Recognizing and understanding your attachment style and trauma responses during therapy is a significant step towards personal growth and healing. It's essential to remember that therapy is a safe space to explore and process such emotions and reactions. Here are some suggestions to help you continue in therapy despite feelings of shame and the desire to disconnect:
Normalize Your Feelings: Understand that experiencing shame and the desire to disconnect are common reactions when exploring vulnerable emotions in therapy. It's okay to feel this way, and it doesn't mean you're failing in therapy.
Open Communication with Your Therapist: Share your feelings and reactions with your therapist. They are trained to handle these situations and will likely be understanding and supportive. Expressing your emotions can help you work through them together.
Compassion for Yourself: Be kind to yourself and practice self-compassion. Remember that you are taking steps to address past trauma and work towards healing. Healing is a process, and it's okay to have setbacks or challenging moments.
Reflect on Triggers: Explore with your therapist the specific triggers that lead to the attachment trauma response and crying for help. Understanding the underlying causes can help you develop coping strategies and healing approaches.
Identify Coping Mechanisms: Work with your therapist to identify healthy coping mechanisms to manage intense emotions that arise during therapy sessions. Breathing exercises, grounding techniques, or mindfulness practices can be helpful.
Allow Vulnerability: Embrace the vulnerability that comes with discussing your trauma response. Vulnerability can be a pathway to healing and building a deeper connection with your therapist.
Patience and Persistence: Healing from trauma and adjusting attachment patterns takes time. Be patient with yourself and the therapeutic process. Remember that healing is not linear, and progress may come in waves.
Set Realistic Expectations: Understand that therapy is a process that involves ups and downs. Set realistic expectations for your progress and acknowledge that it might take time to see substantial changes.
Seek Support Outside of Therapy: If you find the emotions overwhelming, consider seeking additional support outside of therapy. This could be through support groups, friends, or family who can offer understanding and encouragement.
Journaling: Consider journaling about your therapy experiences and reflections. Writing can be a helpful way to process emotions and gain insights into your healing journey.
Remember that therapy is a collaborative process, and your therapist is there to support and guide you through your healing. Embracing vulnerability and facing your emotions can lead to significant breakthroughs and personal growth. It's okay to take one step at a time, and seeking help is a courageous act.