Out of the Storm

I was able to get a really good therapist several weeks ago who seems to have a lot of experience with trauma. I am feeling so thankful. We have been meeting most weeks, and gradually I have opened up more to her. I seem to be trusting her more and more. Yay  :cheer:

She told me during our last session that since the time we started meeting she has seen a really big improvement. And I believe her. I know that have started genuinely smiling some during sessions, I don't laugh quite as often when I get nervous, I think I am actually hearing her questions a bit better instead of avoiding them  ;D And I even called her up during a big trigger one day and she helped me process it.

I have a journey of recovery ahead of me - I am feeling encouraged by the progress so far.

For some reason, I was tickled by this exchange at my last therapy session:
Therapist: For every year of trauma it takes 4 years of recovery.
Me (with a pondering look, and picturing myself reaching age 120 before I've healed): Am I even going to live that long?!  :))
Therapist: That's what I'm saying, it's a lifelong process. And you're in that process.
:))
And then she proceeded to tell me that she has seen a big difference.

 :cheer: for more trust.  :cheer: for big improvement

Glad to hear this Pioneer! :thumbup:   The 120 year thing is a bit daunting :aaauuugh:  but I've come to accept that it's an ongoing journey  :)

Thanks Kizzie and Blueberry!  It is good to let out that the progress is there, and to remind myself and be encouraged by it when days are rough.

Quote from: Pioneer
...It is good to let out that the progress is there, and to remind myself and be encouraged by it when days are rough.

This right here!  :thumbup:

Glad to hear you're improving Pioneer, that's great!  :cheer:

I agree with the underlying point your psychiatrist was trying to make, that it can be (likely is  ???)  a lifelong process to heal from trauma. However, the 4 years per trauma estimate is quite inaccurate in my experience. It's "only" taken me about 5 years, and I'm inexplicably better than I ever have been before. Now, to be fair, that's 5 years of pretty intensive self-therapy, after making massive changes in my life for the better.... but still!

Keep up the good work, and I expect you'll be in much better shape before you're 120 years old!

Congratulations on your progress!  :applause:

Thanks, Jazzy!! I'm really glad to hear that you are doing so much better after 5 years! I am happy for you, and it's encouraging to hear. I agree, I think that I will continue to see good progress as it builds on itself.

And I will see a lot more progress before I'm 120  :))