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

Today went well. I didn’t think nearly as much today. I showed my Pilates teacher how to do a Sumo stomp. I felt serious and glum, but I felt no restriction on feeling that way, regardless of who was present. I prioritized rest. I limited and simplified any tasks I had to do. I guess I was stubbornl...

Thanks MM

Very, very slowly is the right approach.

It’s always been the right approach.

Not least of all because, it’s your approach.

It’s also the right approach when you’re risking a lot.

Today went well.

It felt very regulated; which may not be ‘very’ in my case, just more than my usual.

I felt less persecuted and resentful. I also sensed that my body was less guarded; I was holding it with less tension.

It’s midafternoon and I feel that today was a quiet success.

Thanks MF

Good sleep. I spent the morning focusing on positive self affirmations. I figure it was important to feel good in the moment rather than worry unnecessarily about the past and future. Sort of blessing the space and task I was in, rather than surrender to distraction. Not all of it was particularly r...

Woke up having left everything on. I feel rested. I don’t have to be special today, or pretend to be nothing. I guess that means focusing less on what shows, on what ‘counts’. That feels kind of daunting. It might shift the focus though and allow me to see more clearly what I want today. Breathing w...

Today went well. Yesterday’s overwhelm was resolved. It took a level of communication and some timing that was new to me. But I got it done. It was the most unpleasant morning for quite a while, in terms of having to reluctantly trust others. But I seemed to be giving out cues that people could resp...

Thanks MM

My new affirmation will be something like:

I can’t pretend to be special or nothing (to you) anymore

Today was a bit overwhelming. Work was very unsafe, though I couldn’t put it down to one thing. I kept trying to gaslight people into feeling like everything was alright. Then I stopped instinctively. I would probably end up burning out very shortly if I’d kept going. My neediness flared for a few h...

Woke up well with enough sleep. I feel psychically exposed today. Sadly, that’s normal. I also feel like I have a fraction of an advantage. That’s new; for this early in the morning. The experience of satisfaction in the afternoon seems to have carried over to be an expectation the next day. I might...