[mcl6136]

I'm OOT (Out of Therapy) for the first time in many years..during the holidays.

As you may have surmised, I don't exactly have a Hallmark Card Life. That meant the gap between the idealized life and my real one seems larger during this time of the calendar year.

So, I am really summoning up my former T's (I mean the good ones) advice about coping in difficult times. It's helping to a certain extent -- I can hear the echo of good solid therapeutic advice, but it's the space and time of therapy that I miss. The chance to simply process what's going on (or not going on) in my life.

The longer I'm OOT, the more I understand that therapy provides a space and time to process and hear my own thoughts and parse what's going on, confidentially. Sometimes I think that was the key element for me, rather than any particular therapist. I mean, there were good ones and bad ones, but sometimes I understand the role of a bartender in old movies. Just to listen.

No real question here.

[here today]

I hear you.

[piggy momma]

Do you have any desire to go back to therapy?

[seeker33]

This was a good analysis. I feel the same.

[koru_kiwi]

Originally Posted by mcl6136

...sometimes I understand the role of a bartender in old movies. Just to listen.

and the best thing about an accommodating bartender is they quite possibly could even share a drink with you without over analysing the intent

[mcl6136]

Originally Posted by koru_kiwi

and the best thing about an accommodating bartender is they quite possibly could even share a drink with you without over analysing the intent

Now that's a keeper!!!

[mcl6136]

Originally Posted by piggy momma

Do you have any desire to go back to therapy?

Thank you for asking!!

I kind of ...do and I kind of...don't.

I've been having some pretty big problems at work. My former boss (who quit working here after many years and finally retired) has been meddling in our organization in a destructive and ongoing way.

This is the kind of problem that I would be ABLE to bring to therapy, because therapy is a confidential space and the nature of my work demands confidentiality. (I work with peoples' financial information a lot). So I miss therapy in that regard.

Even more critical is the fact that I also have a huge "incomplete" when it comes to the whole DATING issue, which I was tackling with the T who (basically) abandoned me. So I feel that I have work to do, and miss the "space" of therapy, but I don't know if I want to seek new Ts, interview them, and start from scratch.

I realize that my attitude blows, and that in a sense, I can feel the early intimations of depression starting around the margins of my life. I made it through the holidays but there was a lot of wear and tear associated with being with my family. I'm worried that I will start not caring what I wear/eat/and cut back on healthy habits and self care....all of this kind of alarms me.

I mean, I was in therapy for a REASON!!!