New therapist

@Former-Member I can understand your feelings about moving onto someone new but maybe keep an open mind as your gp might have good suggestions.

Have you lost confidence in your psychiatrist too? Or would you be able to talk to them about the meds? I've had many med changes over the years and it's been good to be guided by someone who knows me. I've actually been on the same main med now for 20 years, plus I've tried some others from time to time.

How are you feeling about the Christmas season coming up? Do you have plans?

@rav3n I guess like anyone I'll have to think through what I can afford vs investing in positive change. I hadn't considered maybe having both a psychologist and MH SW. It's amazing to me to think I might have agency and choice, for so long I just took the meds I was prescribed and that was it.

I had a good therapist years ago, only could see him for 10 weeks though. We did talk therapy which worked for me. He also helped me see things about myself I didn’t realise. Following something I said he asked me who a specific family member is and why I hate that person. Rewording his question and gently promoting me to search my memories he helped me see I had subconsciously held a grudge against this person for more than 30 years. Also helped me discover why I held the grudge plus we worked through was it reasonable etc.

Sounds like a good therapist @Former-Member . I hope you can find someone as good.

I no longer have a psychiatrist @Dimity and I refuse to go back to the one I had. A guy I saw 4 times within 12mths. 1st appointment went for approx 2hrs and left me feeling traumatised by actions he chose to take. 3rd appointment he kept me waiting in passage near his room for approx 1hr …. No apology from him, no nothing.
4th and last appointment I mentioned something about my father in law. Psychiatrist started saying about good it was for me to have support from my dad. If he checked and reviewed his own notes plus typed info I had given him, he would have known my dad died decades ago and was linked to lot of my childhood trauma.

my tradition for Christmas is buying roast meals from a specific shop plus grocery shopping for what I want. On one level, Christmas is like any other day of the year. This year I’ve been invited to join group of others in village where I live to BYO barbecue on Christmas Day.

some years spent part of Christmas Day with relatives at a cousins home. Those plans on hold, she has hospital soon to investigate if has stomach ulcer or something worse.

how are you feeling about Christmas period this year? Any thoughts what you will do?

That psychiatrist was out of line @Former-Member . It sounds like an abuse of power combined with thoughtlessness and carelessness. Complete lack of awareness as to what he was doing and how it'd be perceived.

I'm glad you've been invited to the BBQ - I guess that sense of community is a good reason for investing in a retirement village. I don't have that. Sorry to hear about your cousin.

I had a choice of relatives to go to this year but I'm not sure how it will work out as plans have had to change since then. We'll still meet I guess but I'm not sure where. I'm also going out for the day on Thursday as an early celebration. I haven't finished my Xmas shopping or posted cards yet. I'll try not to ruminate on all the family I'm estranged from.

@Dimity Only gift buying I do at Christmas is for me …. Maybe new toys for the cats. Being estranged from family can be a horrid thing and I feel your pain.

due to having recently made lot of Christmas cards that didn’t sell, I won’t need to buy any cards this year. Couple weeks time I’ll decide the ones I want to give people and place them into their mailboxes.

I’ve decided to give Christmas card to my local doctor plus my eye surgeon and their respective staff.

I’ve started thinking of things to do early next year to help me feel better …… digging up current plants, getting rid of some, moving some and planting new plants.

It's great you can use your own handmade cards @Former-Member .

I'm trying to get back into my garden too. I do feel better afterwards. I need to weed, repot and plant out. And trim.

• How are you going with your curtain project?

@Dimity Haven’t gone back to my drape project. They are not going anywhere so will get done eventually. With the ones Ive gone so far and the hot Sunny days recently I’ve seen I will need to get quotes from blind companies. Above my 3 triple sliding doors is more glass that has no sun blockout. Above and beside front door the small panels of glass let in so much glare.

@Jynx at appointment this morning my therapist read the letter I had typed, saw on her face different emotions as she read it. After she apologised she asked if we could talk about things or if I wanted to leave and not come back. I feel I was listened to based on things she said. I verbally mentioned things of feeling like have no control off what happens each appointment plus few other things.
following therapist giving good details about different therapies she is trained in I have settled on wanting to try Schema therapy. Mutual decisions were made on variety of things that I initiated. Therapist said would email me list of questions as part of Schema therapy. Came home feeling better but wondering if email would happen. Email arrived with the attachment. Everyone makes errors, felt comfortable with therapist fairly quickly plus have found her to be perceptive during face to face chats hence giving her another chance. Have made things clear, if happens again I won’t be back

@Snowie thanks for mentioning where you are able to email your therapist in between sessions. I talked about this as an idea today with my therapist who said she never thought to offer that to me. Will be seeing her each 2 weeks from next month which I’m hoping will be benefit for me

@Former-Member have you considered cellular/honeycomb blinds? I'd like them eventually (there's a lot to work through first).

Well done for being assertive with the therapist and discussing your needs.