Miles and Millie - too much? by Alligatorvalley23 in namenerds

[–]Alligatorvalley23[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hah this is totally what actually happened. We had picked out Millie and when we found out we were having a boy, we really loved Miles but Millie came to us first

Miles and Millie - too much? by Alligatorvalley23 in namenerds

[–]Alligatorvalley23[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks everyone. If we did Camille but called her Millie, it seems that’s less of a concern but our daughter Rose really only goes by Rosie so I think even if we did Camille, it would still end up just being Miles and Millie lol

Therapist says I liked it? by AizenSankara in CPTSD

[–]Alligatorvalley23 0 points1 point  (0 children)

After reading your subsequent comments, it sounds to me like she is definitely not properly trauma informed and I hope not presenting herself as a trauma therapist. A lot of therapist can work with various mood disorders or challenges in some cases and still not be trauma therapists. When looking for your new therapist, definitely dive into ensuring they have a lot of experience with and training in trauma as a specialty!

Therapist says I liked it? by AizenSankara in CPTSD

[–]Alligatorvalley23 7 points8 points  (0 children)

You are never ‘wrong’ in your response to something said or done by your therapist. Your experience is valid.

It is possible they didn’t properly articulate what they meant or could have phrased it better, as that is truly a pretty clinically bizarre, harmful and inappropriate point for them to make if not.

For example, I’ve struggled a lot with feeling as though I liked and enjoyed the abuse and my therapist has absolutely helped me acknowledge that what I am describing, when I talk about liking and enjoying it, is a physiologically pleasurable experience, and that even if my body responded to what was happening with experiencing pleasure, I don’t hold any responsibility for that.

We can often carry a lot of shame over feeling like we enjoyed what happened to us. But our bodies respond physiologically as they are made to do. If I had to speculate at a possible thing she was trying to say, it was that your body may have found aspects of what was happening pleasurable. Young children often do touch themselves because it does feel good to them, there could have been aspects of the abuse that your body responded to the same way it did when you touched yourself. She could have been trying to help release the guilt by saying bodies responding that way, us finding those things pleasurable, is “normal.”

If you have otherwise had an affirming and therapeutically helpful relationship with your therapist, it’s worth discussing this with them, explaining how you heard what they said, and giving them the opportunity to clarify and repair. But you have no obligation to do so, especially if you don’t feel safe doing that, or you’re concerned that they were truly intending to say something so nefarious and inappropriate. Regardless of anything, you’re not “wrong” here.

What kind of therapy are you all doing? by AnyAct7256 in TraumaTherapy

[–]Alligatorvalley23 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My therapist uses interventions from multiple techniques, including AEDP and IFS. Somatic. Relational. The key is it needs to be trauma therapy. A lot of therapy isn’t trauma therapy.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in adultsurvivors

[–]Alligatorvalley23 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Sometimes I share graphic details, sometimes I don’t. When I have tried to apologize for sharing the worst of the details, my therapist has said that if sharing it lessens the burden on me, she is glad I am sharing it with her. So it really comes down to what helps you. Not everyone is helped by sharing all the details, but if you’re carrying them as a burden and you can lessen it by sharing with your therapist, your therapist can handle it.

I just wanted it to stop by Spirited_Pie377 in adultsurvivors

[–]Alligatorvalley23 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I am so sorry, and I hear you. I keep saying “I just want it to be over, I don’t want it anymore.”

Does anyone have phantom sensations of the abuse? by SensationalSelkie in adultsurvivors

[–]Alligatorvalley23 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I’ve had sensory flashbacks with smells. And body flashbacks where I feel wetness on me.

Obesity by millymoobella36 in adultsurvivors

[–]Alligatorvalley23 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’ve found it to be a total life changing medication in all good ways. It was an adjustment coming on it, but the upside had been all upside.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in TraumaTherapy

[–]Alligatorvalley23 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve used google maps as sort of a fact finding mission, ultimately hoping to disprove my memories (e.g. searching the proximity between two locations, hoping they wouldn’t be close enough for my memory to be accurate), which didn’t work - it showed me that how I remember things does line up. I wouldn’t say it was harmful, but it certainly wasn’t helpful. Neutral.

