Monthly Livestream Part 2!!

Q16. 02.42 - I recently had my first appointment with a therapist to check whether the chemistry works, for the therapist to make their first diagnosis and if out patient treatment is the right call, all the logistics so to say. All in all, it was great, however, there's a 12 month waiting list until she can take me on as a patient. On the other hand, she's the only DBT based therapist in my area, which I guess is best approach to work on my BPD and ED? But 12 months is too long for me, I don't think I can make it this far without therapy, which means I would probably have to go inpatient some time before then. I know I'll have to make that decision on my own I'm just interested in your thoughts and maybe someone from the community has experience with long wait lists or has been in a similar situation? Q17. 06.01 - How do I stay in a toxic relationship without losing my mind? Q18. 14.00 - What is "stress" and how can I avoid it? Q19. 19.39 - I’ve recently started opening up to my therapist about trauma from when I was in school, like sexual abuse and a miscarriage (not linked). This week is our final session for the year, and I’m finding it really hard with new memories coming up and feeling really overwhelmed. I don’t feel like I have any tools to get me through and it just feels… big. Is there anything I can do to manage this better? Q20. 22.16 - I have to come to terms with not seeing my family very much ever due to covid. They need extra caution, I need extra caution, we're just not going to see much of each other for years to come. The superspreader events are in Australia now and it's really awful. I just want to be in lockdown! That was so much safer. I feel the world has given up and people like my family are expendable. How do I live in a world, work for people, see people who are friends that have decided their 'freedom' means more that my family and that we are paranoid? Q21. 31.15 - People often say things like you have to love yourself or understand yourself first before you can love another person. Do you agree with this? Q22. 38.47 - My question is, how can I get myself through this overwhelm and to the other side so I don’t fear being in the world anymore? Is it just exposure? Like…do I just have to keep doing it and eventually it will go away? Q23. 46.00 - Dealing with family has always been a challenge for me. A few weeks ago I got an email from my brother that I haven't spoken to in over 5 years. It turns out he has a drinking problem and has started getting help, but he's suggesting that I owe him an apology for things that have happened. I have nightmares followed with him attacking me verbally and physically. Over time those nightmares stopped as I got into therapy and on medication. I haven't told my dad about the nightmares, but my other brother (the one with the so so relationship) knows about them. Would it be right to tell my dad about them to help him understand things better? Q24. 56.29 - My question has to do with resilience related to medical problems I guess. I feel like with each surgery I lose more as far as what I can do physically. What advice do you have for someone in this situation to keep your spirits up and help with coping. Q25. 1.02.44 - How can I tell someone that I’m depressed/struggling without scaring them away? Q26. 1.08.24 - How does someone focus on the present? I've been having a tough time with being scared for events that are hopefully not likely to occur and the main advice is to stay in the present. How does someone do that? Q27. 1.12.05 - This is a bit difficult to write. I have heard you talk about this eating disorder “voice”. I can’t seem to recognize what is distorted and what isn’t. Q28. 1.21.05 - How do you know if you should stay in a relationship? Q29. 1.31.49 - My main thing is, I don’t want to get better because I find comfort in my treatment team. They understand what I’m feeling and thinking. Please advise. Q30. 1.36.09 - Issue 1: therapy.. I see it slowly coming to an end - not because I'm "done" but because the sessions covered by my insurance are running low. My T pointed out how I'm putting to much pressure on myself, pushing through all my issues instead of actually giving myself time to process and heal. It is as if I'm scared of acknowledging that Christmas is happening because I'm still in denial that my Dad is not interested in spending Christmas with me. It is too painful. Anyone wondering why I'm overwhelmed (having this on top of work)? Give me homework, give me ideas on how to get myself sorted. Q31. 1.43.06 - I recently discovered that I have a lot of anxiety surrounding food. When I went through a trauma awhile back. I booked a session with a dietitian to get back on track. What are your thoughts? Is this a type of eating disorder? Q32. 1.45.25 - I have a bit of an update for this month I saw my psychiatrist this morning and not only has she diagnosed me with BPD and OCD as we know. I have now been diagnosed with Autism as well. I guess I'm wondering how do I not get too overwhelmed by this addition. Especially with the holidays coming up, I feel stressed and don't know how to process this. Q33. 1.51.18 - Layer 1...I'm feeling sad about where the world is at, at the moment. I think I'm feeling traumatised from the past 2 years...but it's bothering me at the moment. Layer 2…I feel like my family is falling apart and I'm working hard at not taking on everyone else's loads. Layer 3...I'm currently doing phone consults/telehealth with my psychologist and it's just not the same. Layer 3.5...I just don't know how to make my appointments, via phone, feel as therapeutic and as beneficial. Layer 4...I'm on holidays which are a risky period...I need to stay sane!! Im at the point of burning out I feel but resting freaks me...eeep! So any help for any of that dribble would be super helpful!! Q34. 1.56.41 - How do you get over feelings for your therapist?

Katie K