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O/T out of the fog

AJanie's picture

I feel like I am slowly emerging from the fog.

The last year has easily been the most challenging of my life. I can see now how depressed I was. Always sitting in bed in the same ugly gray sweatshirt, the smallest tasks felt monumental, crying over anything and everything, fits of absolute rage, etc.

The new medication I am on and my new therapist seem to be helping. I hate to even say it because I don't want to jinx it.

This new therapist knows all about DH, skids and the very complicated issues surrounding my at-home life. She knows about my childhood and about my string of abusive, shitty relationships in the past.

What I love about her is that she has a very cut and dry way of looking at relationships... i.e DH isn't the type to invest money in the stock market; he is the type to invest in a bucket truck and go out and do tree jobs on the side. We have a different way of looking at life. Different backgrounds. Accept it or walk. All else is madness. Same thing with addiction, some people continue on the right path, some relapse a few times along the way and others never change and ultimately destroy themselves. I can't "force" the outcome but I can set boundaries and know what my deal breakers are. Remember that and roll with it...

She is tackling what she labeled as MY ADDICTION "to anger" and my "maladaptive reactions to stress" (wanting to control every single aspect of life) and having me write down all the negative going on in my life every day and then also write the positive. It sounds so stupid and simple but it has helped me gain perspective. When I get upset I pull my little journal out of its hiding spot and get to writing.

I told her my goal is to have healthy relationships. And if I can't do that, my goal is to have a healthy enough relationship with myself to not participate in a toxic relationship.

I guess this is PSA that if your life is in shambles, eventually you can find a therapist who helps. It took me some searching. I had 4 or 5 other ones in the past who really didn't help much. One therapist actually used to hook me up to a heart monitor and have me watch fish swim on a screen for a half hour. After 2 sessions of that I was done. Friggin weirdo.

Comments

CLove's picture

Well, that is VERY good news. You just have to take it one day at a time, and appreciate all the small steps in the right direction and celebrate the big ones. Cliché I know, but its cliché for a reason, yes?

I have re-committed myself to my weight loss program, new lifestyle, and am on Day 2. Small step = lost some water weight (1.3 lbs) and feel great. Big Steps are in future. SO got me a ticket to Winona's graduation in a few hours, so I get to see BM, her parents and the cousins that don't like me...and SO is a nervous wreck, but we are each others support systems, however I am working to become my own best support system. We are happening upon our 3-year anniversary in July, 4 1/2 years knowing each other as friends. I have seen him go through his separation drama, his divorce drama, his eldest stealing and getting busted, arguments, fights and went through my own depression when we first got together - laying in bed crying uncontrollably for 3 days straight, no job, and all that great adjustment stuff. Abusive relationships to recover from as well.

Congratulations to you - you are doing the work on yourself that you need!!!
Happy almost-Friday.

AJanie's picture

Congrats to you, too, for working on yourself! Once you start seeing results with a weight loss program it is simply the best feeling. Good luck at the graduation......

Aniki-Moderator's picture

AJanie, I am SO happy to hear things are looking up! I certainly know how important the right medication can make a difference.

I used to have a pattern of toxic, craptastic relationships. One thing that helped me discover WHAT I was 'seeking' was to write down the characteristics of each man. The BASIC ones. They seemed so different until I broke it down to the basics. Men from a broken home, with no/bad relationship with the father and a domineering mother, who wanted a strong wife/mother figure. Ish. Anyhoo, once I figured out WHAT, then I figured out WHY I chose that type of man. It was a huge epiphany.

Wishing you the best, hon! {{{{HUGS}}}}

BethAnne's picture

I am very happy to hear this. Well done for doing the hard work and prioritizing yourself.

I am off to my first therapy session today, so you are an inspiration that I can make positive changes! I too am too reliant on my husband and need to learn how to cope without leaning on him so much which should in turn relieve pressure on him too.

AJanie's picture

Good luck at your session! It felt really good to be completely honest with someone (and myself). I understand being "too reliant." Same here. It helps so much to turn the focus back to yourself a bit.