I was lonely, angry that I was burdened with family duties and sad that my life was passing me by.
Choosing between me and my family made me stressed out until Dr. Raymond helped me take a step back without fear or guilt.
"When I first went to therapy I was in a bad place. My boyfriend didn't understand me and put pressure on me to pick between him or my family. I felt duty bound to take care of my family. I didn't trust them to take care of themselves. I only felt good when I fixed things for them and put order in their lives. It was hard to have good relationships with guys so I just focused on work. In working with Dr. Raymond I learned to consider what my family, friends and boyfriends might be wanting, thinking and feeling that I had never thought of before. It wasn't bad or demanding like I had believed for so long. It helped me breathe, and now I can give myself permission to have my life the way I like. I realized that I was thinking for everyone else and not letting them do it for themselves. I discovered that people really cared for me but let me take over as they thought it made me happy. Now I am not stressed. I feel more centered in myself without all that guilt, and shame if I did something just for me. Dr. Raymond has shown me how to have connections that feel good and make me want more." Thirty-one year old data analyst.
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Relationship stress gave me stomach cramps until I unburdened myself with Dr. Raymond's help.
"I didn't want to go to therapy. I wanted to be able to manage my problems by myself. I wouldn't even let my boyfriend help me when I couldn't sleep with stomach cramps. I didn't want to seem weak and needy. But things got a lot worse and I was scared that my girlfriend would leave. I forced myself to go to therapy. I had already tried traditional and alternative medicine without success. I was mad at Dr. Raymond for making me feel my emotions. I wished she could just take them away or tell me how to do that. I couldn't believe that my cramps could disappear just by talking and facing my feelings in therapy. It was really hard to look at myself in the mirror. I realized how much anger I was holding in about my family, and how much stress that put on me. Now I understand my emotions better, I feel stronger. I am also less afraid that other people like my boyfriend will judge me badly." Twenty-seven year old health care graduate student.
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photograph copyright, Jeanette Raymond, Ph.D.
Family relationships stressed me out and gave me skin rashes until I learned how to manage my emotions and now I enjoy being with relatives.
"I was breaking out in skin rashes all over my face, neck and arms. It was so embarrassing that I didn't want to go anywhere. I tried acupuncture and dermatologist recommended creams, but nothing worked. I changed my diet but that didn't work either. Psychotherapy with Dr. Raymond I discovered that the rashes came on before meeting with family members. The thought of that stressed me out. I didn't want to be with them because I knew I would just face criticism and judgment. Dr. Raymond helped me understand that the skin rash gave me an exit strategy. I learned new and healthier ways of dealing with my family issues. After my last session the other day, I was able to sit through dinner with my family. I wasn't anticipating the worst. I actually enjoyed their company for the first time in years. The rash I had all week went away." Thirty six year old female in the entertainment business.
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photograph copyright, Jeanette Raymond, Ph.D.
My insomnia came from stressful relationships. Once I figured out how to be in relationships I slept like a baby!
"I'm a bit of a control freak. So it was really hard for me to face the fact that I couldn't control my sleep patterns. It made me anxious when I couldn't fall off to sleep, and annoyed when I woke up after a short burst of sleep. I followed all the usual suggestions about sleep hygiene, and made my environment sleep friendly. I changed my eating and drinking patterns, and made myself a good time schedule. It was infuriating and frustrating that I couldn't get my body to sleep when I needed to shut down. Dr. Raymond helped me connect my relationship stress from my early childhood, to several girlfriends, through to my fear of failing at work. It was overwhelming to find out how years of relationship stress could put my natural rhythms out of whack. Once I began work on dealing with the relationship stress, I slept like a baby! Dr. Raymond really gave me the key to my own health and well being." Thirty-three year male old software engineer.
Stress from my unhappy childhood relationships gave me terrible migraines. Now I have coping skills to deal with the stress from past and current relationships.
"I had migraines all my life. I knew when they were coming on and the toll it would take on me. I would be knocked out for 2 days or more, nauseous, dizzy, unable to eat, dehydrated and disoriented. I tried every remedy I could lay my hands on, including acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathic treatments and conventional pain medication. Psychotherapy with Dr. Raymond, helped me discover that I had been suffering stress from my childhood days which had never been expressed or resolved. I had continued to be stressed and trapped in unfulfilling relationships in my marriage, and at work. Dr. Raymond helped me understand the stress and gave me coping skills that put me in charge of my life. I feel so much more in control, and the migraines no longer both me." Fifty-seven year old law officer staffer.
photograph copyright, Jeanette Raymond, Ph.D.
Copyright, Jeanette Raymond, Ph.D.
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