Thank you @Former-Member. I would super like to think that is true, but I know that if I was to say it to any of the bazillion people who can't cope with me, they would tell me I'm not taking responsibility for my own actions. It is one of the mysteries of the world to me; when I say it is my fault, I'm castigated for being too hard on my self. When I say it is the fault of others, I am castigated for not taking personal responsibility. 
@CheerBear @Former-Member @Zoe7 I will be here but not today, I am volunteering and violining today -yay! It is tricky for me to be in Forum Land on Friday nights these days... 
Anyway, I will see you all when I see you. 
Hearing you @Phoenix_Rising and I’m sorry. (And grrr.) I’m glad you’re heading out to enjoy your V good activities today.
(And thank you letting us know you won’t be around—my exploding stress-anxiety-banana-moosh brain really appreciates it.)
I hope you find some small pleasure in your volunterring and violin today @Phoenix_Rising
I know Friday nights are super tricly for you. I am still trying to get the TOR thread organised - I will try my best to have it up and running today so you can have a safe place to 'visit' or not-visit tonight and over the weekend. I am going to use that as a distraction for today
@OhanaSystem it super sucks that the attitude of BPD not being a "real MI" still persists! At least there are more people who don't hold this attitude now, than there were twenty years ago. However, far too many still do!
And as for MH professionals not believing that DID even exists - extra big grrrrrrrrr.
It's cool that you have that many colouring in books. I've never really been into colouring in that much. I know there are quite a few people here in Forum Land who super enjoy it though.
I'm impressed that TTT has helped me to feel safe enough to draw for her and in her company - I think I've mentioned in Forum Land how self-conscious I am of my poor drawing ability. TTT drew me a picture of a turtle and it turns out that she draws about as well as I do. I think that helps me to feel better.
I'm so sorry to hear your psychiatrist is retiring soon. Are you on the hunt for someone new? I truly know how horrendous therapist shopping can be. It is absolutely awful. TTT is very young, but I am terrified of her getting squished by a bus or something. One thing I find a bit comforting is that she is an employee in the private practice she works at, and the owner of the practice is very much like TTT in the way she works and is clearly extremely selective in who she employs. I know if TTT got squished by a bus, the practice owner would look after TTT's clients. The reason TTT can't see me twice weekly even though we both agree it would be super helpful, is because one psychologist is about to leave the practice and another is going on maternity leave. Consequently, TTT and the practice owner are picking up their clients. This really reassures me that if anything happens to TTT, I won't be totally abandoned.
I super super super hope you are able to find someone else as good as your current psychiatrist, @OhanaSystem.
Hi @Catcakes,
Volunteering and violining went well today, thanks for asking.
TTT worked with youth in out-of-home care before she went into private practice, and this remains an area of interest for her (she is currently doing her phd in that area). Consequently, she is passionate about attachment-based issues and complex trauma. This is what drew me to her.
She is one of those rare clinicians who is as interested in research (both reading it and contributing to it) as she is in practice. I think one of the reasons it is so hard to find helpful helping people is that most clinicians don't seem to keep abreast of current research. It's like...they are "people people" and tend not to be research/academic/book-type people, if that makes sense (I can't quite think of the word I'm looking for). I think the truly great clinicians are those who know how much they don't know and are therefore constantly hungry to learn more. It seems to me that there are a lot of clinicians out there who only do the bare minimum of "professional development" that they are required to do to maintain registration, and they see even that as an annoying inconvenience.
This is of course all just the humble opinion of one little muddled turtle.
Help us push aside the stigma and discrimination surrounding complex mental health and change the way people talk about, and care for, mental illness.
SANE acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present.
SANE values diversity. We are committed to providing a safe, culturally appropriate, and inclusive service for all people, regardless of their ethnicity, faith, disability, sexuality, or gender identity.
Help us push aside the stigma and discrimination surrounding complex mental health and change the way people talk about, and care for, mental illness.
SANE acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present.
SANE values diversity. We are committed to providing a safe, culturally appropriate, and inclusive service for all people, regardless of their ethnicity, faith, disability, sexuality, or gender identity.