Oh my goodness. This is so real. I complain about this to all of my health care providers and they look at me like I have two heads. They are seriously confused and ask "isn't a good thing to know what works? Can't we all be glad to have found what actually helps?" They tell me so many people...
When my t broaches the subject of grief (usually when I'm crying big alligator tears and expressing my disgust about having them), I often give her a list of people in my life who have real problems and terrible losses. I tell her how they keep going despite their valid reasons to throw in the...
I’m in a similar boat with an upcoming intensive 10 week internship this summer. They know my diagnosis and history because of the nature of the work, but I have to decide if it’s safe/wise to ask for accommodations for my therapy and other medical appointments. While I’m still deciding, I found...
These distortions cause so much suffering, don't they? I had an awful childhood but have been in a good marriage for 18 years and my adulthood has been fine. It's been so "fine" that I feel like I have no right to whine and complain about ancient history. I berate myself for letting such old...
I had to take a break from bodywork because it was bringing up memories and sensations I couldn’t cope with. After a long hiatus, I’m now trying some myofascial and cranial sacral work. The focus right now is on my hips and psoas. It’s emotional and we’re going very slow. I’ve been more open...
I’ve been around this bush a few times: it happened so many times that there must be something about ME. I must send off a signal about being an easy target. My therapist doesn’t tolerate blaming myself for the choices and actions of others. But once we can peel back that relentless scab, there...
That sounds like a sweet and thoughtful gift. My therapist doesn’t accept any gifts of any kind. I wanted to just add her to the pile of teacher/helper/service provider gifts that my kids and I make for the winter holidays and she said no. If she allowed gifts for the shared office, I would...
Have you read the book “The Sexual Healing Journey?” I’m not suggesting it would fix or solve anything. I found it to be a helpful guide to exploring different kinds of intimacy with my partner and taking things really, really slow. There are still times when I get triggered, but I feel like...
It’s been over 24 hours. I know you always have a good reason and you always get back to me as soon as you can. I’m breathing through it but this is one of those times I really need to know you’re there.
My username is a universal truth I hope to learn to believe. I believe it for others, but struggled to accept it for myself. One of my most stubborn negative distortions, based on the traumas, is that I am unlovable and unworthy of love and protection. The truth is hard for me to see when I’m...
What a wise and creative idea! I don’t have intentional distraction items but do have some transitional rituals. I take off my jewelry at the beginning, so that I can put it back on when we are transitioning out. It’s kind of like my “armor” out in the world. Sometimes I take out my prayer beads...