Couch 230: Decent Communications

QM, thanks for the info about the swedish stuff.

We Aspergics don't like unanswered questions. It's nothing personal.

Okay, I can understand that, and I don't blame him or tell him I get triggered.

I do however set boundaries in a direct way, and my issue is that he still keeps asking invasive questions. I understand he considers himself very open, but I've repeatedly told him I have different comfort levels.

Do you have suggestions on how I explain to him? Because it's pushing my triggers even though I don't blame him and I'm working on my triggers, and it's quickly affecting my desire to remain friends.

You could say that you understand his need to know, but you also have needs. Your secrets belong to you and that's the way it's going to stay. If he wants to be a friend, he must do what a friend does: respect your privacy. If he doesn't respect your privacy, he's no friend.

You have to join the dots because he can't do it by himself.

Okay, thanks CE. I struggle to join the dots myself with regards to other stuff, so that's a very helpful framework I can keep in mind that it's not personal and not malicious.

Morning couch! Getting ready to start work but I have a few minutes before I have to log on, so thought I'd drop in. Happy Sunday and hugs all around to those who need/want.



I just looked at the picture of the "mood elevator" that I have on the wall above my desk and see that this morning I am at hopeful. That's a pretty good place to start a work day, I'd wager.


Hope everybody has a good day!

That's cool, Artie!

I will investigate this 'mood elevator' further.

Hope you have a good day too.

Camping with the BF. It’s a relief to be somewhere green again.

Enjoy, Chihiro!

Beautiful pic, chihiro! Have fun!

hey couch. happy monday. Hugs to all who want/need.


I am already looking forward to when we don't have to take calls on Mondays anymore!! And it's only the 2nd Monday doing it. Finally lunchtime! Thank goodness for hour lunch breaks, I would hate only having 30 minutes when we have to be on the phones. I've taken 25 calls today in 3.75 hours and they've been back to back - hang up from one and the next one's in your ear before you've even closed the previous account. apparently we're "all hands on deck" on Mondays because today I keep getting transfers from people who are like "I don't know what I'm doing, i don't usually take calls" and i'm like neither do i, but we'll get through it! Many of my callers today either woke up on the wrong side of the bed or forgot to eat their wheaties for breakfast or somethin'. Thankfully I've gotten a lot better at handling being cussed out for something I have absolutely no control over whatsoever.


H's next liver scan is tomorrow, the one where they are going to find out the extent of the damage to his liver so the specialist will know what the next steps are. He now wants me to go with him, so I'm just gonna work 4 hours in the morning then work another 4 hours after we get back. My sup is really good about letting us do that so we can avoid calling in sick or using PTO for stuff like that.

Artie, good luck with H's liver scan. I hope the damage isn't too severe and that the results will be better than expected. HUGS kit

Also sending good thoughts, Artie.

Usually, Dr. T and I schedule for the next full week on Mondays. Next week is somewhat complicated because I'll be out of town for part of it, but can still meet virtually though my time options are more limited (when I could potentially have privacy). He offered me 9 a.m. the one day, I said I wasn't sure if I could do that, but could have done 10. He said he could ask his 10 a.m. client if he'd be willing to switch, and I was like, "Well, OK." So he texted him, he got back to him almost immediately and said he could switch. I said, "Tell him thanks for me--right, I guess you can't really do that. 'Anonymous person thanks other anonymous person.'"


I felt slightly awkward about it, but not nearly as awkward as the time ex-MC *called* someone during our session (while we were sitting right there) to ask if they could do a different time (he'd messed up and put someone in our slot because the recurring appointment thing had ended on the calendar). And they answered, so he was having a conversation with another client in front of us (of course we could only hear his end).

I'm feeling down today. I'm not sure why. I wasn't feeling great yesterday but yesterday it was more...physical, while today it's definitely emotional/mental. I talk to my case manager tonight so I'll let her know. I'm suicidal but I don't know that I will be that direct with her. I don't want to end up at the hospital right now.


I have tickets to go to Disneyland this Saturday which are non-refundable. I'm kind of second guessing going because of the Delta variant, even though I am vaccinated and I could wear a mask.

I'm pissed.
Trigger for COVID:

Ugh, I'm sorry, particularly that you have to cancel your in-person sessions with L.

Thanks for the TW, Scarlet. I don't know what's going on, but I'm sending hugs.

Scarlet, i hope you havent been exposed.

Omg y’all hahahaaaaa

I commissioned a piece of digital art on Etsy — just wanted someone to take a photo of my BF and me and create a piece of art from it. I only paid $15 but just like what *even* is this??? I mean, I am no artist and would never put someone down for doing any art that makes them happy, but charging people money is another matter entirely (especially since the Etsy seller’s demo artwork was way nicer than this).

What do I do?