Dear Rose Tattoo:
Underneath my Tourette Syndrom and OCD (since 5 years old) other anxiety and mood disorders, disordered eating (most difficult and still ongoing) and Borderline Personality Disorder is a hurt and scare child. The childhood ongoing trauma, through decades of no healing and unskilled living, morphed into symptoms fitting various diagnoses. BPD was the basis for my first serious psychotherapy (CBT/ Dialectical/MIndfulness) at the age of 50, following my first relationship with a DECENT man whom I married at 49.

I hope you see hope in my story as far as your age is concerned. I learned that no WAY was the hurt and scared child part of me going to come out except in the context of a SAFE, honest relationship and in that context it has been taking over four years of therapy to get to a good place, eventually. And I still fear, I still feel the distress this very evening, trying not to be troubled by my disordered eating (my most difficult challenge still, daily).

No way for healing for me alone, by myself or in an abusive or otherwise dysfunctional relationship.

You didn’t ask for anyting specific in your post, so well written… sinking in the middle of the ocean. Let me know if you’d like me to share anything else with you. I wonder about the tattoo by your name, a rose in fire, is it???

anita