How do you start...

[sillystring]

How do you start to get over something traumatic?

I'm still not over having had a gun pointed at me, even tho it's been over a week now. I don't know HOW to get over it. And I'm afraid to talk to my therapist about it today, because I don't want to leave there feeling worse, and I know what trying to talk about it will make me feel like. I won't be safe if we start talking about it and run out of time and I have to come back home by myself.

But I'm really in a tough spot. I need to get over it, cuz I need to go back to the area where it happened, I have to do that sometime within the next few days. I don't get a choice in waiting longer, since it's for the military... and my recruiter doesn't seem like she gives a crap about what happened and she doesn't think it's that big of a deal, the few other people I've tried to tell don't think it is either, since I wasn't actually shot at they said I should be fine. And I know I should be. But I'm not. And I just don't know how to even begin processing this. I just want to feel 'normal' again.

[Good_Enough]

*hugs* *rocks back and forth* Oh, sweetie, just because others tell you that you should be okay after what happened doesn't mean they are right. Sure, there may be a few people in the world who could have a gun pointed at them and the next go back to that same place and be okay. But that is a minimum. How many of these people have ever been in an experience like you were recently in? I'm going to take a guess and say none of them. Different people process events in different ways, and just because it was more traumatic for you than others doesn't mean it is wrong for you to be feeling like this.

Is it possible for you to call your therapist and ask to book a double session? Basically make some sort of arrangment where you can have more time than just your normal session so that you can talk about the event and be able to work through it better and not be going home feeling unsafe? Or would calling a crisis hotline to talk to someone help you work through this? If so, perhaps you could try that.

*hugs* Take care of yourself, and don't let anyone make you feel bad about being so shaken up over the event because they have no right.

[one_step_closer]

I'm so sorry about what you've been through, it must be so terrible for you. Over a week isn't really that long when you think about it. You have been through something really scary and that will take time to cope with. I understand what you mean about talking to your therapist but if you keep avoiding it then you will most likely never talk about it. Did you manage to talk through things? Maybe the next time you could arrange for someone to meet you afterwards so that you're not alone. Also, your therapist will be aware of how you are feeling and won't let you leave in a bad state, you could sit in the waiting room for a while.

It sounds like there aren't a lot of people who understand, or who are at least attempting to understand, your feelings. Could your therapist maybe talk to your recruiter? Please don't force yourself to do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable, it'll only make you even more afraid. Take things at your own pace if you can. I hope that things get better for you soon. Please get in touch any time. Take care. xxx