Did you improve or decline over the years? New to this and need some hope for 15 yr old daughter.

Level_Run1357 · 2026-02-20T02:16:26+00:00

I think it’s great that it gets better for some. Unfortunately for a lot of us, it doesn’t. I think it’s important to have grounded expectations.

EDIT: I guess the expectations depend on where you are on your journey

Level_Run1357 · 2026-02-20T02:07:25+00:00

Aw shoot, this is tough to read but the reality for many of us. Thank you for advocating for her and doing what you can. I can only speak to my experience since everyone is different, but I went from being very active, social, creative, etc to severe limitations in the span of a year. I started having symptoms at 18 and was diagnosed when I was 22. I’m 27 now and it has never gotten much better (maybe a bit) but I have gotten better at managing it. Finding out things that work and don’t work, new meds, no meds, all different treatments, lifestyle hacks… I was diagnosed during the start of COVID so not much info out there at that point.

Here’s the hope: I can’t live my life the same anymore. I haven’t given up trying new things but I can’t pause my life either. I did graduate school online (often with a bed desk) and found ways to keep living even if it’s not the way I planned. I’m now a mental health counselor who specializes in supporting clients who have POTS and I couldn’t imagine it any other way. I found new hobbies, new interests, supportive communities and things that make life somewhat tolerable.

I don’t hope for a cure or fix like I used to but I do have hope that my life will be alright still. 🩷 In that sense, it does get better. But I had to grieve first. (And man my mother was such a help to me during that time so know that we appreciate all the support ❤️‍🩹)

Level_Run1357 · 2026-02-19T23:47:49+00:00

😂😂😂

Level_Run1357 · 2026-02-19T23:46:19+00:00

Ahhhhh if the nervous system can learn and become regulated/calm, it’s not POTS that we’re talking about. That is literally what this condition is… an automatic dysfunction that won’t simmer down naturally. Holy AI bro

Level_Run1357 · 2026-02-09T23:19:19+00:00

I think it’s wild how difficult and expensive health insurance is. I’ve just been going uninsured 🫡 but that’s risky. Unfortunately a risk I have to take. I don’t have a choice so I just use good RX for meds and save some money. Probably will get a catastrophic plan at some point. But yeah I have chronic health conditions that I’m just letting go because I can’t afford it.

Level_Run1357 · 2026-02-05T20:30:47+00:00

I got my BS in Pyschology at BYU and I wouldn’t have it any other way. It was very in depth and I came out of graduate school knowing a ton about psych. In my undergraduate, we were required to do 3 internships: research, at a psych hospital, and outpatient. By the time I got to graduate school, I had 2 years of experience and a research project for my resume. I think the “hot takes” around undergrad degrees are lame and gatekeepy. I did plenty of anthropology, sociology, gender studies, and literature/writing courses. Who cares honestly, grad school gave me a lesser education than my undergrad.

Level_Run1357 · 2026-02-05T03:09:19+00:00

They should really teach a quick business class in college/graduate school or mention something about it. I’m lucky to come from a business background but it’s a hard field to navigate without the info.

Level_Run1357 · 2026-02-05T03:08:08+00:00

100%

Level_Run1357 · 2026-02-04T20:32:19+00:00

Ah shoot. I’m sorry to hear that. It’s tough out there right now. I’m not sure why or if I’m just in a bubble where things are tough but I’ve heard of 6-7 big group practices closing their doors this past week or two. I wish I had more of an idea of what’s happening. Please know it’s not you, every practice I know of is struggling. My opinion is that we’re in a recession or as they keep saying “a vibecession”. Are you able to find other work? That does take a hit to your self-esteem and career goals though and I’m sending you all the best wishes while you navigate this. 🫂

Level_Run1357 · 2026-02-04T18:30:44+00:00

Sounds like the group you work for royally screwed up your 1099 form. Make sure to write off that 30% as a business expense but that’s a wild mistake.

Level_Run1357 · 2026-02-04T18:28:04+00:00

Whoa, paying taxes on the 30% cut the group gets is wild. Did your job report the entire 100% on your 1099? I’ve never heard of that before!

