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How to communicate after a contentious divorce... Following a contentious divorce and custody battle, there are often high emotion and tensions between the parents. Research shows that constant and chronic conflict between the parents negatively impacts the children. The children sense their parents anxiety in their voice, their body language and their parents behavior. Here are some suggestions from Dean Stacer on how to avoid conflict.
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Author Topic: I think my therapist thinks I am worse than I really am  (Read 1008 times)
stoic83
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« on: February 01, 2013, 11:52:04 PM »

Hey guys,

I have been seeing a T for a few weeks and I think she is starting to get annoyed with me.

1) I have been talking a lot about my experiences being in gifted programs and separated from others a lot of my childhood... .  because that is a core issue for me. I think she interprets it as narcissism and honestly I was worried about her thinking I was a narcissist the entire time... .  It feels like she has been sarcastic with me about it. All I know is that being "gifted" has made me feel labeled and different and in trying to explain that to her makes me feel like I'm a jerk. I don't usually talk about this... .  but it feels like I've really "dumbed down" in the rs w BPD and maybe im insecure and its all my ego has to hang on to? In any case, I feel like everybody hates a know-it-all... .  pseudo intellectual jerk, and thats how she feels about me, I might have portrayed myself.

2) I kept trying to talk to her about how I read all the books on how to be in a rs with someone who has this disorder... .  and discussed how I tried to be validating, and create boundaries and a more honest communication. She kept telling me "Your not a therapist!" Im like... .  I know! Sheesh.

3) She had some books on BPD on her shelf and she has worked in a detox facility (my exwBPD was alcoholic)... .  I'm kind of perturbed with AA's treatment of alcoholics... .  

4) She told me she used the "devil's advocate" technique on me and asked if i felt it was okay or if she wanted me to be more validating... .  i told her I didn't mind I just want to feel better, but now I'm starting to question when she is using it and when she isn't and I am confused as to what she really thinks, and that makes me uncomfortable. I feel like I'm being manipulated and it's triggering me a bit... .  I feel like I'm agreeing with her when I don't really agree just because she's leading me down that path... .  For instance, she said "you didn't like going to class because you thought everyone else was stupid." I don't think i agreed to that, but it was way off base... .  and hurt my feelings. I didn't like going to class because I have an auditory processing problem.

5) Do you think that I could've triggered narcissistic tendencies in the T so that she will kind of put me down since I've flashed a lot of pseudo-knowledge about BPD and general psychology? The last therapist I had, kind of put me on a pedestal and it made me uncomfortable and over-confident... .  telling me that I was smarter than everyone else and that I'm going to be right most of the time, even when other people tell me I'm wrong and I just have to know that?

I am so confused... .  my aunt and uncle are both psychologists and they don't think anything is drastically wrong with me... .  more-so my mother and father and sister. And they said I would've been much better off to have been born in to a family of scientists... .  or something of that sort.

My current T says she doesn't like to use "labels" but she can use them if I feel comfortable... .  and prefers DBT and mindfulness. Do you guys think that this therapist can help me? I feel like I'm in a very vulnerable position and I'm not sure she knows how much power she has over me right now. I was skeptical of her ability to help me in going in there, and I feel like she might think that I'm therapy avoidant or something like a PD... .  but really I just don't want a therapist to think I'm nuts because of how insecure and paranoid I am right now... .  was she ever in a rs where the person you love threatens to cut your genitals off, and then is like nothing happened the next day?

I'm worried she doesn't understand that I am acting out of the ordinary right now... .  I feel like she is judging me based on my current behaviors and that concerns me, because I am definitely sick   right now after numerous relationship recycles and I feel like I'm putting all my hope in her... .  (like my ex)

Im glad that I have this board and you guys as a support network right now. Thanks so much, I am really grateful for all of the charity, kindness, and support that happens on this board. It gives me a lot of hope for getting better and avoiding homelessness... .  

I can tell you how tough it has been trying to start a company (roller coaster ride) with BPD on/off over the whole thing along with a highly dysfunctonal family... .  I feel like what happens over the next few weeks will determine whether I can pull myself together and bring some $ in... .  or end up on the streets.

