421: Grieving your Therapist & Non-Suicidal Self-Injury

The Hardcore Self Help Podcast with Duff the Psych

Robert Duff, Ph.D.

Health & Fitness, Robertduff, Education, Duffthepsych, Mental Health, Psychology, Selfhelp, Advice, Drduff

4.6 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 15 November 2024

⏱️ 26 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this Q&A episode of the Hardcore Self Help Podcast, I address two insightful listener questions. The first explores coping with the end of a therapeutic relationship, while the second delves into the physical manifestations of depression and strategies to manage them. This episode offers practical advice and empathetic understanding for those navigating these challenges.

Chapters:

00:15 — Introduction: Returning to Q&A
After a series of interviews, I return to answering your questions. Learn how to submit your own and connect with the podcast.

02:05 — Coping with the End of Therapy
A listener shares the grief experienced after concluding therapy with a transformative therapist. I discuss why these feelings are normal, the concept of transference, and practical ways to navigate the loss of such a significant relationship.

12:15 — Understanding the Physical Symptoms of Depression
Addressing a listener's concern about the often-overlooked physical manifestations of depression, including fatigue, dissociation, and the role of self-injury as a coping mechanism. I explore what these symptoms can look like, why they occur, and practical tools to help reconnect with the body and manage the emotional weight.

24:00 — Final Thoughts and Encouragement
Reflecting on the courage it takes to share these challenges and offering guidance on taking small steps toward healing.

About the Podcast
I’m Dr. Robert Duff, a clinical psychologist and the host of the Hardcore Self Help Podcast. My mission is to break down complex mental health topics into relatable, actionable advice. Each episode combines expert insights, practical tips, and answers to listener questions, all aimed at helping you live a healthier, more fulfilled life.

Connect With Me:

Website: duffthepsych.com
Instagram: @duffthepsych
YouTube: youtube.com/duffthepsych

Mentioned in This Episode:

Book: Skin Game: A Memoir by Caroline Kettlewell. This memoir provides a vivid account of living with and overcoming self-injury. Available on Amazon:

I hope you find this episode insightful and supportive. If you'd like to send me a question for a future episode, please email me at [email protected].

Transcript

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0:00.0	I don't remember the name of the first patient that I ever saw in my training clinic back in graduate school,
0:05.3	but I do remember the day that we first broke through her resistance and got to the real deep stuff.
0:11.4	It's an example that I continue to use in therapy to this day, and it's a very vivid moment that sticks in my head.
0:17.4	I promise you, she is feeling the impact of your work together as well.
0:22.4	As a therapist, it's not every day that you find somebody who you connect so well with as a client and that you're able to
0:27.5	work with for a long enough time to see a substantial change. So that's amazing. Grief does not require
0:33.9	death. Grief simply requires the end of something. For example, many people
0:38.6	grieve after a breakup. Nobody actually dies in that situation typically, but a real grief
0:44.2	process happens. Fatigue and depression isn't just feeling tired. Like you had a long day at work
0:49.7	and you feel tired. It is this overwhelming lack of energy that is very physically impactful. It's a type of
0:56.7	bone tired, almost soul tired, where you only know what that feels like if you've been there before.
1:03.5	At least 25% of people with major depression also experience what's called dissociation.
1:09.1	It doesn't have to be all at once, but pick one thing,
1:12.7	maybe two things, and start to go with them. Maybe you get in therapy and you also go to a self-help
1:18.1	group. Or maybe you decide to take medication and you start really reading books and educating
1:22.3	yourself about this. Even if that's literally just fleeing open the front door and lying on the
1:27.0	ground right on your
1:27.8	portrait outside of your house, take that one step.
1:31.1	And with that, hopefully you can interrupt that pattern.
1:33.9	You could put a break to that pattern.
1:35.6	And that will allow you to do the next thing.
1:48.0	All right. Hello, everybody. This is the hardcore health health health podcast. I'm your host, Dr. Robert Duff. Thank you for joining me today. It has been a while
	...

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