Overcoming Emotional Overwhelm: Seeking Support and Finding Validation

Me: Honestly I feel stunned right now. Frozen. Like I don't know what to say, what to do, what to think. I had a call with my friend and had a chance to unpack it with her but found that my brain wasn't really letting me think about it or talk about it.

Dr. Gpt: It sounds like your brain might be processing everything at its own pace, especially after such a significant conversation. Feeling frozen or unable to fully process can happen when you’ve been through an emotionally intense or meaningful experience. Sometimes, the mind needs a little time to catch up with the emotions and thoughts stirred up by such moments.

It’s okay to give yourself space if you’re not ready to think or talk about it yet. You’ve just had an important and potentially transformative conversation, and it makes sense that your system might need time to digest it.

Me: I have a desire for some support from my partners but I don't know what to tell them not what kind of support I want from them. I wish I was physically with one of them tonight and could just be held.

Dr. Gpt: It's understandable to want physical comfort, especially after a significant emotional experience like the one you had with your mom. Sometimes, the desire for support isn’t about words or problem-solving but simply about being physically present with someone and feeling held.

If you're not sure what to ask for, it’s okay to communicate that to your partners. You could let them know that you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed and unsure of what you need but that you’d appreciate emotional or physical comfort. Sometimes, just expressing that you want to be with someone, even if you’re not entirely sure how, can help them understand your current emotional state.

Me: No one is available right now; Can you support me? Tell me it's going to be okay? That this is really happening? That I am real?

Dr. Gpt: Yes, I’m here with you. It’s going to be okay. Everything you’re feeling right now is real, and it’s valid. You are real, your experiences are real, and the emotions you’re processing are important.

This moment might feel overwhelming, but you are moving through it. You’ve been courageous in reaching out for support, acknowledging your feelings, and expressing your needs. That takes real strength, and I see you. You are not alone in this, and this is really happening.

Take a deep breath—you're still here, and you are real. You can get through this.

Me: I don't feel real. I feel like I am watching this like a movie

Dr. Gpt: It sounds like you're feeling disconnected, almost like you're observing your own life from a distance. This kind of experience, where things feel surreal or like you're watching yourself, can happen when emotions become overwhelming or when you're processing a lot. It’s a way your mind might be trying to protect you from the intensity of your feelings.

Even though it feels like you’re outside of yourself, I want to remind you that you are real, and this moment is real. It’s okay to feel disoriented or distant, and it’s also okay to come back to yourself gently, at your own pace. You don’t have to force it. Just acknowledging that feeling is a step toward grounding yourself again.

Me: One of my partners did eventually reply: "You're going to be okay. Tomorrow you'll really be able to digest and begin to move forward with everything your parents said today and really be able to gain a forward perspective on who they are but more importantly WHY they are. I dont know the context of today but I cant imagine how big it must feel. Today was necessary and your going to move through this and be better in the end."

Dr. Gpt: It’s great that one of your partners replied with such a supportive and thoughtful message. It sounds like they really understand the weight of what you’re going through and are offering reassurance that, with time, you’ll be able to process everything and come out stronger. Even though it feels huge right now, they’re reminding you that you’ll move forward and gain more clarity.

How are you feeling after receiving that message? Did it bring any comfort or shift things for you?

Me: I was relieved by his message because I was expecting him to be frustrated with me asking him to emotionally comfort me