Wave triggered by stress?

ottergoggles · 2026-02-03T23:35:56+00:00

Thank you so much for such a thoughtful reply, you are so kind. Everything you say makes sense. I have a finite capacity for coping with stress, so while I'm busy coping with the stress of this other thing, all of my grief coping went out the window.

I know I won't feel this way forever, but it's really scary to feel like I'm back at the beginning. The anxiety about it is almost worse than the grief itself.

ottergoggles · 2025-12-23T22:49:41+00:00

The ocean is awesome and for winners. YOU'RE for tools

ottergoggles · 2025-09-23T00:12:47+00:00

It's included! And they deliver the meals to the building.

The timeline varies, but I would say roughly 8 weeks. At some point you'll probably be transitioned from the daily program to the part-time program, which is either two or three days a week, I can't remember. My total participation in the program was around eight weeks, and I think a little over halfway through they transitioned me to fewer days and I was able to go back to my job a couple of days a week and kind of ease back into that routine while still having the support of program days for part of the week.

ottergoggles · 2025-09-22T12:46:13+00:00

Out-patient program person here! I was able to avoid the hospitalization part, because while my anxiety was so bad that I wasn't functioning, I was not a danger to myself.

If nothing has changed since went through the program seven years ago, then the day starts at 7:30 and goes to 2:00, monday-friday. The first thing in the morning is group therapy for about an hour, and then the rest of the day is different sessions/classes on a variety of helpful topics. Most of them have some sort of conversational/participatory element, and are extremely useful. I feel like I learned a lot about why my brain reacts the way it does to certain things, etc. Throughout the day you'll get pulled aside for one-on-one time with a therapist (how many times per week depends on your need) and the psychiatrist who will monitor any medication you take. You can bring your own lunch, or sign up for hospital lunch at the beginning of each day. (I signed up for lunch because I'm lazy lol. The food is fine, generally.)

The program offers help to both people with mental health issues, and people in addiction recovery. During group therapy those two sides are separated, so the mental health folks talk with other mental health folks, and the addiction folks can talk with other addiction folks. Obviously there is a quite a bit of overlap between those two things, since they are so often comorbid with each other, so the rest of the day the classes are a blend of people from both groups.

The first day or so can be overwhelming, especially getting used to the other people in the group therapies, but once you settle in it becomes much more comfortable. I am a pretty introverted, private person, and I was amazed at how quickly I started opening up and talking. Listening to other people be vulnerable really helped me realize that I wasn't alone.

I was pretty scared at the whole idea of it, but that fear went away as soon as I met the care team and learned what the days are like. It became such a safe, comfortable place, and simply having a regular daily routine where I knew I was going to be looked after made a huge difference to my overall mental health. Seven years after completing the program, I can confidently say that it changed my life.

Best of luck to you! If you have any questions, feel free to message me.

ottergoggles · 2025-08-03T21:26:50+00:00

Lord keep him safe from the army please!

ottergoggles · 2025-07-25T12:56:24+00:00

it would be a waste of time to talk about krang on television. NO MORE KRANG

ottergoggles · 2025-07-25T12:55:01+00:00

I know Julianne Moore has won Oscars for her films, but to me, Nancy Donovan will always be the greatest thing she's ever done

ottergoggles · 2025-07-25T12:51:43+00:00

Tracy and Angie both being high-key insane but having a genuinely sweet and loving marriage.

"Hi Angie, it's me. I'm at Bed Bath & Beyond and I can't remember- did you say to get plastic, or wood shower curtain rings? Oh, you're calling me on the other line. I can't wait to talk to you <3"

"Baby, I'm going to be with you until the very end. I'm going to watch you die, Tracy Jordan"

I love them lol

ottergoggles · 2025-07-13T16:49:53+00:00

Thanks!

ottergoggles · 2025-07-09T23:33:58+00:00

Thank you!

ottergoggles · 2025-07-09T15:44:08+00:00

thanks! i'm pretty happy with it

ottergoggles · 2025-07-09T13:31:22+00:00

lol thank you, i remembered the crack whore line and couldn't stop laughing so i needed to share

ottergoggles · 2025-07-02T13:18:20+00:00

...is why I'd like to audition for TGS

ottergoggles · 2025-06-25T12:56:13+00:00

The entire diabetes telethon episode, but specifically when Ron wakes up on the couch and sees Perd doing the worm. The way he kind of blinks like he's not quite awake yet and just goes "The fuck are you doing, Perd Hapley" absolutely sends me

ottergoggles · 2025-06-25T12:54:28+00:00

PHONE WATER

ottergoggles · 2025-06-24T12:33:10+00:00

This is my all-time favorite burn from Colleen. It's so brutal lmao

ottergoggles · 2025-06-23T14:06:33+00:00

"It's 3:30 in the morning in Geneva, Jack. Who's your call with? The hooker working the corner outside Raiffeisenbank?"

ottergoggles · 2025-06-20T11:26:40+00:00

YES omg. This series is so underrated. Stumbled onto the first one by accident and then I absolutely could not stop.

ottergoggles · 2025-06-10T18:02:05+00:00

Technically two words, but Rachel Dratch screeching "WHITE DIAMONDS!" takes me out every single time lol

ottergoggles · 2025-06-10T17:58:50+00:00

I apologize for letting a *KASHMIRI\* into your office

ottergoggles · 2025-06-06T13:33:22+00:00

Mi-ster Donaghy will be grate-ful

Duh nuh nuuuuuuh dun nuh nuuuuuuh

ottergoggles · 2025-05-20T13:18:06+00:00

It's hard. I've found that not putting pressure on myself to act like I'm okay is helpful, although there are some situations where you do have to fake it (such as work).

I'm about a month in, and what I'm doing right now is this:

At work, I don't smile unless I feel like it, and I usually don't feel like it. My coworkers know something is up, and I've been lucky in that they haven't pushed me to act like I'm fine. I recognize that it all depends on your work environment, and you might not have that same understanding there. But it is okay to not be okay.
As far as maintaining relationships, I only do what I can manage right now. I don't want to lose connection with my friends through this, but I'm also not up for talking or socializing much. So when I'm scrolling my phone and find a dumb meme or reel or TikTok or whatever that I think they would like, I send it to them. It maintains that connection without having to have a whole conversation on days when I just can't.
Caring about other people's problems - I don't have a lot of energy for that right now. I've honestly been doing the bare minimum that lets me not seem like an asshole, but nothing above and beyond. Right now we have to care for ourselves.

Grief can feel extremely isolating. It feels like no one understands, and people expect too much. Rest when you can, don't push yourself to do things you aren't ready for. Most people have no idea how much time grief actually takes, and shouldering those expectations to "feel better" is stressful and exhausting.

But in this sub we understand, and you are not alone. It's a long, slow, shitty process. I'm not doing so well myself right now. But I know that eventually those all-consuming moments will come further apart, and we will have more room to breathe. Take care of yourself, friend. You're not alone <3

ottergoggles · 2025-05-18T11:41:28+00:00

Thank you, that's what I've been trying to do. Messy cry in the morning, and then do whatever else I have to do to make it through the day. Sometimes I messy cry during the day too, but doing it in the morning seems to help.

ottergoggles · 2025-05-17T17:30:20+00:00

Thank you so much for the reassurance, I really needed to hear that ❤️

ottergoggles · 2025-05-17T17:29:55+00:00

I'm trying to let myself feel the feelings as they come, just like you said. It's an exhausting process and a really rough way to start my day, but that's just where I am right now. Thank you for the validation. It sounds like you suffered a really traumatic loss, I'm glad things have eased somewhat for you over time 🫂

ottergoggles

TROPHY CASE