Know that you are not alone in this experience. The “explaining” you mention is daunting and exhausting which only adds to the AI (anxiety incident). Vacations and public settings (like restaurants) have seen my worst attacks. I’m not going to give any advice; just take this as a big hug if you like!
Thanks for the hug and understanding, Terry…I appreciate you. Sounds like you’ve had your own incidents. Not fun but glad I chose to stay onboard and just let it dissolve on its own timeline. I had a good day in spite of the attack. Cheers, my dears!
I'm very proud of you for prioritizing self care in a moment when it could have been just as easy to shove it aside and push through. Well done, sir. Well done.
A belated thank you, Dear Robin. I’m getting better at the self-care thing. Still plenty of room for improvement, but perfection is so overrated. Hope you’re doing schwell, dear…cheers!
Ain’t that the triple truth (or my mama’s middle name wasn’t Ruth)? Luckily, I got through the rough patches and made it home safe and sound. Hope you’re doing well, kind sir. Thank you for all the love and support!
So sorry to hear about this. I will re-echo David Yule and hope that you can find a suitable therapist when you get back home. I send lots of love and healing vibes.
Thank you, Uncle Ray. I think I’ve found a young whipper snapper who’s got the empathy to listen and balls to hold my feet to the fire when I try to run. I’m a slippery client, so I did a ton of research. Based on our initial phone call, I’m optimistic. I just have to stop trying to be friends with my therapists. Friendly, yes. Friends, no. At least until I’m out of their care. 🤞 Probably has something to do with my growing desire to study more about mental health and therapy. Any advice you might have is welcomed! Or not…no pressure. Cheers!
My training was old school. A therapist or counsellor can never have a dual relationship. They are not a friend but they can be warm and friendly. I would not consider a social or friendly relationship with an ex-client until at the very least a year after the end of therapy.
See him as a friend, if you choose. Fall in love with him. Hate his fucking guts. If he is useful as a therapist he is doing the work correctly. Your feelings about him are the result of therapy, not about who he is as an individual.
In fact, he shouldn't always make you feel good, safe, comfortable. He should be making you face the things you would rather not deal with, the wounds that you have chosen to ignore or deny. It is your job to heal the little boy within, not his - but he should keep you focused and safe as you do so.
Sorry you have to go through this. I've been there too. Sometimes it feels safer to stay inside than to confront anxiety provoking situations. You're doing the right thing but beginning work with a new therapist. Hoping all goes well for you.
A belated thank you, Dear Dan. I hope you and yours are doing great! I start therapy later this week, so excited, nervous, and optimistic about the process. Cheers!
I clicked "♥️" but would have liked "hug" emoticon instead. Sorry to hear of the attacks. Glad to hear you survived. Little wins are part of larger successes. Take care friend, Fondly, Michael
Oh, Clint.. I am sorry to hear about the dread of anxiety attacks. I used to experience them. You are not alone, and it's good to bring them out in the open. I hope your new therapist can help. In the mean time, 💖.
A belated thank you, Mr. Yule…I appreciate your love and support. I have my first session with a new therapist later this week. Looking forward to working through some of my stuff. Sending hugs your way!
Thank you so much for sharing your adventure. I guess what draws me to this daily discourse is your willingness to be real and vulnerable, something I feel I can relate to. My victory yesterday was successfully changing both tire tubes on my bicycle (with the help of YouTube videos). Another first in my life. That brings me joy, and so do you. Blessings
A belated but heartfelt thank you, Bob. I try to show up on Substack as real (and sometimes mighty real) as I can. Vulnerable warts and all. Congrats on your tire changing victory…that’s awesome! Appreciate you spreading love and joy around the sometimes-dark interwebs. Cheers!
🛳️🚗
Know that you are not alone in this experience. The “explaining” you mention is daunting and exhausting which only adds to the AI (anxiety incident). Vacations and public settings (like restaurants) have seen my worst attacks. I’m not going to give any advice; just take this as a big hug if you like!
