Guided Imagery

[Rupes79]

Hi All,

I’m currently being treated for anxiety which is causing my all sorts of issues, including physical symptoms. It’s been very debilitating.

This week I did some guided imagery with my therapist which unfortunately set me back as I found the session too confronting. 
I had a particularly bad day between sessions which I will admit I handled badly but she wanted to use guided imagery to reimagine that situation and reframe it. 
I’m not sure what happened but I felt uncomfortable during the session and had a bad anxiety attack that night. The next 3 days were quite bad for me.

Has anyone else had personal experience with this or other methods they have felt have been helpful?

Thanks

[Petal22]

Hi Rupes79,

Im really sorry you are feeling this way.

I understand that some of the exercises we do with our therapists can feel very overwhelming and confronting at times.

When I was in therapy I did exposure therapy and it was confronting in the beginning but over time it did help me.

Where you able to discuss how the therapy you did made you feel with your therapist?

I understand sometimes when we are introduced to things in therapy they are confronting but over time when we begin to get a grip on what we are being taught we can then learn to move forward into our recovery with the tools and skills we learn in therapy.

Have you been able to learn any grounding techniques so when you do feel overwhelmed you can bring yourself back to the present moment?

[geoff]

Hello Rupes, this type of therapy is a delicate one which may be confronting for you if you aren't prepared for what's going to happen and if any negative effect begins, then it should be wound back and may be stopped until you are ready to retrace the traumas.

Everytime these thoughts start you need to try and block them, I know this isn't easy but try and start in a small way.

Your therapist needs to know what's happened and approach your session in a different way.

Geoff.

Life Member.

[Rupes79]

Thanks for the responses. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to stop it in the moment but I did email my therapist afterwards to let her know. 
She’s given me the options of trying another strategy or just pausing the therapy for the time being.

I do have a list of grounding techniques and I am using them daily but it can take me weeks to get back on top of things when I have a bad episode.