my update (long read)

[lala 0]

I'm not going to call you a liar. I'm not going to call you stupid. What I am going to say is that you do need to see a therapist. I understand the cost, but perhaps you might try to call your local health department- they have mental health services and they have it on what is called a sliding-scale basis (you pay according to what you earn; which for you is nothing since you aren't earning an income right now). There are crisis lines to call which you do not have to give your name and they will help you. You can find these by looking in the blue pages in your phone book.

Are you medicated? Are you taking your medication as prescribed? Does the medication say not to drink alcohol with them? Please know that I am not judging you. You sound as if you are in a lot of pain and need help. Please go get the help you need. What gives me the right to say these things? I AM a therapist. Please take my advice.

[Betsyjane 2]

I gotta say my 2 cents. I think we need to be careful about recommending things. Regarding dumping toxic Mom, I'm assuming none of us know Jodie or her Mom in real life. Parents are a mixed blessing in this situation, and while it may be that Jodie needs to split, it may also be that Jodie would benefit from staying where she is and getting some help before she goes back out on her own. We can support, but jumping to conclusions that can powerfully impact a life we hardly know seems a bit much.

[Betsyjane 2]

I also want to address a concern Jodie had awhile back, that threads she starts for support always end up as a "Jodie's crazy" thread. I imagine that gets pretty frustrating.

I think the reason that happens is that the stuff you put in this and your other threads is way out there, and I'm not sure how much you recognize that. The responses about getting help are just that....responding to someone whose life is chaotic and sounds painful. Please consider the way people respond to you as a mirror others hold up so you can see your own reflection and decide what to do about it. It's not feedback toward you that's coming out of the blue. It's about the things you say that lead us all to hope you will get help and stick with it. If you're lost in the woods and have no idea how to get out, you don't rely on yourself to lead the way...you ask someone who isn't lost.

[Betsyjane 2]

Hey Jodie, if it does turn out that one of the problems is Bipolar...get ready. One of the first challenges will be that if the meds work, you'll feel fine and want to get off them. Seems to be hard for folks to remember that you'll be feel better because you're on the meds. It's a common challenge. The other one that happens a lot is feeling like life is a bit boring when the meds help settle life down.

[j_war06 0]

check out my new update everyone!

Okay, so this is an update on me in a nutshell…

I had taken a short break from college, but now I am going back.

I had moved back to Corpus for about 3 months with a sorority sister, but she ended up being a, well, a bitch and because my name wasn’t on the lease, and I stuck to my responsibilities instead of partying all the time, she kicked me out the day after I paid rent on grounds that were completely false, however I don’t have a leg to stand on in them. I have a boyfriend that Ive been dating for about 2 months that I have had hell with, however he and I are both working on our lives right now. I am back in my hometown trying to get a full-time job and goto school as well as get back in the Theatre. He is in rehab for alcoholism. I asked him to go. He is a great guy, but I cant be with someone that I cant trust with money. Atleast if he bought crap we would have something to show for it. I love him so much, and he is freakishly in love with me, but unless he straightens up his act, I can not be with him. Im diagnosed as pre-bipolar or bipolarish and Im taking trazadone and abilify to help manage that. Im not happy about being home, but its better than being homeless in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Corpus Christi</st1:place></st1:City>. I actually have a positive outlook right now, which is rare as many of you may know. Im in debt up to my ears, but with the right job I can fix that in a few months. I need a new car and new cellphone, but since I lived a homeless life in Corpus (thanks to my wonderful roomie), and lived very poor because my boyfriend was a bartender/busboy and I was a hostess at a restaurant, we couldn’t afford much after helping our friend that we were staying with out with rent. Ive never lived that way before, it really opened my eyes. Ive almost completely quit drinking myself btw. I finally saw how much money I was wasting just tipping the bartender for free drinks! I still enjoy a couple of drinks every now and then, but as for the every night party I would rather not. As for events coming up……..Im going to school to get my paralegal certificate and Im going to Substitute teach at the schools here until I get a fulltime job. Well that’s my update……….Im open to questions, I know it is kind of brief for my writing lol!

I already posted this as a seperate thread but if you are still subscribed to this one, I wanted you to read it

[lala 0]

I'm glad that things are looking up for you. I'm glad you are in school. But do you think that teaching is a good career option right now? Children are VERY difficult to work with and create a very high level of stress. It is also a huge responsibility. A teacher made one flippant comment to me one time in 1st grade. I'm sure it meant nothing to her, but I still remember it to this day.

Just something to think about.