Thanks for the hug and understanding, Terry…I appreciate you. Sounds like you’ve had your own incidents. Not fun but glad I chose to stay onboard and just let it dissolve on its own timeline. I had a good day in spite of the attack. Cheers, my dears!
I'm very proud of you for prioritizing self care in a moment when it could have been just as easy to shove it aside and push through. Well done, sir. Well done.
A belated thank you, Dear Robin. I’m getting better at the self-care thing. Still plenty of room for improvement, but perfection is so overrated. Hope you’re doing schwell, dear…cheers!
I forget who said it but I really like: "Wherever you go, there you are."
Ain’t that the triple truth (or my mama’s middle name wasn’t Ruth)? Luckily, I got through the rough patches and made it home safe and sound. Hope you’re doing well, kind sir. Thank you for all the love and support!
Brian 🫂🫂🫂 DougT 🏴🇬🇧
Doug 🤗🤗🤗 ClintC 🇺🇸🏳️🌈
So sorry to hear about this. I will re-echo David Yule and hope that you can find a suitable therapist when you get back home. I send lots of love and healing vibes.
Thank you, Uncle Ray. I think I’ve found a young whipper snapper who’s got the empathy to listen and balls to hold my feet to the fire when I try to run. I’m a slippery client, so I did a ton of research. Based on our initial phone call, I’m optimistic. I just have to stop trying to be friends with my therapists. Friendly, yes. Friends, no. At least until I’m out of their care. 🤞 Probably has something to do with my growing desire to study more about mental health and therapy. Any advice you might have is welcomed! Or not…no pressure. Cheers!
My training was old school. A therapist or counsellor can never have a dual relationship. They are not a friend but they can be warm and friendly. I would not consider a social or friendly relationship with an ex-client until at the very least a year after the end of therapy.
See him as a friend, if you choose. Fall in love with him. Hate his fucking guts. If he is useful as a therapist he is doing the work correctly. Your feelings about him are the result of therapy, not about who he is as an individual.
In fact, he shouldn't always make you feel good, safe, comfortable. He should be making you face the things you would rather not deal with, the wounds that you have chosen to ignore or deny. It is your job to heal the little boy within, not his - but he should keep you focused and safe as you do so.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Sorry you have to go through this. I've been there too. Sometimes it feels safer to stay inside than to confront anxiety provoking situations. You're doing the right thing but beginning work with a new therapist. Hoping all goes well for you.
A belated thank you, Dear Dan. I hope you and yours are doing great! I start therapy later this week, so excited, nervous, and optimistic about the process. Cheers!
Good luck! I'm about to begin that journey again too!
We got this, Dan…cheers, my dears!
I clicked "♥️" but would have liked "hug" emoticon instead. Sorry to hear of the attacks. Glad to hear you survived. Little wins are part of larger successes. Take care friend, Fondly, Michael
Much love and light, Dear Michael. Hugs back atcha. 🌈❤️
Oh, Clint.. I am sorry to hear about the dread of anxiety attacks. I used to experience them. You are not alone, and it's good to bring them out in the open. I hope your new therapist can help. In the mean time, 💖.
A belated thank you, Mr. Yule…I appreciate your love and support. I have my first session with a new therapist later this week. Looking forward to working through some of my stuff. Sending hugs your way!
Thank you so much for sharing your adventure. I guess what draws me to this daily discourse is your willingness to be real and vulnerable, something I feel I can relate to. My victory yesterday was successfully changing both tire tubes on my bicycle (with the help of YouTube videos). Another first in my life. That brings me joy, and so do you. Blessings
A belated but heartfelt thank you, Bob. I try to show up on Substack as real (and sometimes mighty real) as I can. Vulnerable warts and all. Congrats on your tire changing victory…that’s awesome! Appreciate you spreading love and joy around the sometimes-dark interwebs. Cheers!