Posted by Daisym on August 28, 2009, at 1:12:23
In reply to Re: How much of our pain can our Ts tolerate? » rskontos, posted by antigua3 on August 27, 2009, at 6:12:29
I think all humans are impacted by stories of trauma - unless they are sociopaths or something similar. I think therapists learn how to hide much of what they are feeling. But I think they still feel it.
I've seen my therapist get really, really angry at some of the things I've told him. Not at me - but at my dad. He scared me with his anger - and we talked about how it made me feel. And we talked about he felt. I think one of the things that he has tried to do for me is let me see his sadness, anger and his outrage because I'm not sure that what happened to me is "all that bad." I guess I know it is - but I can't hold on to that.
He told me he won't ever forget my stories, even when therapy is done. I believe him. But I think he modulates his reactions because when they are too "big" I retreat. Even when they are about something good. He says that my mom didn't do a good job of helping me learn to handle emotional responses, good or bad, when I was little. So it all feels overwhelming. I'm a very steady person - not given to huge expressions of emotions. Doesn't mean i don't feel deeply -- I'm just quiet about it.
There is a whole pile of literature about trauma fatigue. I worry about this happening but my therapist always reassures me that although it is hard to hear, he can handle it.
poster:Daisym
thread:914155
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20090730/msgs/914483.html