Couch 193: The Aurora Borealis Couch

Apr 05, 2019 at 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salmon77

About a 30 minute solo presentation then Q & A. I get terrible anxiety when I have to do these things. Blushing and shaking and stuttering and all that. I've tried different ways of preparing/presenting and nothing helps.

Did you ever try Propranolol? This one is sometimes prescribed off label for speeches or performances. It may help.

Apr 05, 2019 at 11:00 PM

I amseriously doubting whether i am strong enough to do therapy. But it seems to be a waste of the last 8 years to just gibe up. I really thought i was on the verge of truly opening up when the **** hit

CantExplain · Apr 05, 2019 at 11:55 PM

@Una: Your family was more dysfunctional than mine.

unaluna · Apr 06, 2019 at 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CantExplain

@Una: Your family was more dysfunctional than mine.

Oh heck yeah.

susannahsays · Apr 06, 2019 at 12:53 AM

Gluten free products are actually more likely to cause you to gain weight because they typically have more calories. UNLESS you have celiac disease, in which case I've heard eliminating gluten often results in weight loss by eliminating chronic bloating.

Lrad123 · Apr 06, 2019 at 02:28 AM

Quote:

I have to make this big presentation (in a month) and I feel like I might just cry straight through it. I sort of wish I could talk to T about it but it will keep until my next session and anyway I'm not sure what good talking would do.

ETA feels like I have a big neon sign flashing the words MENTALLY ILL above my head today

I take propranolol before I give big talks and I know lots of people who do. Lots of people have difficulty with this. It has nothing to do with mental illness. It doesn’t take away the psychological symptoms of nervousness but does take away the physical ones like shaking, sweating, blushing and that feeling like you can’t breathe because your heart is going to beat right out of your chest. Your primary care doc can prescribe.

ElectricManatee · Apr 06, 2019 at 02:47 AM

My T has a couch for clients, and she sits in an armchair. I think the couch is because she sees individuals and couples so she likes the extra space. She told me once that it's useful to see how close or far away somebody chooses to sit on the couch, relative to her. I'm sure she reads into how close couples sit next to each other too. Sneaky therapist...

Apr 06, 2019 at 04:48 AM

Another reason i doubt my T will take me back is i have record of consistent boundary violations that i just cant seem to control. 8 years of that is probably enough for anyone.

Omers · Apr 06, 2019 at 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlessedCheeseMaker

I amseriously doubting whether i am strong enough to do therapy. But it seems to be a waste of the last 8 years to just gibe up. I really thought i was on the verge of truly opening up when the **** hit

That! That is totally why your whole situation bothers me so very much! It seems SO normal to me that a client would push a T back just before opening up. I didn’t (yet) but I wanted to SO badly before my most recent opening with T. I was able to tell him instead of showing him but he said pushing him away was a normal and healthy part of the process and he saw it as a sign that we were working where we needed to be... on the edge of something big new and potentially scary... and it feels to me like that was what you were doing.

Omers · Apr 06, 2019 at 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElectricManatee

My T has a couch for clients, and she sits in an armchair. I think the couch is because she sees individuals and couples so she likes the extra space. She told me once that it's useful to see how close or far away somebody chooses to sit on the couch, relative to her. I'm sure she reads into how close couples sit next to each other too. Sneaky therapist...

I know my T does this the first session, where you have a choice of two chairs or the couch. How and where you sit tells T where to set up the chairs for the following sessions when we are on the other side of the room. I think it also guides him in knowing a lot about what makes you comfortable or uncomfortable so he knows how to interact with you during session. I sat directly across from him but close to the arm of the couch. My spot was direct and confrontational but my physical posture was scared. As we talked I started shifting more forward (towards him) on the couch but I still gave off an air of controlling the situation and he saw a willingness to engage him. I think he learned a lot and uses it.

stopdog · Apr 06, 2019 at 07:39 AM

The first woman sat in a chair but only had an uncomfortable horrible sofa for clients to use. I brought in my own chair a couple of times because of my back. The second one had either a chair or a sofa and I chose the chair. I would always choose a chair over a sofa.

Lrad123 · Apr 06, 2019 at 07:50 AM

My T has two identical chairs and a couch. He sits in one of the chairs and I sit on the couch, but I’ve been thinking I’d like to try out the other chair. Seems like a big deal to change where I’ve always sat though.

Lemoncake · Apr 06, 2019 at 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unaluna

I know, im in looooove with him! I think ive seen him on something else! Wait, the cute curly haired indian doctor or the one who looks like anderson cooper?

I'm talking about Nick Carter. I was like

when he came on.

Abdominal & groin hernia Surgery | Acid reflux surgery

There's also Sean Somers who has appeared on another show.

Lemoncake · Apr 06, 2019 at 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unaluna

Hence the word cretin?

I wouldn't be the first person to know. I just thought it meant someone bad. Then with @@'s link the creatinism link kicked in.

Lemoncake · Apr 06, 2019 at 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlessedCheeseMaker

I amseriously doubting whether i am strong enough to do therapy. But it seems to be a waste of the last 8 years to just gibe up. I really thought i was on the verge of truly opening up when the **** hit

It's not all you BCM. With the right T I think it can be worth it. The last 8 years haven't been a write off and helped you get to where you are now.

