Anxiety during counselling

[Summer_Charm]

I’ve started trauma counselling and EMDR but each time we try to start the process I completely shut down and my anxiety ramps up. I’m trying to work through medical emergency trauma memories but I’m having trouble with it. I have become so anxious during the session that I physically cannot speak so can’t tell my psych how I’m feeling. Then it just makes me feel weak and useless!

[Guest_1643]

Hey summer charm. welcome to the forums. Good on you for giving EMDR a try - i haven't tried it my self but do receive counselling for PTSD.

I was wandering if you like the therapist?
if you can't speak to the therapist that could be that there's a disconnect between the two of you or that they're not a great therapist. I was wandering also if the therapist could help you fid other ways to express yourself beyond speaking - i personally find art therapy very helpful for ptsd - or you could write to express unspeakable pain

[therising]

Hi Summer Charm

Don't underestimate that what you're doing is highly courageous and potentially mind altering and life changing, for the better.

I'm wondering, if you were to phrase it this way to your psych 'I'm feeling overwhelmed in my work up to courage, in facing this challenge, to the point where I can't even get the words out', would they be able to help you approach your work up and vocalisation differently. Maybe you could breathe your way through each step or perhaps there are other suggestions they could offer. Just a thought.

Don't forget, your courageous self has already shown up, the rest may be part of a gradual process. Don't be too hard on yourself in the process.

🙂

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi Summer Charm,

Thank you for your post. I can see that you've already been offered some great support from therising and Sleepy21.

I just wanted to pop in and share that you are not weak and useless - not at all. I've been doing EMDR with my therapist and I was absolutely terrified when we went to start it. I wasn't ready for a long time, and it's okay if you're not ready yet either.

Given that your therapist was going to do EMDR I imagine that you've shared a bit about what's going on for you and they know you a little bit ? This makes me wonder if maybe when you start the session you could let them know what it's like for you at that time. It might even be helpful to write an email or a letter and give it to them. I kinda think the key is to talk about it before you get to that stage where you can't speak.

I hope this helps a little. Therapy is really hard work and I think there's courage in even sitting in that chair sometimes.

rt