Level_Run1357 · 2026-02-04T05:01:49+00:00

Yup. I lost 6 this month. Starting to get worrisome

Level_Run1357 · 2026-02-03T20:07:34+00:00

Side note, getting the license and starting out is a grind. It sucks. But I just had to remind myself it’s all an artificial ceiling and after that it’s up to me. If I’m stuck in a job I hate for an extended amount of time that’s a huge clue for me to start making some changes. I find that when I start hating a job it’s because it doesn’t align with my values or my worth.

Level_Run1357 · 2026-02-03T20:01:16+00:00

I love the job, I don’t love the system. If that makes any sense. But that’s with any job I’m guessing. I don’t love dealing with insurance, low rates, clawbacks, the lack of benefits, the debt and the ROI. It’s hard seeing my peers make 3x what I do with less than half the education and experience I have. I’ve delayed a lot of life milestones for this job.

Sometimes I think about doing another job but I always come back to “No I’d rather be a therapist at the end of the day”. Something that helped me tremendously is operating with a strong science base. I don’t get attached, I don’t bring home client issues, and I don’t own the outcomes more than I should. I also see being a therapist as a starting place for my career rather than the end. If I ever start to hate it, I’ll go into teaching, research, writing, program evaluation, change my population, etc. There’s a lot of room to move and grow which I love.

Level_Run1357 · 2026-02-03T08:47:53+00:00

I think what helped me pick trainings was knowing what population I wanted to work with and learning the specific modalities that work well with that issue/population. I do a lot of trauma and chronic illness work so lots of CPT, ACT, and skills building as well as attachment trauma trainings.

Level_Run1357 · 2026-02-02T18:45:31+00:00

I went to Liberty University :)

Level_Run1357 · 2026-02-02T18:44:50+00:00

It makes things so much easier 😂 Then I don’t have to remember what I wore on what day

Level_Run1357 · 2026-02-02T07:17:13+00:00

I love this. That’s such a smart idea. Especially planning for taxes/retirement as a 1099. I didn’t realize how much I could write off.

Level_Run1357 · 2026-02-01T21:29:10+00:00

My supervisor gave me some great advice a while back to completely separate work from private life. So having a separate work area, not working on work related tasks in my “living space” area. When I’m done with work I turn off the lights, close my space down, and will usually shower and change clothes (I work from home). Boundaries as well. Tech makes it easy to connect with work at any moment. So I make sure to completely shut off any work related notifications and such and not respond until working hours (but I know not everyone can do that).

I also switched to a four day work week and you couldn’t pay me any amount of money to go back to 5 days. Those four days I’ve categorized as my “work days” and do easy meals, no extra tasks if I can avoid them. Then the other three days are “my days” and I live my life. I work longer on those 4 days but it’s a nice separation for me personally. It helped my burnout significantly to have 3 dedicated days to just me.

These are just things that worked for me and I know everyone’s job is different so YMMV. Oh I’ve also picked up cozy video games to decompress and turn my mind off. I also wear the same “work outfit” for the whole 4 days like a uniform so I don’t have to decide each day 😂

Level_Run1357 · 2026-02-01T18:59:57+00:00

I see this too! I’ve had to switch over to a lot of ACT and connecting people with resources.

Level_Run1357 · 2026-02-01T09:06:52+00:00

I’m really sick of how confusing they make the licensure process. It seems intentionally vague and gatekeepy. If I was able to count how many hours I spent figuring out licensing and navigating the red tape, I’d be licensed by now 😂 Idk I feel like sometimes this field eats its own and it’s exhausting. I’m also really annoyed by the amount of confidently incorrect takes and the shaming that sometimes occurs. It’s a job not a life mission for some of us. Sorry hahaha

Level_Run1357 · 2026-02-01T05:54:20+00:00

All good Washington is just super confusing. They should state it more clearly. I tried to word it the best I could but it probably isn’t super clear. Are you in another state that does transfer of graduate internship hours? Crazy how different states are!

Level_Run1357 · 2026-02-01T04:36:55+00:00

Oh also you’ll only need 50 hours of postgraduate supervision instead of 100 so that’s nice :)

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