I do not think I could get a job right now if the company fails. I am a mess and will be on the streets... .  no family to help, stay with... .  etc... .  

Cross your fingers for me... .  open to any advice/support about the therapist... .  like I said, glad to have such a patient and supportive group of friends here who appreciate my honesty and that I know I have some issues to work out.

BEst,

Stoic

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KellyO
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« Reply #1 on: February 02, 2013, 12:29:28 AM »

Change the T. That sounds awful. She has some personal issues with you. It is not your fault, and you did not cause her to be like that. She can't help you because she is biased. What a professional! It can be something so minor that she knew a person who looks like you, and now you are that person. Sounds strange, I know, for she should be professional, but obviously she is not. She feels threatened by you, so she has to put you down. And you know what, maybe she is always like that? I have met people at work who were awful to me, and I took it very personally (i'm co-dependent), couldn't sleep and was depressed because someone hated me so much... .  and then I found out they are like that always. It was not just me.

But you can't work with that person. Find an other.
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Slowlybutsurely
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« Reply #2 on: February 02, 2013, 12:32:29 AM »

Dump her!  Yesterday already. She's not working at all, clearly. You'll find a much better T.   Doing the right thing (click to insert in post)
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stoic83
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« Reply #3 on: February 02, 2013, 01:17:51 AM »

Dump her!  Yesterday already. She's not working at all, clearly. You'll find a much better T.   Doing the right thing (click to insert in post)

Are you guys sure? Is this all in my head? I mean it seems like she might be helping but I just don't know if her being inconsistent is some new technique? I mean she said she was new there... .  

I think I might just be paranoid... .  I've been saying some off the wall things in there. I know Im self conscious right now. I did tell her I was worried I could be narcissistic and she told me that i wasn't. I know too much about dsm from researching psychology and BPD and my uncle and aunt are both phd psychologists and run their own clinic... .  

I cant afford a really expensive therapist right now... it is at the community center. I was worried inititally that she might not be able to help me... .  but I feel like I need a really really smart therapist (well maybe smart is not the right word, just knowledgeable about my predicament) . Is that narcissistic of me? I just don't want to have a therapist that can't tolerate the fact that I have issues with my intelligence and then when they talk about therapies I already know about a lot of the terminology and relationship dynamics because I have read several books and learned a lot by being in a rs with someone whose mentally ill. I have math and philosophy degrees and figure I may have been more driven to understand this disorder than a psychology phd student (as my uncle) I talked to him about how he handled recognizing dysfunctional behavior in himself and others and he says radical acceptance... .  My uncle is a child psychologist and just mentioned to me that most of his peers wouldn't treat the disorder, but that he has... .  

Here are some of the things my uncle said to me:

"Well, why would you want to be strong enough to be in a rs with someone with BPD? Its a personal choice, but do you really want to keep a number on the fridge for suicide hotlines, and always be on alert?"

Then he says "You know, most people would probably just think that she is a "bad person" and move on... .  most people wouldn't care enough to understand... .  "

Then he says "You know, you can spend a really long time fixing a bike... .  and it might never get fixed... .  you can read manuals, go to the store, ask for help... .  and you can try and try... .  but why not just get a new bike, if you can someday afford one?"

Anyways, he used a lot of great metaphors to try and steer me in a more positive and healthy direction... .  of course he is my uncle... .  I didnt talk to him for my entire life because my hfBPD (w/NPD traits) mother told us he was a pedophile and made fun of him... .  later on in life, I talk to him and he is a kind and sweet old man who told me that him and my aunt had words for my mother on her parenting of me and my sister and my mom must have painter him black... .  

Ive had one T tell me my mom might be NPD< and my uncle agreed my mom could be hfBPD... .  

I mean everybody has tendencies that can be explained by psychology... so maybe I am just paranoid about the therapist and worried she has an issue with my intelligence... .  my exwBPD most definitely had an issue with that... .  it was 3 years in to our relationship when she realized that i was "really really smart" heh. I just can't believe i spent so much time with her and she didn't know that about me... .  it was really shocking.

I feel that Im always the "smart guy" and its not a good feeling. i guess I really liked being with the ex because she seemed to appreciate me for who i am... not what i am (labeled smart since birth). Little did I know that she didnt care about such things. She was pretty well spoken and polite, not a rocket scientist by any means, but I didnt care about that... .  im not exclusive like that!

