Skip to main content

The PsychCafe
Share, connect, and learn.
Recently I've found emotional intimacy outside of my T relationship. I've formed new connections with others, new routines... new things that I are filling the spaces T was holding or filling for me.

I'm far from better, but I'm generally a solid 7/10 as far as my mood and sense of satisfaction with my life go.

I started to cry writing this because... I am just appreciative of my T and our work and at the same time... So scared.

Both my Ts and my P have said they are proud and impressed and sometimes it brings up good feelings and other times I hear 'goodbye'.

Seeing T has been about my needs, always. Learning my needs, having them met, learning to be okay with needs, understanding why people need people and what relationships even mean...

So I've learned what I value and want in getting things met... And I've genuinely come to want things and so I go get them (one of the only compliments I've received from my parents is that if I want something I will make it happen). I've made shit happen...

Then I freak out. As if since my relationship with T has been based on my needs... If I need less from our relationship... Will she stay with me? Can she still be there? Is the connection the same? I want to cling to her but I also feel ripped away. Never pushed... Just... Away.

I still have a lot of processing and work to do... Things I want to learn and improve on... And I still get triggered and my ED comes up and all sorts of things - I need help navigating, too.

To had talked to me about the ebb and flow of relationships (including ours). I feel like I'm going out to tide and clinging to sand that keeps slipping... Meanwhile I'm just as happy to swim...

I don't know if I'm making sense. I'm not building up to my secure attachment with her. I have it, I've had it for a while. I thought that was where it ends. Is it? I don't know how to work without extreme intensity and dividing my needs makes no sense.

F*%#

I am just a crying mess of confused and thankful and scared and lost.
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Cat,
My T told me that the point of working towards an earned secure attachment is not that as soon as you get it, you give it up. The attachment relationship was never supposed to be the focus. It was supposed to be the utterly taken for granted background for us growing and exploring and risking and learning. Because we didn't have that, we have become acutely aware of the relationship. So the point of forming a secure relationship is to enable you to do what you need to do. Process trauma, Heal more from your ED, continue to learn what it is like to be in a long term intimate relationship. Even after they've healed a lot of people continue to go to therapy because they see growth as integral to being alive and therapy is a aid in continuing to grow.

It's ok to sense a lessening of your dependence, that is one of the goals of depth therapy (and parenting Smiler ) But that doesn't necessarily mean it's time to leave, it's just a good sign you're growing.

Add Reply

Post
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×