Dear Charlotte:

You are welcome. Talking about safety and politics, the verdict that was just announced a little while ago, is good news as far as the country being safer, some justice was delivered today, and violence in the streets was prevented.

You asked regarding your parents: “I suppose I should spend less time with them?”- it would be best if you spent no time with them because each time you spend with them functions to maintain your anxiety. On the other hand, guilt about not seeing them at all would increase your anxiety as well.

“When you think a person can finish therapy? Therapy is really expensive for me..”- therapy should not be forever, especially if the person does not have unlimited funds. Healing from long-term, significant to severe anxiety, from personal experience, cannot be complete, meaning, no matter how much therapy you have and how much healing is taking place, there will still be unwanted anxiety to live with.

“is there hope for someone like me (with general anxiety) to realistically stop therapy after a little while?”- after some time, yes. My therapy lasted 2011-2013, but I continued what I refer to as the healing process, or the healing journey ever since. You can commit to this every day journey as well!

anita