What Helps You Recover After an Emotional Therapy Session?

Hi everyone ❤️ I wanted to ask a question and see if anyone else can relate. After every therapy session, I feel so emotionally and physically drained, especially after spending so much time crying. I have both PTSD and OCD, and working through everything can feel really overwhelming sometimes. Thankfully, I have a wonderful therapist who is helping me navigate this journey, and I’m so grateful for that. I know therapy is important and healing, but sometimes the emotional exhaustion afterward is a lot to handle. I’m wondering if anyone else experiences this and, if so, what helps you feel better after an especially emotional session. Do you have any activities, routines, or little things you do to comfort yourself and recharge afterward? Do you rest, take a walk, listen to music, journal, watch a comforting show, or do something else that helps you feel grounded? I would like to know what helps you or if you have any advice. I would really appreciate hearing your experiences and any suggestions you’re comfortable sharing. Sometimes it helps just knowing we aren’t alone in this. Sending love to everyone who is doing the hard work of healing. We’re trying our best, and that matters.

rooivy

Date posted: 21h

Snuggling up with my stuffed animals/cats and watching a consuming TV show is usually what I do. Weirdly fictional shows where bad things happen make me feel better because I can be like "at least that's not me" lol. Currently watching "from" on Netflix. Therapy always wears me out, especially talking about my ocd. It's really rough having to basically purposely trigger yourself. Calling up a friend helps sometimes too (: I hope you find ways to take care of yourself

Anonymous

Date posted: 21h

@rooivy Aww I also snuggle up with my stuffed animals and my cat. It does help a lot. And I totally relate to the “at least that’s not me” part I do that too lol I’m thinking maybe going for a walk might help too I’m going to start doing that. Thank you for replying. Take care of yourself ❤️

evilla

Date posted: 20h

@rooivy Totally agree about watching tv, but I go for comedy so that I can laugh 😂 My go-to is Arrested Development, specifically seasons 1-3. And tbh I’ll watch it over and over again which is probably the ocd but I like it and still laugh at the dumb and clever jokes lol

rooivy

Date posted: 20h

@evilla I didn't know rewatching could be an OCD thing, i figured it was my autism lmao

evilla

Date posted: 20h

@rooivy Tbh it probably isn’t😂 I have my first session on Thursday so I’ll find out if it is or isn’t lol

Anonymous

Date posted: 20h

I also enjoy rewatching shows I’ve always wanted to know why I do that. I find it comforting for some reason.. lol

evilla

Date posted: 20h

@Anonymous It definitely is comforting. When I’m going through an anxiety spiral, I tend to rewatch shows because I know what will happen. Watching something new would make me actually focus and think and sometimes I don’t want to do that lol

Anonymous

Date posted: 19h

@evilla That actually makes so much sense! Sometimes I don’t have the energy to focus on something new, so I’ll just put on a show I’ve already watched lol. I wonder if it could also be ADHD because I struggle with focusing sometimes, but I’m not sure. Even during conversations, I’ll catch myself zoning out and losing track of what the other person is saying. It’s almost like my social battery runs out, and my brain just shuts down

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