![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by mmealltalk on July 28, 2010, at 13:54:40
Hi all,
I feel like I only write when my therapist is going on vacation, but I guess thats when I feel the worst. My last appointment with her is Friday and I feel like I have no idea what I will do with myself. She and I made arrangements to exchange notes and other stuff to help me get through but the bottom line is that I am extremely distraught and feel terribly alone. I really have no plans, dont work, and am so miserable that I dont even want to see people. This week alone my sister, my mother and my t are all going away, though my sister and mom will be back in 3 days not over 3 weeks. I feel so overwhelmed and though Ive survived, barely almost two decades of breaks I still feel unprepared. I don't know what to do. What do other people do to help feel less crazed while their therapists are away? Any suggestions would be helpful.
Thanks
Mel
Posted by Dinah on July 28, 2010, at 20:10:10
In reply to is it august again?, posted by mmealltalk on July 28, 2010, at 13:54:40
I'm glad my therapist is more likely to take several small vacations, usually no longer than a week and more often a long weekend. Three weeks is a very long time.
Do you have any enthusiasms? I am currently held in the grip of an enthusiasm for cataloging my books, and it's hard to think of anything else including therapy. My enthusiasms can take any number of forms, and usually rotate. I'm not sure how to suggest getting into one, but if there's anything relatively harmless that tends to suck you in and grab all your attention, now may be a perfect time. Gardening? Sewing? Organizing?
Posted by Dinah on July 28, 2010, at 20:12:29
In reply to is it august again?, posted by mmealltalk on July 28, 2010, at 13:54:40
I also have an off and on project of digitizing stacks and stacks of old photos and home videos.
Anything that requires attention and focus but not necessarily a lot of thought.
Posted by tetrix on July 28, 2010, at 20:50:54
In reply to is it august again?, posted by mmealltalk on July 28, 2010, at 13:54:40
since I hate being dependant on anyone I don't let my T too close to me and hence take breaks from her, it helps me not to get attached even though I am sure that's not what therapy is about but heck, being emotionally attached is too much suffering for me. Though I am always scared to death that she will give my spot away.. but I can't handle the emotional aspect of regular therapy
I would suggest sports or reading, spending time with friends helps too. Hope you feel better..
Posted by workinprogress on July 28, 2010, at 22:30:58
In reply to is it august again?, posted by mmealltalk on July 28, 2010, at 13:54:40
Mel,
I'm so sorry, I agree with Dinah- 3 weeks IS a really long time. And hard. I think the most important thing is to acknowledge that and know that it's ok for it to be hard for you to have her go away that long. My T, like Dinah's doesn't usually go away for more than a week, but I'm seeing her at least 3 times a week, so a week is still long for me. I'm in the middle of a week break now (I see her monday, but she agreed to a call on Friday after she got back) and it's been way easier this time- I think mostly because I was more ok with it being hard if it was. Weird huh?
As for other things to make it through- the notes sound great. Can you get her to record a voice mail message for you? I've found that helpful, I know others have. EXERCISE- getting out and moving in any way always helps with my mood. I might not want to do it and may not love it in the midst, but I always feel better. I email my T when I'm missing her, even if she's out of email range it's sort of like I'm connected and talking to her- that helps.
And I think Dinah's right about finding some sort of project or distraction. Keeping busy and like Tetrix said- socializing (like exercise, you might not want to get out there and do it, but once you do it helps).
Hang in there Mel... ((((((((Mel)))))))))). The best news is that she'll come back and you'll pick up where you left off.
xo
WIP
> Hi all,
> I feel like I only write when my therapist is going on vacation, but I guess thats when I feel the worst. My last appointment with her is Friday and I feel like I have no idea what I will do with myself. She and I made arrangements to exchange notes and other stuff to help me get through but the bottom line is that I am extremely distraught and feel terribly alone. I really have no plans, dont work, and am so miserable that I dont even want to see people. This week alone my sister, my mother and my t are all going away, though my sister and mom will be back in 3 days not over 3 weeks. I feel so overwhelmed and though Ive survived, barely almost two decades of breaks I still feel unprepared. I don't know what to do. What do other people do to help feel less crazed while their therapists are away? Any suggestions would be helpful.
> Thanks
> Mel
>
Posted by obsidian on July 29, 2010, at 0:04:19
In reply to is it august again?, posted by mmealltalk on July 28, 2010, at 13:54:40
I have to say, I am a big fan of keeping myself busy when there is otherwise nothing I can do to change a situation. Mind you, I am not always successful in doing this.
I like to take short classes and workshops and things. Sometimes the library has stuff that's interesting. Is there any place that you'd like to go, a place nearby?
Could you add a routine in your life, like taking a walk at a certain time or something? I don't know what routines you might already have. I like routine.
Writing sometimes works for me.
be well,
sid
Posted by emmanuel98 on July 29, 2010, at 21:03:43
In reply to Re: is it august again? » mmealltalk, posted by obsidian on July 29, 2010, at 0:04:19
My p-doc (also therapist), thank you god, has a summer home that he goes to for long weekends. He only takes one week off in August to spend a longer time there. He takes relatively short (one-two weeks) vacations in the fall and spring. Sometimes a week in the winter. My sister's therapists both took five weeks off at a time. That would slay me.
But you can make it. Does he have a covering therapist? That might help.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Psychology | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.