Had a revelation today... (LONG)

[tulip]

Cool. Motivational coaches (and dog trainers for that matter) talk about the importance of visualizing what you want, so a vision board makes sense. I don't know much about it, but it seems like the process of making it is more important than having it. I mean a ready-made vision board wouldn't be very useful would it? The power is in the thinking about things and making it.

Oh, I wish my mom had made me say, "I am Tulip and I can do it!" It's taken me 40 years to get to that point. Keep us posted on how it works. You might even inspire some of us to follow suit.

[ASammy1]

OMG! I seriously think the Vision Board is working already and maybe too well!

I have pictures of palm trees on my vision board and DBF (soon to be officially fiance) found out this morning that he is in the running for a job transfer to Hawaii. I was just hoping for a sunny, tropical vacation!

[Crankin]

You are already ahead of the game with your awareness and motivation. Please see a therapist. I am not trying to tout my new profession, but I think you already know how hard it is to deal with addictions, especially since you understand how you substituted one for another. And in general, our society doesn't deal well with eating disorders on any end of the spectrum, so we all get mixed messages.
Good luck.

[ASammy1]

Hey Crankin,

You are absolutely right about seeing a therapist. I did actually start to see one, but she seemed more interested in taking my $$ than helping me. I am shopping around to find one that is a good fit for me.

Thanks!

[Crankin]

Keep looking! My experience is that a Licensed Social Worker or Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor who has a private practice may tend to be more down to earth than PhD shrinks.
Just my personal experience and opinion.

[tulip]

A therapist helped me a whole lot over the last few years. She is a LCSW. Sammy, she's in DC and that's a little far for you, but if she was closer I'd give you her name. Really helped me alot.

[indysteel]

I had good luck with an LCSW, too. I can't tell you how much it's changed my life.

It's hard work for sure and really only works if you commit to being honest with your therapist, which means being honest with yourself of course. That can mean going to some scary, embarrassing, sad, lonely places. It's so worth it though.

About two years into therapy, I had a weekend getaway with some college friends. One of them shared with us that she felt "hopeless." As she was talking, I realized with a certain degree of surprise that I SO didn't feel the same way. I once had, but not anymore. Nothing outward in my life had really changed all that much, but my sense of control and empowerment radically had. It was quite the ah ha moment.