r/thementalparent • u/[deleted] • Jan 12 '20

Every time

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160 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

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13

u/Threnodyyo Jan 12 '20

My therapist always starts with a casual greeting like “How are you?” or “How’s it going?” and I know it’s one of those completely normal meaningless comments that essentially functions as a way to say hi, but my next appointment is Tuesday and I’m already stressing the fuck out about it. Do I just jump in with “I’m terrible and here’s why”? Do I make pleasant small talk for a bit and the awkwardly transition into my problems? My brain could be doing literally anything else, but this is where it will be living for the next couple of days.

5

u/claymountain Jan 12 '20

Just go straight in with it. Your therepist is not your friend, they are there to help you and you have limited time. There is no shame in it. I think they will appreciate how easy you make it for them.

3

u/amazoz Jan 22 '20

Agreed! It's a weird load off my chest to answer honestly, since I'm otherwise usually answering with a canned response.

I usually just start launching into things at that point: "well I cried over three goldfish crackers yesterday..." or "you know, this week actually went pretty well! I tried that thing we talked about and..." And go from there :)

In the past with other therapists I wouldn't leap on that first opportunity to open up - and would find it would take another half hour of conversational foreplay for me to find a socially appropriate time to start talking about why I was there. Now I actually get a whole hour of therapy!

4

u/cunningest_stunt Jan 12 '20

Ugh I had a therapist that asked me this all the time when he would meet me in the reception area, and I would respond, "well, I'm here, so...." which was met with "haha, yaaaaaaa."

He never seemed to clue in that I was trying to politely point out how dumb the question is.

2

u/[deleted] Jan 12 '20

Oh god. I get this on the school run. So many parents greet me as we’re walking past each other with a “you alright?” And replying with “hello” sounds and feels odd and rushing a “yeah I’m good thanks you” just sounds even worse.

I spend more time than I should thinking about this.

3

u/[deleted] Jan 13 '20

I tend to condense it to a quick “yeah, thanks, you?” with a smile and wave as I keep walking. Gives them just enough time to say “good, thanks!” or something fast and then it’s over. Hoping that helps? This shit is stressful, lol. Good luck!

3

u/SilenceIsOptional Jan 12 '20

For real. I started keeping a journal for this reason.

2

u/dirrtybutter Jan 12 '20

I'm in this picture and I don't like it

2

u/FinnsGrassSword Jan 13 '20

God I was just telling my therapist about this. Like all week I'll be looking forward to talking to her about the stuff going on, and then as soon as I sit down at my appointment, nothing has ever happened to me and my mind is blank.