Posted by antigua3 on January 24, 2008, at 8:03:47
In reply to Isolating, posted by Poet on January 20, 2008, at 15:11:36
Hi Poet,
I have faith in you that you'll figure this out and find a way that works well for you.Noisy, crowded, lit places distress me greatly. My T always turns the light down automatically before we begin our session. Except at night--when I demand bright light--I get overloaded easily by sound and light. (This past weekend my husband & I went to someone's house for dinner, and they were so loud and self-absorbed with constant chatter about themselves, that when I got home I was just exhausted by the overload.)
And people who are in constant motion distress me also--it's like, "Can't you sit still for even a moment?" (My DH is this way and I have to get away from him when he's like this)
I truly value my personal time alone, and I've learned that it is essential for me to have that time to reflect, or to center myself, so that I can rejuvenate; otherwise, I'm no good.
We have a new library with REAL quiet rooms. I'm like you, our old one was just so noisy I just wanted to scream, "Didn't anyone teach you that a library is a QUIET place?"
So I go to my quiet room when I can, and I even usually take some extra time for myself when I go out to pick up my kids from something.
Just be careful, though, and make sure the isolating is not the really depressive kind. If it is, you know something's wrong and you'll have to dig just a little bit deeper. Yes, that's hard, but you have made such huge progress and it may be time for another dive into something deeper.
Lastly, I've worked at so many places that have folded, gone under or been sold, so I've been around the doom and gloom. It's hard to turn off, especially for people like us who base so much of our self esteem on our work, but take a deep breath and say something like, "Well, I just can't even think or talk about that right now. I need to focus on what I'm doing," and then turn your back and get back to work. Don't get worked up, because if it is to be, you have no control over it. And everytime you get stronger.
One last thing (sorry for being so long), but when I had to "drop" out of my career to take care of myself, I thought all of the time lost was for naught. But now that I'm getting back into work, I realize how much I truly learned in the process. You may not be back on top yet, but your time will come again, when you are ready. I truly believe this, because you are a talented woman.
Take care,
antigua
poster:antigua3
thread:807958
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20080114/msgs/808691.html