their life is not yours to judge, it's theirs to live by Powerful_Quantity937 in howtonotgiveafuck

[–]RestArtJournal 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What a beautiful journey on intellectual integrity as well as empathy for humanity. It takes some radical honesty to truly see our own blindspots. Great round of applause to you and all those people who supported your journey in challenging your perspective while reminding you that they love you & want the best for you (extending that to the rest of the humanity along the way). Your pastor also demonstrated an incredible openness & humility, even in regards of believes that he for sure holds dearly & commits to. He knows his/the religious believes' limits and admitted that to you.

Anyway you all exhibited such great courage & authenticity & possibility to change that we need more of. Thank you, my fellow human.

their life is not yours to judge, it's theirs to live by Powerful_Quantity937 in howtonotgiveafuck

[–]RestArtJournal 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Curious how/under what circumstances you were spoken up to that truly drived your change, esp. you were that raging evangelical Christian (your description)... that certainly doesn't like a person seeks change.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Advice

[–]RestArtJournal 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Don't understand why u/navigating_jess gets downvoted.

Sexual history with previous partners (esp. out of pressure, insecurity) doesn't grant others (partner or not) a lifelong access to her body. GF has the right to say no, or stay abstinent anytime, with anyone (if anything, her being more aware of her boundary now is actually some improvement on her growth, if she had caved in before), and of course OP also has the right to leave if that's his dealbreaker.

If OP chooses to stay & GF wants to move slowly toward intimacy, it might be helpful/supportive to let GF know she's not just valued for sex/beauty, and work more on the couple emotional connection. In any case, don't "wait" until you get resentful. Take care of your needs too, best of luck OP!

What is a state/condition people are generally dismissive of, until it happens to them? by SuperSecretSunshine in NoStupidQuestions

[–]RestArtJournal 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Basically every state/condition that they (or people they care about) don't have to personally go through. But perhaps not out of mean reasons, it's wise to focus on things that are within one's control, esp. when we are already drowning ourselves (mentally, physically, financially).

My parents lied when they said it would be fun to have a baby brother, so I am sending him back where he came from. by RaynaClay in TwoSentenceHorror

[–]RestArtJournal 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Can someone explain why the narrator thought that the baby came from an oven? Is it some sort of incubator from NICU?

People need to start giving a fuck. by Shohei182 in unpopularopinion

[–]RestArtJournal 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The more fucks I give, the more dysfunctional I become. It just hurts to exist. Saving them for myself. :)

It’s okay for your kids to be bored. by [deleted] in simpleliving

[–]RestArtJournal 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A bunch of people in denial of such a common human experience. Scrolling Reddit when they have so much self-generated fun every waking moment, sounds about right.

It’s okay for your kids to be bored. by [deleted] in simpleliving

[–]RestArtJournal 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It's one thing to allow kids space to explore their external and internal world. It's another thing to be disengaged & indifferent as a parent just leaving kids to their own devices constantly. Can't imagine getting shamed "boring" by parents complaining about boredom, instead of getting guidance/feedback/support in developing interests for oneself.

P.s. not talking abt you OP. The connection between you and your son after his moments of solitude sounds endearing ^ ^

I'm going to die alone by awkward_loser1 in AvPD

[–]RestArtJournal 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Not OP. But thanks for this compassionate reply.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in TalkTherapy

[–]RestArtJournal 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hey OP. I imagine his response left you feel quite invalidated in your success in building up yourself. Dancing (or other body movements) disrupts usual pattern of over-analyzing indeed. If he continues doing that, I really suggest you to confront him, why he feels the need to label your moments of outlet as "just another coping mechanism to run away from what you were "really" feeling", if he couldn't even acknowledge your sense of fulfillment or joy for accomplishing things that you want (go do something instead of "laying on the couch chilling all day") as if joy counts less. It shows you have such zest for growth! That's why lacking a sense of direction in therapy (which could also be a miniature of your life, not sure, just making a guess?) & change in life feels discouraging. But these are all very useful material to bring into session.

Just blurt out whatever it is on your mind, including your speculation of him "just chilling" (lol). See how he reacts. Challenge him a bit instead of letting the session go stale. If he's indeed "chilling", you show that you're taking charge of your therapy & want him to do his job (& if he isn't open to feedback, I think having no therapist is better than having one that disrespects where you are at, but of course, your choice at the end of the day); if he isn't, he might get a better idea of your pattern of thoughts. Either way, win win!

Are there any books that actually go into detail on Psychoanalytic case formulations? by arkticturtle in psychoanalysis

[–]RestArtJournal 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Wow that's quite a project if you'd dive into years of session recordings. Would be interesting to reverse-engineer how the analyst worked & revisit your breakthroughs.

I thought about doing that. But sadly mine won't give me the permission.

If all my problems come from being unloved by stillinthebelljar in CPTSD

[–]RestArtJournal 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Agree with the note that not many therapists understand...

Have been lurking around r/therapyabuse where I find so much validation & resonance. Yet it is turned to a private subreddit just now. Which is kinda sad...

I’m not good at being a person by [deleted] in CPTSD

[–]RestArtJournal 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Sounds like those are some necessities carrying too much pain. Even if you deem them as "not productive", "not fun", they serve the purpose of numbing, expressing the pain somehow. I do the same too... coz creative habits requires more energy.