I always had pretty simple rules for friends... .  namely that they wern't racist and that they treated people kindly and without violence... .  

My exwBPD wasnt racist she treated people kindly without violence... .  untill you got close. Then it was human punching bag time.

Best,

Stoic
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KellyO
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« Reply #4 on: February 02, 2013, 01:32:21 AM »

When you told about the "techniques" your T is using, I could say right there I would never take it. I don't believe T:s job is to mindf-k you. If you think she is helping you, you would not feel that bad. You feel bad. Believe in yourself.
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Surnia
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Relationship status: 8 y married, divorced since 2012-11-22
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« Reply #5 on: February 02, 2013, 05:16:49 AM »

Hi stoic

The first thing I would suggest is to give it a try without the "devils advocat" technic. She asked you about it. Now you feel not good with it, why not tell her to not continue with it?

Excerpt
I did tell her I was worried I could be narcissistic and she told me that i wasn't. I know too much about dsm from researching psychology and BPD and my uncle and aunt are both phd psychologists and run their own clinic... .  

One thing I like to add: Being in T is not so much about books I read or knowledge about dsm or having a second opinion of what family members are thinking of you. Its about your feelings, how to deal with the present and the past, beyond of books and DSM.

Why not tell her that you think that she can't tolerate the fact that she have issues with your intelligence?

In short: I cannot assure you this is the right T for you. And I don't say: Its the wrong T. Hope this helps a little.
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“Don’t shrink. Don’t puff up. Stand on your sacred ground.”  Brené Brown
Clearmind
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« Reply #6 on: February 02, 2013, 05:49:39 AM »

My first therapist reminded me of my long lost great great aunt - needless to say I did not connect with her.

In my first session with my second therapist I had wondered where she had been all my life.

Inquiry is a tool stoic that is good to master - interview her, inquire about her skills, how she treats.

Lastly, I felt so down in the dumps when I first hit the therapy couch that any small hint of invalidation felt very invalidating. Having said that a therapists role is work with you, guide but not dictate, facilitate.

Stoic, list some key words about what you want from a therapist. Then ask yourself whether this T has it or not!
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waitaminute
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« Reply #7 on: February 02, 2013, 08:30:19 AM »

My therapist is not perfect but over time she is seeing who I am. The thing is... .  Communicate. For instance, my T mentioned "power" a few times to me as though this rs with BPD gave me power by taking care of her. I didn't say anything to the T at first. But i'm the one in therapy so I followed through over the next few weeks asking myself if it could be true. Then at a later session I said "a few times you mentioned power.  I thought about it and here are my thoughts." A good exchange followed in which she explained that her use of the word carried no connotations of a controlling motivation. But, she said, a good relationship beteeen two people must have some equality. And whether I wanted the power or not, it was there and it was unbalanced.

Communicate.
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stoic83
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« Reply #8 on: February 02, 2013, 11:17:34 AM »

Hey guys,

I will communicate my thoughts to the T and I will report back.

Honestly, I think 98% of people are healthier right now than I am.

I told her I was gullible right now.

I also told her I had to think of her as a friend if I was going to be honest.

I am afraid of the therapist manipulating me... .  I feel like the last T i had was manipulative.

She encourages me to believe in myself and to stop asking others for advice, validation from friends and others.

The problem is... .  I think I need validation right now... .  she asked me if I wanted her to be more validating and I said no.

I think the problem is that I am punch drunk?

I think I need validation and don't want to be manipulated... .  I told the T it was ok to manipulate me using devil's advocate.

Reminds me of how I was acting w my exgfwBPD.

I looked dialectical behavioral therapy books and it says that devils advocate technique is used during the first few sessions but it looks like its mainly used for people with BPD who are threatening suicide?

In any case, I hope she's not mis-using the therapeutic techniques... .  and trying to make me a more "serious" case than I am by being misleading! I guess I am open to being treated like I have BPD right now, if I have "fleas"... .  supposedly nons benefit from similar therapies initially... .  its just that I haven't been threatening or anything like that.

Best,

Stoic

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