Couch 158: The Newberry Couch!

Rainbow, if you're going to take a bath, make it an epsom salt bath--great for cramps and muscle aches in general. Here's some info on it: https://www.livestrong.com/article/1...ve-leg-cramps/

Hope the cramps ease up soon rainbow

Kitty people my kittens have started doing things like peeing on the bed. They were in my room watching birds and I don't know whether they were too interested and couldn't make it to the litter in time. Anyway they are now banned from my bed. Do you think this is just a one off? Or can it become a pattern?

Are they spayed/neutered yet?

Sounds about right. There are some really good exercises for sciatica -- went through physical therapy for that some years back due to a bulging disc. The exercises really helped. You can probably find them online and save yourself the cost of physical therapy (and the time). Glad you have some answers and it sounds like something very manageable. FYI: The flexeril might make you sleepy/loopy, so try it first in the evening so you can sleep it off if needed (might solve some of you sleep issue too).

Several years ago, I had an issue with my sciatic nerve. My piriformis muscle was getting irritated and every time I would stand up or sit down I would get the most painful cramp in that muscle (it's underneath your glutes near your pelvis, so basically I had a pain in the butt). It was incredibly painful. I was having trouble walking, getting in and out of the car, and just doing life. I also had issues with numbness in my foot/ankle and on the outside of my knee. But it was only on one side, not both legs. The sciatic nerve runs through the piriformis muscle so my symptoms made sense. If you have any numbness or unusual tingling, that would be a good indication that the sciatic nerve is involved. I'm not a doctor, just offering up my anecdotal evidence.

By the way, the doctors at the time had basically no clue what was going on and treated me like I was crazy or drug-seeking. Fun time. I was ready to kill myself if it had gone on much longer because it was so intensely painful.

ETA, my back didn't hurt either.

My back wasn't the initial issue either. I had numbness in one foot like you did NP and getting up and down. Sciatica is odd that way. Fortunately they did an MRI pretty early on and figured out the issue.

I actually think mine returned this past year, this time I feel it in my tailbone. It has taken over a year, but it has finally worked its way out after I started actively doing my exercises again and using a posture cushion. I think it's one of those issues that tends to come and go unfortunately.

Hope it doesn't hang in too long for you, Rainbow. It can take a few months though. No fun.

Hey couch. Boy am I glad my eye exam is Saturday! (Finally scheduled one) my eyes feel like they wanna jump outta my head today, ugh.

In other news I'm missing t again.. I know it'll pass, it's just 'cause of the dream I had last night, but dang it I'm all distracted. I guess my eyes and the frequent eyeball headaches as I call them aren't helping. My mood is kinda blah and I suppose I should take it elsewhere until I can be more positive again. Sorry couch.

No not yet. They are only 16 weeks old the earliest anyone will spay them is 20 weeks, so just after Christmas.

I am slowly realizing that a work friend has the potential to become a friend friend. I feel pretty good about that.

I am thinking about using YouTube in my quest to become more handy. Maybe I need to think of a good household project to work on over the holidays.

I made a friend at work who I thought could be a real friend. I went to her house and it was fine until she put her hand in my lap and I thought she wanted to have sex with me. I got very paranoid after that and left shortly after. I haven't gone to her place again. We get along really well at work

This is all what keeps me seeing my chiropractor. I didnt realize the outside of your knee could hurt so much - there isnt any "meat" there!

I was 36 & 1/2 when my son was born 19 years ago.

I know it's an older post, but if you're frustrated and disappointed, that's very normal. I've done 4 rounds of Clomid. I ovulated on 3, but not pregnant. We're taking a break until we see our new fertility specialist after Christmas. So if you ever need to vent, I'm here. I so get it.

In random fun V news, apparently her gluten free macaroni and cheese was delicious. I also saw a tattoo on her forearm for the first time, but couldn't see it well enough to know what it was.

In session today, we listened to my 911 call, which I finally got a copy of. It was very intense in a really unpleasant way. I'm glad he listened to it with me. I'm not exactly sure what dissociation looks like, but I think I dissociated for most of the rest of the session. I felt distant and zoned out. I don't think I should have been driving when I left.

They also give you something called a Computer Aided Dispatch, which seems to be what the operator types in and some of the radio traffic during the event. They noted that I was "very hysterical" and at one point "having a hard time breathing". It shows which units (cops) show up at the scene. Apparently 30 different cops showed up that night.

My next session isn't until Monday. I wish it wasn't so far away. I need more support from him right now. I wish he would call to check up on me tonight.

I think, judging by how absolutely freaked out I sound on the recording, that I've been majorly minimizing how traumatic this event was for me. I wish I could have been one of those calm and cool people just reporting a fire instead of a hysterical woman.

The last section of my psychology textbook is called “What Good Therapy Looks Like.”

I am agog.

Because what they describe as good is nothing you have ever seen or heard of?
OR
because what they describe as good therapy is so insane it is unimaginable and/or horrifying?
OR
both?

Mine doesn't have a section like that. I wish it did!

why would it be horrifying? nevermind, i probably shouldn't even ask.

I was agog before I read it. Now I’m just . Your option 1 pretty much explains why.

All the same old canards about the relationship and the alliance and how there should be trust and safety and acceptance between therapist and client.

I think this should be a question on the final:

The relationship between therapist and client is like:

A) hell
B) an alliance
C) a bad acid trip
D) the dark side of the Force

Btw, art, there is a sidebar on drumming and therapy.

And, AY, current t apparently needs to develop “cultural competence.”

A, thats hilarious, and b, thats a great word.

But yeah its like describing a black hole!

Hugs, NP...

So at 10 p.m., my cell rings. I notice it's a local number, but am unsure whether to answer. I decide to, and it's MC (not his cell or regular office #--maybe a different office phone, since same exchange?). He wanted to discuss the e-mail I'd sent Monday, where I was critical of how he seemed to just want to focus on changes I should make in the marriage (rather than stuff H could do, too). It's like he sensed I'd just been telling T today that my transference for him was fading...

I think the call helped? I understand a bit more now where he's coming from, that he doesn't want me dependent on H (or him) to feel OK about myself. I feel better about things with him post-call, but not nearly as transference-y or warm and fuzzy as a call like that would have left me, say, 6 months ago. So think the transference is definitely fading, which is probably a good thing. But I'm also not upset with him anymore. More of a slightly positive feeling, I guess. Since he made the effort to make things right with me.

Hey Crocus if you are watching.....The Nutcracker

and of course for everyone else