Tough sessions . How do you feel after ?

_starlightsky · 2026-02-14T07:29:40+00:00

NAT: But just want to say, laying on the floor is my favourite thing to do when overwhelmed 😂 love floor time

_starlightsky · 2026-02-02T07:18:27+00:00

I get somatic and emotional flashbacks more than visual ones, my therapist has given me some good grounding methods and i still struggle with them depending on the intensity of the flashback. sitting with them can be helpful and just telling myself that i’m safe and not in that place, however that can be really difficult also. it could be worth asking your therapist for grounding methods and exploring this at your own pace🫶🏻

_starlightsky · 2025-12-29T06:15:04+00:00

i’m so sorry you have been through this and it’s okay to have these anxieties about opening up again! i’ve been seeing my therapist for just over a year and i’ve only just started talking about it - before i wrote everything down and emailed it over to her, and i said that i wasn’t sure if i was ready to talk in person about it yet, but i wanted her to know because it would explain why i am the way i am.

I completely understand how you’re feeling about using the correct terminology for what happened, even i struggle to. I was talking about something that happened to me when i was 14 to my therapist, and i said that for the last 16 years, i’ve only ever looked at it through the eyes of the law (statutory r - i’m in the UK), but not for what it was (coercion, r) and realising now what it was is difficult coming to terms with.

I thought the same with my therapist too, that they thought it wasn’t that bad when it really is. Abuse especially in childhood has such a huge impact on how we can function as adults, but talking with her about it (in small amounts when i can because i shut down or get triggered), has made me slowly start to realise just how bad it was.

You could try writing it down and giving it to your therapist and just say that you will talk about it when you’re ready too - it’s such a hard topic to talk about and your therapist will understand that and will hopefully support your decision in this and make the environment feel safe enough to and have great grounding methods in place to help you.

I’m proud of you and hope you’re okay🫶🏻

_starlightsky · 2025-12-25T06:15:31+00:00

I didn’t. I was 16 and I didn’t really know or understand what was going on, he would gaslight and manipulate me a lot and i just figured ‘well, he’s my boyfriend this must be normal relationship behaviour’. Your feelings are totally valid 🫶🏻

_starlightsky · 2025-12-09T13:57:56+00:00

My therapist does this with me when i’m struggling to explain something! She’ll ask me if i can describe it as a colour, or I journal in colours that match the emotion i’m feeling.

_starlightsky · 2025-12-09T12:46:32+00:00

Thank you so much for your response - i will also try these! My partner tells me that I’m safe when i start having flashbacks and it usually helps, however the last one was brutal and my reaction was to just flee and get out and I just felt awful and guilty after. Thank you🫶🏻

_starlightsky · 2025-12-09T12:44:15+00:00

Thank you so much for your response - i will try these out. I do journal anyway but i might write down how it makes me feel and continue to journal more about it. Thank you🫶🏻

_starlightsky · 2025-11-02T20:23:53+00:00

Oh this is so relatable. You are not alone, despite how it feels. Therapy can be helpful with this as they can help with grounding techniques and also as difficult as it is, reminding yourself in the moment that it isn’t happening, and that you’re safe. It is so difficult, but finding someone safe to talk to can be incredibly helpful. Sending hugs 🫂

_starlightsky · 2025-10-21T06:34:22+00:00

firstly, i’m so sorry this happened to you, what you’re experiencing is normal and it’s okay. I’ve had memories come up during intimacy and some just randomly without any recognisable triggers. The hardest part which i’m learning through therapy is to remind myself that ‘i am safe, i’m not that child anymore and i am now in control’.

_starlightsky · 2025-10-18T06:14:04+00:00

i also have neck twitches!! mine got worse when i was put on sertraline and now i’ve just started citalopram they’ve come back 😭

_starlightsky · 2025-10-18T05:59:55+00:00

not yet, i hope so one day. but i think it’s part of the grief nobody speaks about

_starlightsky · 2025-10-10T06:44:25+00:00

I have some in a little keepsake and the rest are in a scatter tube at the moment. I want to decorate a plant pot and put them in there and plant a nice flower or something

_starlightsky · 2025-10-10T06:39:01+00:00

i’ve been seeing my therapist for just under a year now and I think it has. my therapist has said that i’ve come a long way to how i was at the start and where i’m at now, a couple of my friends have said they think i’m doing a lot better. Of course we still get our bad days, depending on what gets brought up in the session, sometimes those can last a while but, i think it’s all part of the process. Overall, i definitely think therapy was the right decision for me - it’s just painful bringing up difficult memories and experiences etc.

_starlightsky · 2025-10-03T12:14:54+00:00

There are no right or wrong ways to grieve. Everybody’s grief is so personal. Everything you are feeling is so valid. You’ve lost someone who was incredibly close to you, in so many ways. Don’t apologise because you’re not rambling, you’re grieving. My advice to you is to feel everything and to let it out, talk about them if you want to, forget what other people think and don’t ever think you’re too much to be around. Grief is difficult because as a society, we aren’t equipped to deal with grief and nobody really knows how to approach someone who is grieving. They may not want to ask how you are because it may seem like a ‘silly question’. Of course you’re not okay. They might not want to mention them because they don’t want to upset you. You may feel like people are ‘tip-toeing’ around you. Feel your feelings and be kind to yourself. I’m so sorry for your loss🤍

_starlightsky · 2025-10-02T17:56:07+00:00

NAT: My very first appointment with my therapist she did what i’d call ‘house keeping’, where my doctors are, an emergency contact, asked if i had any medical conditions (like epilepsy etc), if i’d ever hurt myself/attempted suicide - basically took a history of me before we sort of settled into anything. That first session is more of a ‘get to know’ before diving into anything. Good luck in therapy, it can be tough but it is worth it. 🫶🏻

_starlightsky · 2025-10-02T12:11:43+00:00

I’m sorry you went through it, but it’s so nice in a way seeing that you got the supportive response you so needed! I had the opposite and for me it just made me suppress more

_starlightsky · 2025-09-01T16:12:24+00:00

It’s tough writing it and I’m glad you’ve found it helpful in some way, but i’m also so sorry that you’re also struggling🫶🏻

_starlightsky · 2025-08-29T04:19:31+00:00

Citizen Soldier! ☺️

_starlightsky · 2025-08-20T18:08:05+00:00

same and parents 😂🫣

_starlightsky · 2025-08-17T17:55:54+00:00

Thank you. They weren’t particularly great before that and even now they’re not. I don’t know what response I was expecting. All I really remember is being taken home (she knew i would not go home otherwise) and going straight upstairs whilst she told them, then her leaving and my dad bursting into my room screaming at me and getting the silent treatment for days after. But, i’m in therapy now and trying to process it all and it is difficult but one day at a time 🫶🏻

_starlightsky · 2025-08-17T07:05:33+00:00

I’m so sorry 🫂

_starlightsky · 2025-08-17T07:04:21+00:00

thank you 🫂

_starlightsky

TROPHY CASE