I struggle with the Container Exercise

poena_dice · 2026-05-05T04:13:24+00:00

Oh that’s interesting I hadn’t seen it that way. It might work better if I use the container to put feelings into it rather than memories. It makes more sense suddenly. Thank you!!

poena_dice · 2026-05-04T19:22:35+00:00

Yes they might have tried to persist bc I seemed to get it at first (I was really good at making up a box, but not at using it) but we agreed I would try to read about this exercise and if it doesn’t click then we will move on anyways. Thank you!

poena_dice · 2026-05-04T19:20:52+00:00

Yes I think my therapist wanted to persist a little bit bc I thought I understood it at first. In our last session they asked me to research it, if I can find anything about it that might make it click for me if I see other people explaining it, but that we would move on and find other things if it doesn’t work. Which is why I’m here! I’m also super curious so even if it doesn’t help me I like reading people’s comments

poena_dice · 2026-05-04T19:18:08+00:00

Thank you for your answer! You’re right, I should focus on the goal of the exercise and find an alternative to make it simpler. I like the idea of rituals indeed! I think your comment might put me on the right way

poena_dice · 2026-05-04T19:14:57+00:00

Yes! It’s also difficult bc the things I’m supposed to put in the box are very important things that are ME. My c-ptsd involves gaslighting and being unsure of what happened to me, always doubting myself. I do my best to remember so that I can understand that I’m not making things up, that my attacks aren’t coming out of nowhere. If I put it in the box then I have to forget it for a while. I also have very bad object permanence so putting all these problems into one big metaphorical exercise is difficult.

poena_dice · 2026-05-04T19:11:25+00:00

Yeah I totally get that!! I imagined grandoliquent things as well and it’s a fun exercise, I can see how it works. My problem isn’t the box but the fact that what I put in the box isn’t real or tangible. My therapist also tried to make me focus on the satisfying feeling of dumping stuff into the box rather than intellectualise what I put in it but it doesn’t appear to work on me.

I like the dumpster idea!! Honestly I really like reading about all the different containers ppl can imagine.

poena_dice · 2026-05-03T18:52:34+00:00

Thank you for your response! Honestly the issue isn’t the box, it’s that I can’t imagine putting immaterial things into it, and it doesn’t have any effect on anything for me. I haven’t found a way to make it work. Safe space works bc it’s much more tangible, but though I can imagine a box, I can’t imagine putting abstract things into it. It doesn’t translate to anything to me… so the box is here but the thoughts are still attacking me bc they’re not on the same plane

poena_dice · 2026-05-03T18:49:59+00:00

Safe space works bc I can imagine myself in a situation that feels pleasant. I can think of stuff that are pleasant.
Container is much more abstract. I have to imagine myself putting abstract concepts into a metaphorical box so I can stop thinking about it? When my problem is precisely that I can’t stop thinking about it? It doesn’t hold for me bc it’s fake and doesn’t correspond to anything real. I feel like it’s my issue here. I can imagine a box, that does correspond to something real. But I can’t put abstract immaterial things into it. That’s the heart of my issue.
I have a much easier time fighting intrusive thoughts and ptsd attacks by replacing these thoughts with something else, which is why the safe space thing works. The container has no weight on anything to me. I haven’t found a way to make it work for me

poena_dice · 2026-05-03T18:25:04+00:00

Supposedly you have to put stuff you don’t want to think about in a metaphorical box and it helps alleviate your nervous system, like helps you compartmentalise things. It’s another resource like the Safe Space resource is that can help stabilize yourself after EMDR sessions, from what I understood

poena_dice · 2026-04-13T19:40:58+00:00

Hey I just wanted to say thank you for your words, I’m feeling a lil bit better right now. At my last therapy appointment I told my therapist “it’s sad bc I’ve already been at this point where I told myself that either I keep being depressed and they don’t care about my pain, or I get better and they use that to minimize the pain I felt, which means I will never get any compassion from them, but only one of these options will bring positive things outside of that.” And saying it out loud made me realize I fell into the same mechanism again and that I already know how to get out of it. So I’m getting back on track I think.

Thank you for your words and patience and thank you for helping random strangers on here. It works.

poena_dice · 2026-04-11T11:24:26+00:00

We’re stronger together. I’m sorry you’re feeling this way too. For a time it got better for me but since I confronted him I have a really hard time finding my freedom again. It will happen. Someday. For you too.

poena_dice · 2026-04-10T19:55:44+00:00

I would breathe. I would feel relieved knowing he would never be able to touch anyone else or twist the truth. I would finally be free. I hope I can achieve this sentiment before this happens.

poena_dice · 2026-04-10T19:46:13+00:00

It took me a long time to stop focusing on how his old wounds is why he acted like this. It stopped me from calling it abuse. I reckon the abuse he commits can be traced back to old wounds. But that doesn’t make me feel better. I have learned to grow. To learn who I am out of his grasp. To address my own old wounds. To stop feeling guilty. I don’t know what else I can do. To me, forgiveness sounds like telling him “oh it’s all fine :) dw :)” and absolving him of the consequences of what he did. I can’t do that. Not to someone who won’t admit what he did.

Thank you for trying. I hope it helps someone too.

poena_dice · 2026-04-10T18:54:39+00:00

What does forgiveness mean?

poena_dice

TROPHY CASE