Trauma work :(

[JellyBean4986]

Things are finnally looking up in my life. I've been really stable for the last six monthes or so, I haven't been suicidal or hurting myself. so now my therapist wants to do trauma work. It scares me so much. I know to fully heal I need to do it, but I just hate how it always comes back and ruins my life over and over again. I don't want things to get bad again, and I'm so afraid they will. I have a boyfriend now and everything. I don't want to tell him what happened to me when I was younger. I feel so safe with him, and I don't want that to change.

[Dr.Bobby]

Did your therapist use the term 'Trauma work'? If he did, *Smack*. Who wouldn't be terrified of doing THAT?!

Listen, it's not 'Trauma work', it's therapy. What happened (past tense!) is what therapy is all about. The fact that it's really painful or really specific doesn't change much! Same process, same person, same outcome. You've been doing well for 6 months (yay!), that will continue.

Therapy is a process of exploration and resolution, and it's also a process of shared control. So, whatever the work or whoever guides the discussion, you still have the option to say no and talk about the other issues and events and stuff in your life. If it get's too uncomfortable or scary, just talk about that, and maybe step away from that subject for a bit. It'll still be there when you're feeling more comfortable.