Milestones or Steps Completed! Share and Celebrate Here :)

A milestone for me happened just recently at an event I went to; on a date, no less. There's a show on Netflix called The Umbrella Academy, which is based off of (but not very true to) my favorite comic book of all time. I got the chance to go to a Netflix event where you would watch a screening of the show and then go to a reception to mingle with the cast and drink wine etc. afterward. However, I assumed the screening would be the first episode of the second season. It wasn't. We jumped right into the middle of the first season to follow my favorite character's arc (SPOILERS!) and his journey with PTSD from serving in the Vietnam war. Watching this at home, on my own, was extremely difficult because, in my opinion, it's extremely easy for TV and movies to replicate what it's like (for me, anyway) to deal with such a condition. So I'm sitting next to my date (we haven't known each other very long) in a theater surrounded by like, dozens of people, watching a very relatable representation of my diagnosis and I'm freaking out. SO, I steeled myself. I observed that I was freaking out (very hard to do) and I started my parasympathetic breathing. I made myself look away from the screen and I completely ignored what, probably, the people behind me were thinking, or what the ushers watching the crowd might be thinking. I breathed and kept my head down and I did some affirmation grounding. It was very hard but I did it, I was fine, and I had a great time.

Step 261! I'm seeing a psychiatrist, another pill mill it seems like. She recommended that I find a weekly counselor and she would do the med management. The counselors in my area are scarce.

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I can help myself feel better.

I don't know how much I learned on here, but I really enjoy talking to people

I don't know how much I learned on here, but I really enjoy talking to people

I'm not sure how much I've learned, but I love talking to people on here

I'm learning that a certain amount of my anxiety and stress is "optional" and that I don't have to keep feeding it.

Step 500! I have learned to embrace the positive things in my life and count my blessings.

I was able to meditate for the first time!!