I remember reading somewhere that this is a pretty perfect metaphor.
If you open the door things are going to get messy, but it gives you an opportunity to clean up and rebuild, letting you use the space again.
If the door stays closed, then nothing ever changes and things stay bad forever.
It’s a very fitting metaphor. Also, if you had this situation with the plates, it would be crucial to have a second person help you so that as many as possible of the plates don’t break. That’s your therapist. They can help you open up in a way that’s not too overwhelming.
Ever caught a spider in a cup? Same thing here, slide the cardboard in-between door and plate. while someone else slowly opens the door you slowly inch your hand towards the plate to support the cardboard. Once the door is fully open the second person pulls dishes out at a cautious pace.
You can also add that while the plates may stay in place if you don’t open the door, they might also push it open on their own.
And that it would be better to open the door in a controlled manner with help, then it is to let the plates do it and also break what is underneath them, when they land.
Therapist:
“That’s… Why I’m here.”
Probably easiest to remove/cut the upper pane of glass and take the dishes out from the top. Then replace the glass in the door. Matching old dishes can be a bitch. Finding some glass? Nbd
