Samantha,
lol, I have used that section on relationships many times since I got to the Depression Center. It is very helpful to me in defining relationships and I also use the one on role transitions. I highly recommend both. I've used these with individuals in mind and I've used them for information in general. I've worked through them twice with a specific person in mind with my therapist.
Wow, I keep coming back. lol, y'all can't get rid of me. This program has built me up again. Not always sustainable, but so much more now than when I got here. I learned where a lot of my negative thoughts were coming from, threw 'em out the window so to speak(by challenging them) and developed new thought patterns. It's helped me to improve my self-esteem and get part of my "old" self back. It encouraged me to do things for me, that I deserve it. It has led me on a journey to push myself even when I don't want to - see recent post about HS reunion. As I progress, it gets easier to make myself do things I don't want to do socially. It's helped me learn ways to cope with my anxiety and introduced new ideas and suggestions for coping. It's helped me to accept me as I am now and know that the person I once was is still here, just in a slightly different way. It's helped me give myself permission to feel what I feel as long as it isn't self-defeating. It's taught me how to recognize those self-defeating thoughts! I don't have many pity parties anymore and if I do, I see them where before I once did.
When the depression at it's worst reared it's ugly head in the midst of my recent dizziness, I didn't hesitate to call the doctor, knowing I didn't have to be that way and I just needed a little help to get through this rough time to get back to where I am today. When I rebound, I rebound to where I was before instead of having to work my way back up.
In terms of relationships when he was alive it helped me draw boundaries (alcoholism) and establish the relationship on a mutual ground. when he passed, I had to do the same with my Uncle (alcoholic) as he and I share the responsibility of taking care of my 99 1/2 year-old grandmother (something I couldn't have done when I got here, I still have trouble taking care of me sometimes, back then I didn't take care of me at all, I had a power of attorney - still do, but not needed).
It gave me the courage and the strength to venture to do new things, try new things, do things I used to do again.
I could go on and on but you get the drift. The medication helps, the therapy helps, the other things, meditation, spirituality, tai chi, journaling, all help but this program I give more credit too than any or all of the above combined.
rofl - now send my ten dollars for this commercial message to ..... Seriously, I mean every word of it.
What will I think of this relationship 10 years from now. Well, I used to say my picker was broke. I think my picker got fixed. I think this relationship is healthy and I deserve that. I can bring away many positive experiences and interactions and memories. I can think of many things I've learned, we've shared and I know I'll always cherish the time we've spent together irregardless of how it ends up (not saying it won't hurt and that I'm not anxious about that re: the depression). but I'll be damned if I am going to let that stand in my way of being in the first healthy relationship I've ever had. I hope I can apply the section on grief as well as I did with dad's death to the death of a relationship if it ever comes to that. Let's hope that's a long way off. :)
