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

I'm so mentally exhausted just from going grocery shopping today.
We have company coming over in an hour and all I want to do is crawl into bed.
I've begun opening up about my sexual abuse and it's fucking exhausting.

I just want someone to be strong for me. I just want to collapse and be held and protected. I wish for big strong arms and the safety a little girl might feel if she were held by a good dad. I want that kind of hug. Like I'm the little one and someone else can handle this for me, can carry me safely to bed and keep watch out for boogiemen.
That's the hug I need.

You deserve a big hug, wren. Giving you an Internet hugs {{{{{HUGS}}}}} Please take care.

My therapist has me practicing being a loving father to the children inside me - my six-year-old-self and my 13-year-old-self. I have to practice speaking to them in a very loving and warm voice. It is not easy, because of bad habits in speaking to myself.

I am not a man but since it's a virtual hug anyway I am sending you my biggest, strongest, safest, most paternal and protective hug ever.

I'll be very careful not to crush any bones though.

Hey thanks y'all. I needed another hug to day and I remembered I had already asked for one before. So here I came and received just what I needed.
It helps, even if it is virtual.