click in to place" - and that can mean some pretty emotional times.

It might be really helpful for both you and your therapist if you felt like making a few notes of how you are feeling at the moment. If you don't feel like doing it, that's ok too.

Unfortunately, asking members of the public what you can do is going to give some pretty confusing and contradictory answers here. with the best will in the world, unless folks have some experience of counselling techniques, they may find they get a little out of depth pretty quickly. Even if you have a counsellor answering you, it is generally REALLY unhelpful to have "two therapists".

In short the hurt, while not nice, is something that often happens when people disclose significant stuff - in other words, what you are going through might feel horrible, but is perfectly natural.

I'm really pleased you do not want to give up, perhaps just taking stock of how much you have progressed by being open with your therapist - and reflecting on the fact that they are on the same side of you - may be a useful five minutes thought.

Again, well done for being brave enough to open up to your therapist, your feelings should not remain like this for long - and might be REALLY useful if you felt comfortable in disclosing to your therapist how this all made you feel.

Good luck with your future

Mark

Answer 2

It depends upon your therapist. Call immediately and explain your situation. Be prepared either way. It is what it is. Look at it this way: Your son's life is more important than a charge for a missed appt. (even though it is the principle of the thing). However, I would say if the therapist does charge you after you after you have explained the emergency, then, perhaps it is time for a new therapist. Therapists are supposed to be helpful and human, not greedy.

Answer 3

It is scary when you open up...no matter who it is. Just know that you did a good thing there. What I did after therapy is I wrote all about how I felt after the session. It helps a lot!

Also, if something was bothering me and I was afraid I would chicken out and not talk about it, I would write it down on paper in my journal and bring that along to the session. For a time, my therapist read my journal entry and then we would talk about it because I just couldn't open up immediately after arriving...or at all depending on what it was. He was a wonderful therapist- the best psychologist I had ever seen and I learned a lot about me and about how to communicate effectively.

Good luck to you!

Answer 4

Good for you!!! Opening up and being vulnerable is a very scary and uncomfortable thing to do for anyone. Your feelings about being vulnerable and hurting are normal, particularly for someone who is progressing in psychotherapy. You feel weird in your skin because you took a chance and grew a little. You have to adjust your view of yourself and others. When you feel uncomfortable like this, it is often because psychotherapy is working. Have you talked with your therapist about some coping techniques when you feel this way to let off a little steam?

My daughter has a box with her list of coping skills and several activities to help her cope in positive ways when she feels under pressure. It works well with her. She has some toys to squeeze and fiddle with, a distracting book to read, some lovely scented bubble bath and a list that starts with, "breathe." She also has her journal and her sketch book.

I do similar things, but I don't have an official box. Next session, show this question to your therapist and ask her to help you come up with some things to do when you feel as you do now.

Take Care.

Answer 5

Your therapist can't help you if you close down--you did a great thing, today, and need to keep it up.

If it helps, therapists cannot reveal things that you say to others--with few serious exceptions.

Don't hate, her or anyone else--you will feel better soon, just keep doing the right thing--like you did today. :)

Answer 6

I'm sorry. Hopefully everything will work out for you. Opening up is a big breakthrough. I wish you the best of luck!

Answer 7

you really don't hate her or everyone else....you hate the feeling of yourself being vulnerable when opening up...but you hate it because it is scary, it hurts being so emotionally naked... its ok to feel and to express your hurt with someone that will help you deal, help you cope, and help you heal....let those emotions out, cry, scream, beat your pillow....this is a big part of your healing process....congratulations

Answer 8

Its the best way to get it out of your chest, you may feel strange or weird afterward, give it a while and you should feel a whole lot better.

Answer 9

keep a journal to fill the voids between seeing your therapist. it will allow you to keep opening up, even if just to yourself....

Answer 10

When you therapist tells you the reality of life and its rules then you can admire them. Until that time it is one bad game and the patient is always the loser.