Dear Lisa:

You are very welcome. I understand you not being in the state of mind- heart to respond to me- and you don’t owe me- or anyone- a response. You are not alone in your pain and distress. I hope it eases.

anita

* Dear Jana: thank you for the compliment 😊

Dear Louise:

You are very welcome. “I am on the move, so don’t have a time to write a lot… when you say: *In all that is happening, it is most important that part of you (the adult part/ the parent part) practices empathy and compassion for the child part of you, taking her side, backing her up, advocating for her.* How do I do that?“-

-first, identify the child part (I’ll call her CP) vs the parent/ adult part of you (I’ll call her AP). The AP is the part that’s taking CP on the move. Maybe (I don’t know) CP wanted instead to write a lot, but AP told her something like: no, we have to go, we have to be on the move!

If AP says the italicized right above in a harsh tone, adding a shove, physically pushing CP along, adding an insulting word or words like: hurry up, you, lazy ***!- that’s abuse.

If AP says no, we have to go… in a gentle but confident voice, looking at CP with an affectionate smile, taking her hand and gently leading her along- that’s empathy and compassion.

If CP refuses to go along and AP shouts at and threatens CP- that’s abuse. If AP gently but firmly explains to CP: I understand that you don’t feel like going along, I understand that you feel like writing, but we have to go now. Later on, I promise, you will be writing more– that’s empathy and compassion.

“And I agree with you with regard to the men…  my ex-boyfriend  signifies security and Home to me. Whereas the other man doesn’t – He was the excitement that I was looking for which once I felt lost after leaving my home I didn’t really want the excitement anymore. If that all makes sense“- it makes sense to me: once you left home with no plans to return, you went back to being the lost, scared child that you were away from home, wanting nothing but to be back home.

I am re-reading your original and following posts (Nov 12-15), looking for Louise-the-child/ CP’s story. The boldfaced are your words. In parentheses are my words, my interpretations, correct or not): “Sorry if this is long (I shouldn’t be talking much about myself). I am feeling so lost… my mother died very suddenly and unexpectedly…  I wanted to leave (my childhood home) and… have… freedom… I initially felt good but after only several days I was hit by feeling terrible, distraught that I had left my home and essentially made myself homeless, lost any sense of security… I feel completely lost and depressed… I think about contacting my (mother or father)… and asking if I can come back… I know our relationship wasn’t good but (I need a home). I know I have done so much wrong… I don’t know how to feel better… feeling in a panic about what I am doing with my (adult) life and wishing I could turn the clock back and go back to (childhood)… I just want to be back home… I need to stop beating myself up…  go(ing) over all the things I could have done differently… it is a conflict inside me. The longing for freedom but then for security too…  sorry my message is so long (I shouldn’t be talking so much about myself)… My parents argued and fought constantly. We lived in the middle of nowhere… I was dependent on my parents to drive me to visit a friend. So I felt very trapped in this place (home) where my parents were constantly shouting and screaming at each other. My father had mental health issues. But also as a young child, I would get very homesick if I went away from home even for a night. As a teenager, I had a lot of conflict with my parents and I did run away from home a few times… It is 3 am where I am. I cannot sleep. My mind is constantly full of these thoughts and just wanting to go back home…  All I know is, I feel this desperate urge that I have to go back home…  I feel in a constant state of panic… Sorry about all the strange symbols in my message.(I should be careful about what/ how I say)… Again, I woke up at 2 am With this terrible  anxiety feeling and my heart pounding And I’ve been unable to sleep again… unable to relax…  I just can’t imagine feeling any better… When I was a child away from home even for a night, I could remember I would cry all night Feeling so homesick and just needed to go home and see my mother (not my father). I am looking more for a caretaker now… If that all makes sense.“-

– Leaving your childhood home, as a child, even for a night, meant leaving your mother (you didn’t mention siblings) alone with a father with mental health issues, who was the one, perhaps,  starting or causing all the arguing, fighting, shouting and screaming ?

I wonder if you felt, growing up, responsible for your mother, if you felt that it was your responsibility to be present in the home (as much as you wanted to not be there), so to protect your mother/ to calm down the turmoil (arguing, fighting, etc.)? I wonder if you felt that your life was about keeping her safe.

And recently, when she died unexpectedly, it triggered a childhood fear that you that you wouldn’t be able to keep her safe?

anita

Dear Lisa:

It’s understandable that the political climate can deeply affect people’s mental health. Here are seven ways (from online) to cope with feelings of depression or trauma related to the elections:

1. Limit News Consumption: Constant exposure to news can heighten anxiety. Set specific times to check updates and avoid news before bed.

2. Connect with Supportive People: people and support groups who share your concerns. Feeling understood and supported can make a big difference.

3. Engage in Self-Care: prioritize activities that bring you joy and relaxation, whether it’s reading, exercising, or spending time in nature.

