Therapist Is Leaving

[Cammy]

Shadows: Is there anything or anyone that you can use as a kind of anchor until a new therapist is realized (knowing that the whole process of getting a new therapist is stress central in itself + starting all over with a new person)? Only you know better than anyone how you can best cope. Sometimes if this involves temporarily going on meds or something similar to tie you over might be one of the things to consider. Being left to fend for yourself is obviously not a viable option for you. Even though you are going out of town is it possible for you to contact anyone on the referral list and at least make sure that you have an appointment waiting for you as soon as you get back? I'm just thinking that getting in for an appointment takes time, and once you get back if you still have to wait even longer that would not be good. It's just a thought. I know for myself knowing that I have an appointment date has helped me hang in there until the appointment. I realize it's just a psychological trick that we play on ourselves, but it has worked for me in the past.

I hope you are going to be okay. If things start going south on you, that's usually a prime time for pulling in favors and reaching out to whatever support system you have or can temporarily construct for yourself. I know that in one instance I simply had no choice but to pack myself off to emergency and get a prescription to keep myself glued together until I could connect with a therapist. It wasn't ideal by any means, but it worked well enough to keep me relatively safe. I also recall that I was offered temporary psychological consult services - definitely not ideal, but it kept the wolf from the door. I didn't discuss our DID, since this has wrought so many bad reactions from professionals in the past, but I was able at least to talk to someone about immediate emotional issues. There's just nothing simple about being a multiple in this type of situation.