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Break free of my fear!
1/8/2008MB is deathly afraid of crossing streets by herself. This has severely limited her mobility, as she relies on family members and friends to hold onto when crossing the street. At times that they are unavailable, MB does not go outside. When MB came into session, at first, she located the poem, Dependant and enjoyed its analogies. "I want someone nearby. I can't walk alone. Besides, I need company."This week, MB crossed a record breaker of 12 streets and avenues. She was exhilarated. At the close of her session, MB read out loud, Brave. She breathed deeply, reliving the fears, the courage and the bravery that she had displayed today. MB then turned back to her old choice of Dependant from a few weeks ago. "I don't want to be like that anymore. It doesn't feel good to always have to beg others to cross. me. I'm embarrassed. I'd rather be brave and independent!"Pt. felt empowered by the writings...
Posted on 8/20/2008
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A wave of calm after frenzy - but how can I make i
1/16/2008KC felt calm today, although she looked completely exhausted. Her therapist challenged KC to identify the source of this recent calm as well as the cause of her exhaustion. KC was quick to respond: "I'm feeling sick. I'm on medication for strep. But I feel calm."Since KC has a chronic case of OCD, the therapist utilized this "calm in the storm" to educate KC about herself. KC read out loud "Calm" and agreed that sometimes, even good news could be overwhelming. Then, she compared Tired / Exhausted to Tired / Overwhelmed and Stressed Out. KC learned about the physical exhaustion from a medical condition versus induced by mental exhaustion. KC thought about this and noted she is coping better with her fears and worries.KC read her usual feelings of fear, worry and nervousness. She was glad not to feel those today. "It's just physical exhaustion, but emotionally, I'm feeling happy inside."KC spent the remainder of the session discussing how to sustain her feeling as well as nurture self so that her strep should not lead into depression or anxiety.
Posted on 8/20/2008
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A ray of hope in darkness
2/14/2008I couldn't believe that something actually worked out for me. I went to a singles event last night on last minutes' notice. When I walked in, the place was packed and I signed on as the 127th person on the waiting list. Suddenly, this woman called me forward and just welcomed me into the room. She recognized me and went out of her way to set up introductions. I have no idea how I got so lucky. In my heart, I thought she was an angel from heaven.Today, I thought over everything that has been going on in my life, and the depression that I have been in. It dawned on me that I was not alone, that G-d was with me, and things would work out, somehow. I found the page, Trusting II in Do You Get The Feeling and started to read. It was so true, I burst out into tears and couldn't get through the reading. But it was tears of relief and I loved every moment of it.I took a copy of the page and kept it with me this week to remind me that someone is looking out for me.
Posted on 8/20/2008
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The waltz revisited two months later
02/14/2008 I posted the day that I was so mad at my husband. The best page to describe my feelings at that time was Frustrated. I just wanted someone else to "waltz in the mess" and feel my misery. My therapist spoke to me about the feeling of Belonging - of needing him to be on the team, without having to shoulder everything as his wife. Here we are, two months later after the death of his mother and our relationship has changed so much! I learned to support him as he let go and mourned for her. In turn, he has become so helpful, he actually came home early this week to help with the kids who were sick! I revisited the old page of Belonging and read it out loud. Amazing - what I thought would never happen is a reality! I feel so much better about our marriage!
Posted on 8/20/2008
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Go On! Go Free!
3/06/2008 Every session with W began with tears. Sometimes, it was tears of regret: "How could I have done that to my child? But I didn't know better." Sometimes, it was tears of pain, "I keep thinking about what my mother did to me, and all the people who hurt me in my life. I hate them for it! I just wish I could get rid of those feelings in me." In a recent session with W, the therapist spoke about W's tendency to remain chained to her painful past: "You have time on your hands. But you are home without a schedule, without any way to give to others and share of yourself. You need to create a future for yourself so that you can let go and move away from the past!" W thought about this and considered what she might do. "Maybe G-d will give me a second chance to love and care again. I think I want to work with small children. They love me. I'm not afraid of the little kids." W listened as the therapist read out loud, Determined / Free. She commented, "I feel myself riding on that horse. I'm riding into the future. I gotta kick the past into the dust behind me." W photocopied a picture of a rider on a horse to take home. She left session smiling to herself as she planned how to spend her week doing fulfilling activities. She felt freed of her past history - at least for the moment.
Posted on 8/20/2008
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