![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 2 of 2. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Christ_empowered on December 20, 2010, at 22:23:56
I told my therapist how I was hearing voices discussing my old diagnosis (I got it from at least 1 shrink in my late teens-early 20s: narcissism) and how it bothers me.
He said that he'd recommend just working through it. He said its like the body healing a wound--something about that label resonated with me, meant something to me, even though I try/tried to deny it. Now that I'm moving forward in my life, I should continue to take my medication, but let my mind work through these (mild) "hallucinations" and see what can come of it.
He recommended more social interaction. Even if I'm hearing voices and feeling agitated, go to church. Even if I don't feel like it, interact with people. Social interaction for someone like me could prove therapeutic.
He didn't re-assure me "oh, no, you're not a narcissist!," but he did say shrinks are some of the most narcissistic people you'll ever encounter, so do look at who's doing the labeling.
This was so helpful. I still don't know what I'm going to tell my p-doc at our session, though--I don't want to make any med adjustments.
Posted by violette on December 21, 2010, at 21:38:28
In reply to Great session w/ therapist..., posted by Christ_empowered on December 20, 2010, at 22:23:56
Hi Christ Empowered,
Your voices could be your harsh inner critic/superego - rather than psychosis...voices can also be renumerations - which tend to pop up when inner conflict is involved.
An example of inner conflict in this context could be, possibly: you are starting to feel -"hey i'm not such a bad guy after all"..starting to accept yourself...meanwhile, your sense of self, as taught by your parents directly or indirectly perhaps, is confused...which is why those voices start to appear - to remind you that "no, I'm not acceptable; i'm bad; after all, they said i was a narcissist"....etc. Accepting yourself might seem foreign to your mind, so it does what it does to protect your old sense of self. Does that make sense?
To me, it sounds like progress and i like that your therapist suggested working through them. I think that's great. Working through conflict (if that's what it is) gets rid of OCD type renumerations that can seem like voices.
This doesn't mean it would necessarily be worse if they are mild hallucinations. At the beginning of my therapy, I had visual ones several times, i had the voices too that occured with OCD anxiety. But it's been months now, and they totally disappeared on their own. I never took an antipsychotic in my life.
Hallucinations can arise as emotion surfaces in your consciousness. Your mind is used to disavowing them, and it sometimes can't cope. Slowly acknowleding the emotions with the safety of your therapist can prevent them, or at least curb the mild hallucinations whatever type they may be. In other words, working slowly through material with your therapist who will contain them for you. And then not overthinking (thus getting out and socializing).
Of course these are only my speculations..thought it might help ease your concerns. I'm glad you feel safe with your therapist and that he is nonjudgmental. Best wishes in your therapy.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Psychology | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.