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

Hi.

My name is Brian. (Hi Brian)

I'm a mess, and because it's a public forum, I'm uncertain how much I really, really want to divulge at this point.

Actually, I want to talk about it all - but not with everyone, not just with anyone, and not just whenever.

So, I'll start with one single point: I don't have it all together. In fact, I feel like I'm headed towards some kind of cliff.

Work, religion/atheist, gender, sexual orientation, money, life issues. I'm seeing a therapist for the gender/orientation thing and I've spoken with her about the rest.

Hearing other peoples' stories - on Paul's and others' podcasts, and in other venues - has been healing. Not enough, so I'm obviously seeing the therapist.

I look forward to checking this forum out and participating as much as I feel safe in doing so, and feel it would be helpful to me.

Thanks for reading.

Hello BrianD, welcome to our little forum! Make yourself at home in the threads and topics here!

Forum tips: You can keep up with all activity on the forum by clicking “View active topics” under the main Board index. And when you post, you can subscribe to the replies by clicking on “Subscribe topic” at the bottom of the page – this also allows you to subscribe to new replies of any topic that interests you.

So happy to hear that you are being self-loving by seeking help from a therapist. Please take care, keep the lines of communication open, we here are cheering for you and for your greatest today and tomorrow!

Hello Brian, welcome to the forum.

Hi Brian. I can understand about not wanting to divulge everything at once. I was scared at first too, but the more I wrote, the freer I felt. It's ok to go slow and see what everyone else is going through. This is my sacred place where I can just feel safe and write my heart out. It's very therapeutic to know that you really aren't alone, even though we feel like that going through life.

I'm glad you are seeing a therapist. Yeah, the show is great and I'm inspired by Paul G, but we need more than that to heal. You are brave to see a therapist and also come here to share your story. I hope you start to feel at home here and reap the benefits of being in this community. It's virtual and I don't expect anything back like a reply when I post on people's threads, but just reading about people's struggles and sharing my vulnerabilities is enough for me. Good luck with everything.

Greetings and salutations.

You had me at "(Hi Brian)", BTW.

Yeah, I'm a mess, too. If you read through some of my other posts, including my intro here not too long ago, you'll probably see that I'm not just whistling Dixie with that. Actually, I think EVERYONE is a mess, one way or another. I think reality is messy and confusing and complicated for everyone, but the only perspective I have is my own, so I can easily get stuck thinking that I'm the only one who feels like the entire universe exists for the sole and specific purpose of shitting directly on me. Some people appear to be less aware of their mess than others do; some have more effective coping mechanisms, at the moment, than I do; some are, poor souls, even MESSIER than me. It ebbs and flows, though, as long as I keep breathing and paying attention. So, I wish continued breathing to you