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I wonder if anyone has this problem;

When I'm with T, there are times where I well up but I don't know what to do with the tears. Sometimes I feel that when I cry, I feel silly because they are so disconnected to the source. It's like someone just switched on the 'cry' and then switched it off. My body feels nothing.

Sometimes when I talk about stuff, I cannot decide whether to cry or not because the tears don't feel real. And when they don't feel real, I prefer to choke them back because I'm unsure as to whether I'm making them happen for attention or that they are actually real. They just feel like...nothing.

I've been going through this little conundrum with T actually. Half the time I cannot understand if what I'm feeling is 'real' or whether it's because my tendency to worry and over analyze everything.

I've told T that I sometimes think that the relationship between me and her seems 'surreal'. It seems surreal because it is something so different to what I've experienced in my life I think. My mind has somehow diffused the strength of the attachment and put it to the back of my mind when I'm not with her. Out of sight, out of mind sort of thing.

I also feel that sometimes I should not be telling her anything because that means I'm a narcissist. I think I've linked it up to feeling, perhaps, unworthy of telling my story because there's no need or it's attention seeking in a bad way and I should not be doing it. I should keep silent.

Does anyone feel these little glitches in therapy which makes things a little difficult.

When I saw her last week, I sat in front of her and thought she was literally the most beautiful and wonderful woman I'd ever met. But I think this is too overwhelming for me to deal with right now.

I hope I can learn to attach to T and feel myself close to her without being so darn scared of even thinking about her too much in case it makes me feel too intense.

I was on the bus the other day and sad and I thought of her and in that rare moment of feeling attached to her, I really felt pain. I wanted her there with me so badly but I had to choke it all back. I couldn't let it break through because it was making me feel almost terribly desperate for her in a very overwhelming way. I had to think of something else because if I had somehow let that sadness take over, I would have felt the world break down around me and I'd feel intensely lonely and extremely needy.

I hope that in time this can subside. Anyway, I just wanted to vent it out to you all who are so supportive. I even feel weird writing this out. I feel I should clam it up because it's attention seeking and bad. Maybe it is. I guess attention seeking isn't so bad if one hasn't had it for most of they're lives.

Hope everyone is getting ready for Xmas well Smiler xx
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quote:
I also feel that sometimes I should not be telling her anything because that means I'm a narcissist. I think I've linked it up to feeling, perhaps, unworthy of telling my story because there's no need or it's attention seeking in a bad way and I should not be doing it. I should keep silent.



(((FMN)))
I feel this way so much. Once when T told me that I have a tendency to minimize the things I've gone through that were really "pretty severe" in her words, I told her that I felt I was blowing them way out of proportion by even mentioning them at all. I've often thought of quitting because I feel like nothing that happened to me was that bad and that I shouldn't need to be in therapy in the first place. But I know I need help with some things, so I'm just sticking with the process and for now taking it on faith that T sees certain things more clearly than I do. Like, if I can't validate myself, I can at least choose to accept her validation. I guess that's a start. Maybe you can do the same?

I can tell you are making progress in therapy by reading your posts. You seem to slowly be accepting the reality of your feelings and experiences, even though I know it's something you still struggle with, you don't seem as dismissive of yourself as you did when you first joined the forum, imo. (Hope it's okay my saying that.) Stay with the process. I have faith that you will continue to heal. Smiler

Merry Christmas and hugs,
HIC
(((FMN)))

I can relate to so much of what you are saying. Feeling like you're just trying to get attention even if it isn't true. Wanting to attach to your T but realizing how painful it can be at the same time. I think the same as HIC though, that actually you are doing well and you just need to stick with it. But we are so happy to listen to you vent so don't stop doing it, OK?
((((FMN))))

What really touched me about your post was how you feel that you shouldn't be trying to get attention. I remember that being one of the most painful things my practicing alcoholic mother would say to or about me, that whenever I was hurting or scared (usually because of her in the first place) and showing it by crying, she would get mad at me (or whoever was trying to comfort me, usually my dad) and say kind of disgustedly that I was just trying to "get attention". Well, yeah, mom, that's what a kid is supposed to do when they're hurting! And I'm guessing you were similarly "trained" to stifle your feelings, so that when you cry you don't "feel" it. So I just want to encourage you that it's okay to try and get attention. IMO someone who is hurting needs attention in order to heal.

SG
Strummergirl, that is such a great point. I always thought trying to get attention was a bad thing, rather than something positive and necessary. I remember sometimes if my mom didn't think I had a good reason for crying she would tell me they were just "crocodile tears" which was such an awful thing to hear when I was really upset. It made me feel guilty too on top of everything else Frowner
Hey thanks everyone That's made me feel better.

Strummergirl: Yes my feelings were denied. My Stepmother was my main carer and when I would get upset over something, her messages were 'Stop crying or I'll give you something to cry about' or 'Wipe it off your face, stop crying. I'm counting to three. 1, 2, 3'. Or I'd be sent to my room to deal with myself alone. I have a vivid memory of being sent to my room and crying it all out for ages until I gave up and played with my toys. I was about 7 I think.

quote:
someone who is hurting needs attention in order to heal.


Wow, ha, I know this is such an obvious thing but it's so true. Thanks Smiler

HIC: What lovely words, thank you so much. I didn't know I was dismissive of myself when I first came on here. It's interesting to hear how other people see my development, so thank you. Smiler

Alpaca: Ah yes, now I remember, the crocodile tears. My Stepmum used to do this as well. 'Stop with the Crocodile tears' she would say. My Dad was usually out of the picture.

It's so important not to have our pain denied as children Frowner

Thanks again you guys Smiler

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