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It used to be that I would often drag my feet when going to see my therapist for treatment of my obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) sessions. Although I never regretted going to see her I often found that the act of preparing to go could be tedious and anxious. I didn't look forward to time spent analyzing my innermost feelings, and their connection with OCD. But the sessions, although draining at times, did and do turn out to be worthwhile. One is always different from another.
But one day I commented on Dr. Romero's shoes, and how I had a similar pair, and so we talked shoes for a while. It was a lot of fun. I felt like I was just chit chatting with a friend. Eventually she steered the conversation to the OCD issues at hand, and I was a little dismayed, but hey, I wasn't there to talk about shoes really.
Another time Dr. Romero said that she liked my earrings, which I told her were from Pakistan, and then she showed me the pair she was wearing, which happened to be small red stones. I said she looked good in red, and so we were off to more girl talk. It was short lived naturally.
In thinking about those moments of light, airy banter, I realize that they are in and of themselves, therapeutic. It is nice, and it is also reveling to think of your therapist as a another woman like you, who likes shoes and likes to talk about them, and the same thing goes for the earrings. Through that banter, we have connected as human beings, and not just as doctor and patient. That lighthearted talk reduces stress, and makes me and I presume others realize that frivolities are also part of life, and that they are a lot of fun. It is not all about you the patient, and problems that can weigh you down. Yes, there is the therapy session to contend with, but a small break here and there is most welcome.
One more thing. At the last session, Dr. Romero said she liked my hair. Now what woman doesn't like to hear that?
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I know what you mean by doing something "exactly right." In your case it may include therapy, but in my case it doesn't include that, but it does involve other thing, and it can be maddening. We should ask ourselves suppose something isn't done exactly right; what will happen. In most cases, nothing will happen and it will not be the end of the world. People who suffer from OCD, do think drastic thoughts if an act isn't performed in a precise way. But that ain't so.
August 10, 2010 - 10:51amZelda
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I've also noticed that chatting can be very therapeutic. I used to be afraid of it, since I was very shy, and also the ocd would latch onto "doing therapy exactly right" but one day my therapist said some chit chat is definitely an exposure for me--just being myself. I think it's true--ocd doesn't leave a lot of time for just relating on a human level.
August 9, 2010 - 11:56amThis Comment