...and I survived! I leave tomorrow. I am floored and amazed. I KNOW my therapy is working now - I made it through 3 days of my family of origin and have not gone back on my meds, have not broken down crying once, have not had to leave in my rental car to get away from them, and have not had to call T - what a very different experience this visit is, compared to past visits. I had a wonderful visit with 3 gal pals I used to work with years ago, we spent 4 hours together laughing and talking it was so great. I spent some time yesterday with my FOO at our cousins and that was a fun reunion too. All in all it has been a very fun trip and I am actually glad I came. Incredible incredible. I even spent some time talking with my Dad about therapy (as he's going through it as well right now) normally he won't talk about it but I guess because I'm doing it too, he was willing to listen to me share a little bit about mine and my progress. He's very very resistant to his. It's been a really wonderful and relaxing trip. And now I know for SURE beyond a doubt that my therapy has worked wonders. If I can tolerate my FOO without medication, I must be healing! I stated my boundaries on day one and did not waver from them. T will be so proud when I talk to her.

[unaluna]

You're my hero!!

That's brilliant news
It's nice to hear of a success story! You and your t must have done some really hard work!

Thanks hankster & monalisasmile, yep we did do some really hard work. I tell t all the time when she mentions how hard I've worked that I was in just the absolutely right 'place' when I started seeing her, I was ready and willing to work hard and as she says I dived right in head first from day 1! I found the right T for me - that was huge.

[likelife]

Fantastic work, Artemis! I'm so glad the trip went well and that you got to enjoy yourself.

My mom told me today before I left that she and my sister were discussing the very positive changes they can see in me. She said that in the past they had always noticed that when I was in a social situation I would answer other people's questions to me and then look down at the floor and clam up. She said her and my sister were remarking to each other how completely opposite I was this trip - maintaining eye contact with people and starting conversations and exuding confidence and self-esteem which I never have before. I was really surprised and taken aback a little by such compliments from my mother! She told me to tell my therapist "good job". I told her that I tell her that all the time but she always tells me in response that I am the one who did the work. Strange my mother didn't have a response to that LOL. My confidence is a shield!!!

[WikidPissah]

totally cool Arty...totally cool. Good job!