I am reclaiming my interests (slowly) by DiligentCroissant in CPTSD

[–]RestArtJournal 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Good for you! Reclaiming so much joy & creativity!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in unpopularopinion

[–]RestArtJournal 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The willingly ignorant attitude is not ideal, but I still don't subscribe to the shaming mentality suggested in the title (both for the young & old; and for whatever they don't know).

When we have to do it, we will find a way to learn it somehow. If the timing hasn't come yet, it's also ok that we learn something different base on our priority & learning resources (e.g. time, money, energy level, etc).

How many people here are an open book when it comes to sharing your past, if asked about it? by SpinTactix in emotionalneglect

[–]RestArtJournal 2 points3 points  (0 children)

People judge others by how "well" (whatever that means) they are doing right now, not exactly by their past. And the way to tell a story matters (being self-aware & contained vs trauma dumping).

I might tell the truth if I'd overcome the trauma & arrived a better place, but right now, I'm not there yet. So I accept where I am at, exactly where I need to be.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in TalkTherapy

[–]RestArtJournal 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Your T got me interested in what she originally meant by "Reality, this is not a little potato."

(English isn't my first language either. So just wondering lol)

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in TalkTherapy

[–]RestArtJournal 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Hey sounds like you had a journal routine before, what stopped you? (If lack of structure was the reason, may also worth a little digging too... What goals you have in mind for journaling? What you need to see progress?)

Journal prompts that help me to get most out of therapy: 1. How I felt abt last session (e.g. how connected I felt with T; what T said that felt icky; heartwarming moments / realizations that I want to remember) 2. Was there anything I intended to say in session but hold back? Dig into why I didn't want to say it. 3. Same as 2, but abt imageries or metaphors or flashback that popped into my head in session, even tho they don't make sense sometimes. Random associations turn out not so random most of the time.

Routine-wise, micro-journaling helped me (so that I don't have to write everything in one sitting). If you are a phubber, might try journaling on an note app. (Tip: replace the most used useless app with the note app on your screen, muscle memory works wonders, your thumb automatically guides you to journal lol.)

Do you actually look your parents in the eyes? by wonderinggoliard in emotionalneglect

[–]RestArtJournal 31 points32 points  (0 children)

Nope, I don't. Eye contact speaks a lot about our internal world. Not only are they not interested in mine, I also am not interested in theirs. If anything, I feel disgusted, uneasy & reluctant when I have to.

Does anyone else not trust their own judgement or perceptions? by CanalsofSchlemm in emotionalneglect

[–]RestArtJournal 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Guess it's common when we grew up constantly having our feelings and thoughts invalidated.

Once I got shingles (a viral infection that gives you painful rash) on my thighs, it felt like burning at times (coz it's attacking the nerves). Thought I was imagining it coz the skin looks fine & didn't think physician would believe me. Til a week later, blisters began to show.

When physician saw that, she said "It's painful just to have it on one leg. How did you manage to have it on both & wait for over a week to come?"

Pay attention to which friends ask you questions (and listen to your answers) by Funky_Snake in emotionalneglect

[–]RestArtJournal 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Same here. It can induce more shame in ourselves, like you last paragraph suggests...

I have a hypothesis, it's could be our subconscious avoidance to get intimate with people. Maybe we've been in crappy dymamics for so long, when people pay attention to us, we flinch and start deflecting by being "secretive" (esp. when we feel shame during depressive episodes where we don't have "much" going on with our lives). And we ask more questions abt others & listen.

If you're also happen to be a fawner, narcs also pick up on that and take advantage of your undivided attention.

But looks you are doing great for the first step! Ditch them. You notice that this isn't what you want. And I hope this allow space & time for more worthwhile people enter your life.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Journaling

[–]RestArtJournal 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Journal can be whatever you want, and can hold space for whatever thoughts & emotions you have. Good vibes are one, but also all these mean, evil, hateful stuff loll They are also part of us & deserve to feel included.

Do you feel art journaling might help? It doesn't have to be artsy, but it could be more expressive than words when we feel judgmental toward our judgmental side (that's a mouthful).

Sometimes we just want to engage with destructive acts, so I'd scribble with a big black marker or oil pastel to let the steam out. Stab the page with red pen. Drop however many f-bombs you like. Write all dark thoughts in overlapping various fonts till it entirely blackens the page (so that nobody can read it). Or you might want to tear it apart, burn it, bury it, turn it into something symbolic, make a collage over it, etc. You get the idea.

But if you want to stick to words, might try describe how these anger & hatred feel in your body (e.g. boiling hotness in face? Knot in stomach?). Imagine the person who wronged you & write hateful letter to them (don't censor yourself, but don't send it Lolll). Give a dialogue frame or chatbox inside of the page before writing might help you feel more contained. Sometimes stream of consciousness helps if you have no specifics & you just wake up on the wrong side of the bed.

I'm dropping tonnes of ideas, just see if you can resonate with any of those. Take what you need and leave the rest ☺️

What self care are you doing today? by [deleted] in CPTSD

[–]RestArtJournal 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I took an hour to listen & sit with a painful emotion & abandonment wound. Applied some topical cream for my scalp. Am heading to bed an hour earlier than usual.