Posted by seldomseen on June 13, 2009, at 9:01:31
But i've been in one of the most pronounced crisis phases - profound depression and anxiety -that I have been in a long time. It was precipitated by work stress, conflict in my family and I think just the cyclic nature of my condition.
Over the years I've learned that when I'm in this place, it is quite lonely - and it's not of my own making. I can be sitting in the midst of people that care and support me, and still feel isolated.
I have a great therapist, who is with me through everything that I experience, but even he can't make it go away. All he can do is an occasional med adjustment and calls to let me know he is there, but I have to live it and survive it. He knows this, and I know this, but we still can go through it together.
The other day in therapy, he showed me a newspaper article about this place where I volunteer. I told him that I would have to pick up a copy of that paper. He told me I could have his copy.
Not an amazing display of support, or any breakthrough medical treatment, but a very clear indication that he was thinking of me and thought of me. It pierced the loneliness just a little bit. A tiny bit of light entered.
To me it's different when my therapist pierces that gray just a little bit because he knows all about me. He's seen me at my best and at my worst and yet he's still with me. There's no platitudes.
It's also comforting to know that he's seen this before, not only in me, but in other patients. He knows what it robs from us. He can carry it.
It's something.
S
poster:seldomseen
thread:900749
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20090515/msgs/900749.html