4. Practice Mindfulness and Grounding Techniques: techniques like deep breathing, meditation, and the 5-4-3-2-1 method can help manage anxiety and keep you grounded.

5. Focus on What You Can Control: engage in positive actions, like volunteering or participating in community activities, to feel more empowered.

6. Stay Physically Active: exercise can boost your mood and reduce stress. Even a short walk can make a difference.

7. Create a Safe Space: Make your home a sanctuary where you can relax and feel secure. Surround yourself with comforting items and positive reminders.

A personal note: I did not vote for the president to be, and I was very anxious about the possibility that he will win. The morning I heard of the results, surprisingly, I felt a relief.. simply because the suspense was over. Now, this is the situation, it is what it is and I can’t undo it. You know of The Serenity Prayer: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference”?-

– Well, I can’t change the election results (not to the White House, not to the Senate, not to the House of Representatives, and not when it comes the implications to the  Supreme Court), but I can change my Attitude, and instead of filling my mind with the negatives, I choose to focus on the positives: I personally know of good, hard-working, decent people who voted for Trump. Many are happy and hopeful now. I am happy for them. There are good people in the world at large who are also happy and hopeful in regard to the elections results: I am happy for them too.

Maybe, just maybe, Lisa, some things in the next 4 years will turn out okay. Maybe better than okay. You may be pleasantly surprised. Maybe.

Remember, Lisa: it’s okay to seek help and take steps to protect your mental health. You’re not alone in feeling the way you do, and there are resources and people who can support you through this time. I a here for you.

anita

How are you, me?

anita

Dear Louise: as bad as you’ve been feeling recently, you will feel better. This feeling badly is not forever. I’ll writ more tomorrow.

anita

Dear Arden:

“I chose to make them happy then. Couldn’t see it. I secretly resent them for that.“– I read this after I submitted my post for you on your new thread. It really is about sacrificing oneself/ neglecting oneself for the benefit of others=>  leading to resentment, just like the online source from which I quoted said.

“Remember when I told you about my partner giving a lot of money for her sister to get her a phone? I felt so bad after hearing about this. It happened again when I was not aware. Turns out he, out of the blue, given her one month salary worth money when she was not even asking..“- understandable, Arden: the rage on the part of the self-sacrificing, the one caring and over-doing for others.. rage about those who are done for, those who take, those who have it easy.

“I would kill for an apartment all to me from my family. All to me, no rent, no stress, no landlord to try to get rid of me“- I understand, Arden. I wish you had a childhood where you were taken care of, a time of being a carefree child and teenager. Unfortunately, you didn’t have that, and it created an emotional wound within you, and understandably, envy of those who had it/ have it better.

Only that the people you think have it better, generally do not. We tend to look at others’ fortunes/ advantages from the point of view of our misfortunes/ disadvantages.. but misery has many sources. Maybe your husband is aware of his sister’  miseries that you are not aware of, and has been trying to help her..?

It is very difficult to change from being a self-sacrificial person => an assertive, self-caring person. Such habits are very difficult to break/ change. What do you think/ feel?

anita

Dear Louise:

About Louise-the-child & teenager: “My childhood home was very difficult. My parents argued and fought constantly.. We lived in the middle of nowhere, so I had no ability to get myself away from the home. I was dependent on my parents to drive me to visit a friend. So I felt very trapped in this place where my parents were constantly shouting and screaming at each other. My father had mental health issues . But also as a young child, I would get very homesick if I went away from home even for a night. As a teenager, I had a lot of conflict with my parents and I did run away from home a few times“-

– your childhood home was the birthplace of Conflict within you: wanting to be in the home (very homesick), and wanting to be out of the home (very trapped… run away from home).

As a child, living in the middle of nowhere, where nothing was happening outside the home, Little Louise wished and longed to live somewhere else, somewhere where things were happening, a place of excitement.

In the home, you were exposed to domestic war (parents argued and fought constantly… constantly shouting and screaming at each other). There were moments of lull in the home, maybe whole evenings, maybe days, and Little Louise felt some comfort and security, a sense of belonging and love, but war was just around the corner. From one point on, Little Louise no longer trusted home to be a place of comfort and belonging. It was a place of expected trepidation, a place to survive by being as numb and unfeeling to it as possible, as distracted as possible. But she remembers (deep inside, subconsciously, if not consciously) those moments of comfort, security, closeness and belonging.

“I have lost my mother and him in the last 6 months, probably the people I felt closest to and who brought me the most security in my life“- this right here is evidence that there were moments in that war-zone home, moments of comfort, security and belonging, moments when you felt close to your mother, moments when you felt security in her company. You crave comfort, security etc., in a home (your most recent, with your ex) because you experienced them in your original home, only too little, and in between long stretches of war.

