Hello World!
Let's talk about therapy. Yes, I said therapy. Do I personally see a therapist? Yes. How long have I been in therapy? Six years. Now, this wasn't six consecutive years? Nope. So let's unpack this.
I will get into my therapy journey. For those of you who do not know I have bipolar disorder. I will talk more about this during Mental Health Awareness Month in May. I desperately needed therapy. Especially after my initial diagnosis. I needed someone who was unbiased, level headed, someone who wouldn't take what I said personally, and someone who would truly listen without interjecting their own feelings. I've had three therapists in my lifetime (I've only been alive for 24 years but still). Each one played an important role.
My first therapist my family loved. She was an LCSW (licensed clinical social worker). She saw my mom, my sister, and myself (my dad I think went to one session or two). She taught me how to express my feelings instead of internalizing them. She was helping me talk things out and think things out as well. The reason that things didn't work out was because I felt like she was becoming more of a friend than a therapist. Which did more harm than good.
My second therapist is the one who introduced mindfulness to me, she was also an LCSW. She and I used to knit together during our sessions. Yes, I knit. I talk with my hands a lot and pick at my hands when I am stressed out or nervous, so knitting was a beautiful thing for me. She taught me how to center myself, especially when I was manic. She taught me how to leave work at the door, and to be present with the people that I love. The reason I stopped seeing her was because I couldn't afford co-pays anymore.
My third therapist is the one who was there for me at the right time, and she was also an LCSW. To start things off my college provides free counseling, yes I said free. This is what I needed, someone that I could afford to see. She is currently helping me with imposter syndrome, and self-doubt. Imposter syndrome is the feeling that you don't belong where you are and that you don't deserve to be there. I had taken a lot of time off between school and I felt like I wasn't good enough to be there. I got into my school's nursing program and I still feel like I am not good enough to be there and that I don't belong at all. She is helping me embrace these feelings and push past them. When I say she is my saving grace, she truly is. She has gotten me into journaling, especially when I am manic. It's hard to sleep when your thoughts are racing and writing them out before bed is very helpful. She has been in my corner since the very beginning and she is most definitely apart of my tribe.
I found this article on Better Help and I thought this was very beneficial:
Two of the most important things that I got out of this article is that therapy can help you create healthy coping mechanisms, and gives you someone who will be in your corner. My therapists have taught me positive coping mechanisms that are especially helpful during my manic moments. My coping mechanisms are mindfulness, deep breathing, and reaching out to my tribe. Having someone in your corner is super important. She is one of my biggest cheerleaders. She provides sound advice. This especially important when you feel like you're alone. I feel that you can never truly be alone when you have someone who listens to you and encourages you. I recommended therapy to everyone. I love therapy and I also tell people they should go because it can be a safe place. There can be this negative stigma when it comes to therapy, but I feel like we all have problems and having someone to help us work through these problems is important. I recommend therapy like I am offering cupcakes to someone. I love it, and I want you to love it. I know therapy isn't for everyone but I feel like one session wouldn't hurt.
I want you all to know that I love you, you matter, you are important, and you are not alone.
Another day as an adult (who goes to therapy),
Tasha
Thanks