YOU ARE NOT ALONE - A companion online community discussion board for The Mental Illness Happy Hour podcast with Paul Gilmartin

I'm avoidant, so I'm really good at not thinking about what scares me. This is an attempt to change that. Big and little, trivial and not. Much of what I'm afraid of I know is true. I'm afraid my mother who already needs 24-hour care will keep deteriorating mentally and physically but not die for a ...

Anyone have any experience with trileptol? I'm already on one mood stabilizer, I don't need another if it's not going to help with the depression. It didn't feel like my shrink had any confidence in it when she suggested it, it felt like she was grasping at straws for something to replace the lamict...

Now I'm even sadder because I have no ice cream.

Enjoy the ice cream guilt free. You deserve it.

I know what I need to do but for some reason I can't.

Exactly. I know I just have to force myself to get out there, but it feels like there's a wall I just can't get past. It does not help to know that I built and maintain that wall.

I can relate. A campaign volunteer showed up at my door a bit ago and that will likely be the extent of my social interaction for the day. It's Saturday, people are getting together with friends to enjoy a summer day, and I'm here with two cats and a computer.

Hi kikilala . Welcome to the forum.

I totally get what you mean about wanting to just let go of all your diagnoses. I feel the same way. After a while it's all just labels. I hope you are able to find peace, you deserve it.

Thanks so much for the positive feedback.

Hi Rebecca:

I had a really hard time opening up in therapy too. It took me years before I'd even let myself tear up, and I never really cried. I know what you mean about wanting the catharsis.

Welcome to the forum.

Negative self-talk is a huge problem for me too. It's been a big step for me to even become aware of it, and to question how true the thoughts are. It's a hard habit to break. One psychologist I read calls them Automatic Negative Thoughts, or ANTS - I find them just as intrusive and annoying as the ...

This is not particularly original and the imagery is basic bordering on hackneyed and trite. But it's a visualization that helps me when I'm lying awake in the middle of the night desperate to be free of my thoughts. The more vividly I can imagine this, the more it helps. I'm walking on a path throu...