Lemoncake · Apr 06, 2019 at 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlessedCheeseMaker

Another reason i doubt my T will take me back is i have record of consistent boundary violations that i just cant seem to control. 8 years of that is probably enough for anyone.

Most T's are used to clients testing boundaries.

Do you have a date or anything which you get to hear back by instead of being stuck in limbo?

Lemoncake · Apr 06, 2019 at 09:07 AM

Day 1: without R.

I've gone gym.
Studied 3 hours.
Made left over soup.
I canceled a masage appointment I made- just to save the money.

Currently sat eating Brie, so I'm happy!

MobiusPsyche · Apr 06, 2019 at 10:06 AM

My T sits in a rocking chair with a footstool. The clients have a couch to sit on. I don't mind the seating arrangement but I don't see anything wily in it either. She sometimes has to put her feet up due to back issues. Her chair looks more comfortable than the couch but the couch is perfectly comfortable too.

88Butterfly88 · Apr 06, 2019 at 10:13 AM

My t has a swivel desk chair which she turns around to face the couch.

Apr 06, 2019 at 10:42 AM

morning couch. just dropping in for a few minutes before I head to the library to study. It opens in like 30 minutes, and I figure it takes me 15-20 minutes to walk there as it's only a mile from my house. I need to read chapter 10 and learn about Planetary Atmospheres, then after I get back home it'll probably be time to head out to meet a couple of my friends for lunch. I can't wait to give my one friend's little girl the pink afghan I made for her, I hope she loves it! Last time we went to lunch we were there for several hours, I expect the same thing will happen today. We get to gabbing and don't want to stop. Since we all work at home now, we have started getting together once a month for lunch to stay social. We're going to a place I haven't been yet, called Prep & Pastry, it's a breakfast/brunch kinda place. So I figure it will be a nice way to reward myself for both getting in 2 miles of walking and studying this morning. Have a good rest of the day couchies, hugs and headnods all around.

Menu

My Support Forums - Mental Health Support Groups

Get emotional support and friendship from others like you!

Couch 193: The Aurora Borealis Couch

My Support Forums

Anonymous42961 Guest Posts: n/a	Apr 05, 2019 at 11:00 PM #62 I amseriously doubting whether i am strong enough to do therapy. But it seems to be a waste of the last 8 years to just gibe up. I really thought i was on the verge of truly opening up when the **** hit

CantExplain Big Poppa Member Since Oct 2011 Location: New Zealand Posts: 19,616 (SuperPoster!) 12 19.7k hugs given	Apr 05, 2019 at 11:55 PM #63 @Una: Your family was more dysfunctional than mine. __________________ Mr Ambassador, alias Ancient Plax, alias Captain Therapy, alias Big Poppa, alias Secret Spy, etc. Add that to your tattoo, Baby!

susannahsays Grand Magnate Member Since Jun 2018 Location: Somewhere Posts: 3,355 5 1 hugs given	Apr 06, 2019 at 12:53 AM #65 Gluten free products are actually more likely to cause you to gain weight because they typically have more calories. UNLESS you have celiac disease, in which case I've heard eliminating gluten often results in weight loss by eliminating chronic bloating. __________________ Life is hard. Then you die. Then they throw dirt in your face. -David Gerrold

ElectricManatee Magnate Member Since May 2017 Location: Earth Posts: 2,515 6 4,704 hugs given	Apr 06, 2019 at 02:47 AM #67 My T has a couch for clients, and she sits in an armchair. I think the couch is because she sees individuals and couples so she likes the extra space. She told me once that it's useful to see how close or far away somebody chooses to sit on the couch, relative to her. I'm sure she reads into how close couples sit next to each other too. Sneaky therapist...

Anonymous42961 Guest Posts: n/a	Apr 06, 2019 at 04:48 AM #68 Another reason i doubt my T will take me back is i have record of consistent boundary violations that i just cant seem to control. 8 years of that is probably enough for anyone.

Lrad123 Poohbah Member Since Nov 2017 Location: United States Posts: 1,332 6 372 hugs given	Apr 06, 2019 at 07:50 AM #72 My T has two identical chairs and a couch. He sits in one of the chairs and I sit on the couch, but I’ve been thinking I’d like to try out the other chair. Seems like a big deal to change where I’ve always sat though.

Lemoncake Luna's offical mini me. Member Since May 2017 Location: Cafe Nervosa. Posts: 9,692 (SuperPoster!) 6 10.2k hugs given	Apr 06, 2019 at 09:07 AM #77 Day 1: without R. I've gone gym. Studied 3 hours. Made left over soup. I canceled a masage appointment I made- just to save the money. Currently sat eating Brie, so I'm happy! __________________ "Love, like life, flows Through the heart. Feel the thrill of the flow And say nothing."

88Butterfly88 Moderator Community Support Team Member Since Dec 2015 Location: New Jersey Posts: 54,191 (SuperPoster!) 8 10.5k hugs given	Apr 06, 2019 at 10:13 AM #79 My t has a swivel desk chair which she turns around to face the couch.