“It is a conflict inside me. The longing for freedom but then for security too“- your adult longings are for: (1) comfort, security, belonging and closeness you experienced too little of in your original home, (2) freedom from the trepidation/ distress (negative kind of excitement) that you experienced a lot of, in your original home, (3) places of (positive) excitement outside the home, places over there, places of hope, places you longed for, as a child living in the middle of nowhere.

“Most my adult life I have been in relationships – I think they call it a serial monogamist. But at the same time people always think I am very independent as I go away travelling a lot on my own in an adventurous way. I also wonder if it is a case of the grass is always greener – I tend to crave excitement, especially in a relationship, and with travelling, and am easily bored. But maybe this is indicative of another problem and I need to learn to accept a relationship as it develops and becomes less ‘exciting’ rather than looking for something new, which I think is what I tend to do“- it’s the same Louise-the-child, trapped in the old home, in the middle of nowhere, craving .. something, somewhere, someone new. Home was a war zone, causing you a negative kind of excitement, leading to numbing/ dissociating- which feel like boredom. Hope to undo the boredom is over there where the grass is greener, a place of adventure/ positive excitement.

“For the past few years I no longer felt physically attracted to my boyfriend and I didn’t want any intimacy with him, or even physical affection… I know he wasn’t happy with this situation but he tolerated it. I would often spend a few months away travelling alone over the winter, which he also tolerated. On the last occasion I met another man. We started messaging each other and this went on for months after I returned home… My long term boyfriend asked me one day if I still wanted to be in the relationship with him as I guess it was clear I was very disengaged. I said no not really and proceeded to prepare to leave our home… I think about contacting my ex boyfriend as we are still in contact and asking if I can come back“- I was wrong yesterday to suggest that you contact him for the purpose of you receiving social support. He should be given a complete/ non-compromised  opportunity to be set free from a failed relationship, and to move on.. to someone/ something new.

“I am still travelling – something I have always loved in the past – but I feel completely lost and depressed and unable to enjoy it“- completely lost because you don’t have a place where you can experience moments of what a home should be, moments you experienced too little of, moments you need.

“I also regret selling furniture of mine..  I keep obsessing over furniture I sold“-  a feeling of home, of comfort and security, a sense of belonging and closeness, is associated with your furniture. You are obsessing about a feeling of home.

“Before we lived together I lived on my own for ten years, and I grew to really like it. For most of those years I was in the relationship with him and I liked that, living separately but seeing each other regularly. As soon as we moved in together I felt what I would say is probably a similar panic to what I feel now“- this panic is how it often, too often felt to be a child at home with your parents, trapped.

“The other man…“- the other man is and has been a distraction, distracting you from the boredom of living with your ex, distracting you from the feeling of being trapped with your ex. He is the greener appearing grass. I was wrong yesterday to suggest that you contact him for the purpose of receiving social support.

“The fact is now it feels really unbearable. It is 3 am where I am. I cannot sleep. My mind is constantly full of these thoughts and just wanting to go back home. It really feels like a crisis and in the moment I don’t know what to do… You may imagine I am younger but I am in my late 40s. I guess I have been like this my whole life and I have no idea where to start. All I know is, I feel this desperate urge that I have to go back home“- you are like a child being away from home, like a child suffering from separation anxiety, experiencing a range of intense and distressing emotions when away from home or from a primary caregiver: fear and Panic, Loneliness, Helplessness, Sadness, and more.

“There is a town I could go to in the country. I am in where there will be people that I know who I have met several times, spent time with and become friends with. I keep thinking I could go there maybe I would feel better“- this is a way, way better idea than to stay with your ex, or with the other man!

“But then part of me just wants to go home“- time to grieve the home you never had= a place where you felt adequately safe, secure, and taken care of, a place from which you didn’t want to escape. When you grieve it (it being what you didn’t have), you no longer believe it’s still there for you.

When you grieve the home you never had, you place that.. pretend-home in the past, and you make yourself free and available- not to a new distraction- but to a home, one that’s not a pretend-home for a while.

Talking about home, there is a book by the late John Bradshaw that comes to my mind, it’s called Homecoming. (Online:) “The book guides readers through a process of recognizing and healing childhood wounds by reconnecting with their inner child. This involves acknowledging past abuse or neglect, expressing repressed emotions, grieving unmet needs, and challenging toxic shame and guilt. By doing so, adults can develop healthier patterns of behavior and relationships”.

I personally exited my childhood with severely unmet emotional needs such as safety, closeness, belonging.. love, and with  toxic shame and guilt, and repressed emotions, my inner child as dissociated as can be, and so, I continued to be an anxious, repressed child throughout decades of supposed-to-be adulthood. As an adult, I looked for a caretaker, a parent.. wanted my childhood to be redone, but redone right, this time. An impossibility, as we can’t move backward in time. I will tell you more, if you would like, but this post is long enough as it is and there is a lot in it to process as is.

I hope to communicate more and more with you over time. How are you feeling today/ tonight?

anita