How can I get past trauma and start functioning?

Question

I had something traumatic happen to me and ever since, I can't get anything done. I feel frozen, sitting at home. Mly therapy isn't getting me through it, I've been in it for months and sometimes I wonder if I'm getting worse. I wasn't this bad at the time I started therapy, but ever since the therapist pointed out how bad the things I went through were, more than I thought they were, I feel more traumatized. Help! What can I do?

Answer 1

well depend on the trauma and what is your therapy for?

Answer 2

I would probably take a break from the therapy if you feel it's doing more harm than good. You may need time to re-focus and just relax a little. You can also look into finding another therapist that won't lead you in a direction to where you feel more victimized.

Try to go on a little break if you can- find some room to think and breathe.

Answer 3

You should see a different therapist.

Answer 4

Sometimes when we experience trauma we minimize the experience in our minds.  Then in therapy we come to realize just how truly awful it was.  So we feel worse before we begin to feel better.  

But it's necessary to deal with the true extent of those awful feelings, because if we bottle them up or minimize them we end up becoming depressed a few years later.  

Sometimes you need to freeze and sit at home after a traumatic experience.  You need to be sure you're safe.  You get back into regular life with baby steps:  a two minute walk, a five minute walk, a half hour walk... and always come back to your safe space.

Don't beat yourself up for taking time to recover.  It does take time.  Take as much time as you need.  I know it's hard to imagine right now, but things will get better.

Answer 5

your therapist should have taken you through the trauma and then onto looking to the future and how to cope. All therapy should be working towards a goal and be being reviewed periodically to check that it is on target.If you feel confident enough that your therapist is able to do this, agree some goals and time scales. If they make some excuse or you have lost confidence in them you will have to find somebody new.

Answer 6

i know how you feel. i went to a therapist/counselor who told me that people like me are so miserable (to say the least) and i sat for a while, letting myself sink into depression. then, i thought, no, people like me are not depressed. it took me two years to start functioning. i know you feel like there's this mental block in your head that stops you from being well. i handled mine through, getting rid of everything material that reminded me of my trauma, like pictures, clothes, friends, make-up...everything. i had some talks with my mother (or whoever is closest to you that you feel like you can talk to about your trauma), and then i moved. i don't know where your trauma happened, but a move would help. make yourself start over again. don't compare yourself to who you were before or during. start over. i also handled my struggles through my religion. if you have one, great, but if not, maybe think of one. i hope you get better! (also finding uplifting music is a therapy. it is proven)