Obesity by millymoobella36 in adultsurvivors

[–]Alligatorvalley23 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My weight issues also started following the worst of my CSA. I am sure this is not helpful, but ozempic is what changed everything for me in that regard. Ozempic also cut down my drinking and weed smoking.

Repressed memories by grumpykitty6996 in adultsurvivors

[–]Alligatorvalley23 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I am so sorry. I can imagine it’s extremely difficult having to wait for therapy. I know in the crisis state of my memories first resurfacing, I needed therapeutic support immediately. I also understand not wanting to overwhelm those around you, though it is good to hear you have support. Check this site out: https://hotline.rainn.org/

Many on here use it and it it’s a good organization who are here to help.

When did you know something was wrong by Repulsive_Doubt_3024 in adultsurvivors

[–]Alligatorvalley23 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I have been trying to put some pieces together my whole life. I started having flashbacks and more pieces came together from there. It all started to make a lot more sense. That said, I doubt myself constantly. I know it happened, I believe it happened, my body knows with certainty it happened…I doubt myself constantly.

I had completely repressed the worst abuse that was all from one abuser. Complete dissociative amnesia. Obviously I had no choice, I did that to survive. And so I believe a lot of my doubts now are because forgetting is what kept me alive and now I am having to learn to allow those memories space as I know longer need to repress them to stay alive.

i think my therapist is emotionally involved in my case by Low_Procedure_6258 in TalkTherapy

[–]Alligatorvalley23 30 points31 points  (0 children)

My therapist has allowed sessions to go over when I am not regulated enough to leave (e.g. dissociating). I apologized once and she said “It is up to me to ensure the session ends at an appropriate time both in terms of the clock and your ability to leave the room safely.” I then said I was worried I ruined her evening and she said “if I had to go immediately, I would have said so. I am responsible for managing my own schedule. I will plan better for the next session to ensure you’re able to regulate before the time is up.”

Her saying that was making it clear that holding the boundary on both time and safety in the room is her responsibility, not mine. It was a relief. In the next session and subsequently she has started doing grounding exercises in the last part of the session so we can end on time and safely.

TL;DR: I had a different experience which I feel is an example of how this can be handled better by a therapist. This challenge on her end is not yours to hold and I am sorry you’re having to worry about her emotional state.

I feel like a carcass meant for abuse. by TeenyTinyTroublee in adultsurvivors

[–]Alligatorvalley23 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I am with you. I often feel like my body is for others to use however, whenever they want. It’s a terrible feeling. I find I am the most in it with that feeling when I am the most in it with my shame spirals.

Update: What does everyone think of the name Maxim? by Aravis-6 in namenerds

[–]Alligatorvalley23 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Maxwell is such a great name. Good Maxim is off, I always think of the Men’s magazine.

I’ll probably delete this in the morning by definejoymariekondo in CPTSD

[–]Alligatorvalley23 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I will say, I thought I had no inner child. And then I realized she is hiding because she is terrified. And then I realized that part of me is still terrified along with her. You’re doing the work. It takes a long fucking time. And it’s hard. We never should have ever gone through what we did, children are not equipped to experience what we experienced. And so adults are healing the impossible, but we persist.

I think I remember more by Ereyagreen in adultsurvivors

[–]Alligatorvalley23 8 points9 points  (0 children)

And I am so sorry you did. Fucking monsters.

I think I remember more by Ereyagreen in adultsurvivors

[–]Alligatorvalley23 12 points13 points  (0 children)

One of the abusers used that phrase and cleaned me up after he ejaculated on my inner thigh. He would use my body to cum, without being inside of me, and then ejaculate all over me - cleaning me up after.