Can't - loss and grief are too overwhelming for li'l one and I. It feels like the well is bottomless and it'll never end if we let ourselves to go there.

The Kid and li'l one

There is a bottom to that pit Kid. And then the only way is up.

I'm jealous RT.

what about that, mudd? When feeling absolutely takes over, drowning out thought altogether? What's the safety plan?

Brain will sort it for you RE. She will be there when you need to think...and type about the way you feel.

sometimes i don't trust brain to kick in Thanks, muff

She has kicked in to get you this far RT. Trust her. In her younger days she was in a worse situation. She didn't have you to rely on then.

I honestly don't know how to do that. Once T did an empty chair exercise with me and that really did help me get to my emotions. Maybe it's time to try it again? Most of my sessions are in my head and the only feeling I recognize is extreme anxiety.

ONLY! Fear and anger (anxiety) are the most important emotions to feel Jillian.

Muff - I grew up in a home filled with anger. I would hide in my closet until it got quiet again. As soon as I could (17) I left home and became self supporting. I promised myself I would never subject my children to that rage. T keeps telling me we all feel anger. And it doesn't have to be expressed as rage but it still terrifies me. At 47, I'm still that little girl hiding in the closet waiting for it to be safe to come out. She keeps pointing out to me how I'm expressing my anger by hurting myself. I am totally lost and afraid to be angry and avoid any situations where others might express anger to me or at me.

Jillann

Maybe it is time to come out of that closet Jillian and let the child feel more anger than the fear of it.

Can feelings be trusted? I think not.

But you make some excellent points, Muff. If I don't recognise my fears and feelings, then things get jumbled then the fear of fears and the fear of anger...mine and others...takes over. What a mess.
My sweet T advised that I try to be the observer so I do not drown in my feelings. Hard hard, and still working at that.
Great thread...thanks for the reminder of the work.
Hang on everyone.Also my faith in God helps.

Hi Mayo...I'm curious to know what makes you say feelings can't be trusted...