Just checking in

@In the twilight zone That’s so amazing! I’m so happy for you!

Congratulations! I'm glad you did well with your exposures and therapy. Good luck with the new medication.

@emilytravelswild Thank you so much

@BigGyro09 Thanks! Some days feel stronger than others. Such a weird feeling coming out of this ya know? Anyway, how are you doing?

@emilytravelswild That's great! Is the weird feeling not being used to having those really good days? If so, I can understand that! I'm not really sure how I'm doing. I'm just where I want to be with this but I'm not having a bad time at the moment. Pretty meh, I suppose

@BigGyro09 Yeah, like it’s so weird from being in such an elevated state of panic 24/7 to basically feeling normal again. Honestly it feels a little surreal. I’m glad to hear you aren’t having a bad time at the moment but sorry to hear it’s just meh. Do you need support with anything?

@emilytravelswild You'll get used to it again! I believe you will! I know about that feeling because we're so used to the anxiety. Not for long though! It just seems like things aren't 100% going the way I want to. The days are just moving along and I'm just going with the flow. There's things I want to work on but I don't know how really. I don't feel like I can really move onto other things I want to do independent wise without fixing these issues. I'm not really sure what I need specifically, but support from my friends is much appreciated

@BigGyro09 Ah yeah, it sounds like you feel stuck in a way? I was just having a conversation with another friend about that today. Maybe take the thing you want to accomplish and break it down into small steps? I struggle with ADHD in addition to the OCD so I get overwhelmed really easy but it helps to break things down for me. Maybe it will help you? Always happy to chat something out with you.

@emilytravelswild The number one thing I have a problem with is my self esteem. I don't think it's ever been high and it may have been low for most, if not all of my life. It's something I want to fix but I guess I just don't believe that I can, if that makes sense. I've been suspecting that I go through ADHD as well. I'm not sure and I haven't been diagnosed for it. For my self esteem, I've been trying to be kind to myself, not blame myself when things don't go my way, and not be so negative about what it is I'm trying to get through and have been through in the past. I just want to be able to love and accept myself.

@BigGyro09 I’m sorry to hear you’re struggling with your self esteem. I struggle with it too and I wish I had an answer for you. That’s great that you’re trying to be kinder to yourself. There’s a lot of negative things I’m trying to rewrite in my life. Something that’s helped me with that is to think about what my highest self would say or do in that situation. And then try to do that. I even came up with a whole vibe for my highest self and gave her a name. Anyway, maybe something like that would help you too!

@emilytravelswild I'm not fully sure what you mean by higher self, but I with like to know. I'm just hoping that therapy can help with my self esteem because it's so hard to do this on my own. There's just so many regrets that I can remember that bring me down so easily. Even if it was so many years ago. They just upset me so much.

@BigGyro09 So highest self just means, the best version of you. The most healed you. How would he act? If you had great self esteem, what would that look like? Those kinds of questions. I journaled about mine and turned it into a whole person. It was actually really fun. I’m sorry you feel a lot of regrets. I live so much in the past with my mental health issues so I can relate. Therapy will help. Hugs!

@emilytravelswild To be honest, I don't fully know what that would look like since I'm just so used to where I'm at now. I know what it is I want at least. I would want higher self esteem, more confidence, more optimism and excitement about things, always enjoying my hobbies, believing in myself and not being stuck with anxiety. Sometimes I've journaled to my past self and it helped in the moment. What doesn't help and what gives me a lot of doubt is that these negative feelings usually come back so easily, but I also have a hard time practicing against it too. I'm really really hoping therapy will fix everything. Thank you.

@In the twilight zone Thank you 🥹 it’s so hard some days, but overall I really am doing better. I still get triggered, and sometimes the anxiety from that really gets high, but it does always come down and balance is restored. 💖

@emilytravelswild We are a work in progress always ❤️ at least we aren’t sitting around making excuses for ourselves and playing the victim. We are actually trying to better ourselves and that is what is important.

@In the twilight zone Yes! Love how you phrased that. We are definitely works in progress. 💖

@emilytravelswild Where are you from?

@In the twilight zone I’m originally from Ohio but my partner and I have been traveling the US for the past few years. At least until my OCD flare in September. Our businesses are online so we can work from anywhere which is nice. What about you?

@Wolfram Thanks for the support! Good to hear from you. Sorry to hear a sneaky underlying theme came up for you but glad to hear you’re handling it. You’ll knock it down like you’ve done your other themes. 💪🏼