Friday, May 29, 2015

Ugh

Things have been ok. I am on the struggle bus again emotionally. It just feels like my emotions are out of fucking control. Up, down, left, right. I am trying to just be conscious of it and keep it to myself. I can't even enjoy intimacy right now because my mind is at a constant race. I don't know why I put this pressure on myself, this pressure to be perfect, but I know it is not helping anyone. I feel like I am constantly walking on egg shells trying to keep my SO happy. Trying to make his life more tolerable. Trying to do my wifely duties (except I seriously suck at cooking.... like I suck at it and I really don't like to do it... FML). But I keep coming up short. I HAVE to prioritize my schooling right now and the ever looming rain cloud of the time I will have to put my baby in the care of another is getting closer and closer so I am seriously grasping at straws to keep my head above water. I hope some day I figure out how to manage all of this shit. Until then, I'll be the exhausted sociopaths over there in the corner.

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Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Working with Dr Bill

8 April 2015

I got to see Dr Bill by myself finally. I know I have unfinished business that I need to take care of so, it is nice to be able to go and see him by myself. 

One question that he asked me that really stuck was in regards to how I am when I get emotionally overwhelmed and get crazy minded was Who would you be if you could be anyone in that scenario? It was really hard to answer. I think a big thing that I want is to be ABLE to relax. It is the perfectionist in me that will not allow myself to relax, make mistakes, and be vulnerable. So how do I let go? That's our challenge. 

Also, we made a connection tonight that I had never made myself. So, I put a lot of pressure on my relationship with my SO because I finally feel and want to have it be a forever relationship. Despite my history, this really is the first time that I have heard the forever song. So, I am always pressuring myself to be the perfect image of girlfriend, mother, housewife, etc to him and I get extremely frustrated and scared even when I don't feel his love back. The connection we made is that I have always had a longing to receive love from my mother. Growing up I think that I acted almost the same way with her in a sense that I was the perfect kid and I did all the same hobbies as her and we spent the most time together. Little did I know then that I was just searching to feel love from her. Love, connection, etc. Something, in my opinion, she still does not know how to do. So this pattern has just carried through to my adult relationships. Kind of sad really. 

Dr. Bill also is challenging me to challenge myself. When I feel my emotions getting out of control and I hear my inner child making extreme and ridiculous accusations about the present scenario (that presumably I am upset with), I need to challenge her. I need to ask her is that really what is happening? Is he really trying to make me feel that way? Is he really meaning to do this or that? Whatever the case may be. Then, when the answer is undoubtedly no, I need to try and drop that question all together. Just let it go.

I still have so much work ahead of me. I am just trying to stay positive! Although, I did just get snappy with my SO. I honestly didn't mean to be a crab ass but I am starting to feel the stress of the end of the semester and when I got home to a houseful of people I wasn't that happiest feeling. I think as I am writing this that I should probably share these feelings with him.... K bye

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Picking Battles

2 April 2015

My SO and I talked today. 
Today was a good day. 

I told him how the lady at the VA thought I may have bi-polar disorder or anger management issues. Both I could see me having like a 5% issue with... so in other words... no I'm probably about average. We both agree that I most likely don't have any behavioral disorder but I still have unfinished business. I still have not mastered the ability to take feelings of anger, resentment, frustration, pissed off, or whatever as a signal. A signal to check myself, collect my thoughts and feelings, and either disregard them or address them.

As we were in the car he said something to me that really struck a cord (pretty sure I didn't use that right or say it right or whatever). He said that I still do things that piss him off or irritate him but he asks himself if this thing is really something that he wants to go into with me. It seems so obvious now but geez, if I would have employed this even HALF the times that we have argued. 

Do I REALLY want to make an issue of _____?

He said he usually follows up this question with something like, "Well that really pissed me off but she really does do a lot for me in these ways ____..." 

Ugh. He has done the work. Can you tell? 

So, I need to change my checklist to include these things. Do I really want to make an issue of this? and How else has he made my life better, easier, etc...

I think that this will really help me learn to cope with and control my crazy out of control emotions. 

Also, reading the Nonviolent Communication book has been great. It's a little overwhelming so I know I will need to read it again but seriously, if people always talked to each other the way he describes, there really would be no issues anywhere. The author is fantastic and I am so thankful to finally be exposed to his writings. 

Goals:
Pick My Battles
-what is worth talking about, what is not.
I still need to pin point my needs right now from my SO. What are the things that I was feeling I was missing from him and what do I want from him. 

good night <3

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Warmth

1 April 2015

Despite the date there will be no jokes on this page. I'm still not in a very joking mood. I have yet to have a day where I don't cry. But I do feel like each day is getting better. 

I had two therapy appointments today. The first was an in-processing appointment with the VA and that was fine. It's so strange and disappointing almost how medication is at the forefront of every doctors mind nowadays. This doctor however was the first of any to suggest that I look into anger management which I think is an awesome suggestion. I have a feeling that the Nonviolent Communication will help address those issues a lot but I definitely will remember to read more on anger management. She also asked if I had ever been diagnosed with Bi-polar disorder... That was strange. I did consider the idea for just a few moments and then said I was pretty sure I did not have it. I'm pretty sure I only ever have met one side of the spectrum (the sad, anxious, and depressed side). The other side included the inability to sleep because of the extreme energy and extreme happiness... I honestly don't think I fit that category. Anyway, I am on the waiting list now for individual therapy there as well as I am going to try to get into their group classes on mindfulness which would be great.

The second appointment my SO and I went to together. I was not very happy at first that he was going to go. We had discussed earlier that I would go alone but he then decided it would be better to go together. In the end I think it was better that we got to go together. The result of the session is that he needs some progress from me before we can move forward which I absolutely understand. It still saddens my heart that we will continue to be distant from each other. I miss him more than ever before and I still don't understand how we will show or know that I am making progress but I have deciding to trust the process. In my other book, the author talked about forcing the process and how it simply cannot happen. She says that impatience is just another form of resistance to the change. I agree with that. The second therapist I saw would always ask me why I was trying SO hard to get through the journey or what my rush was. I guess the joke is on me now. All that work I thought I did was not good enough, was hardly anything at all and it got me nowhere. I was telling my friend that thinking about what I needed to do has just not worked for me. I've thought about it a ton, trust me, but when the shit hits the fan there was absolutely no thinking going on. I just went back to my normal ways. 

I am now in my planning mode. I have my checklist for when I need it. I have printed out an affirmation that I read at least 3x a day. I have my books that I am working through and I am always being mindful of my feelings. Questioning them. Figuring out their roots. I know that I need a more progress orientated plan for my SO. I know this. I really am struggling with forming one though. Part of me thinks that it needs to be more organic then a typed plan and then another part of me thinks that is just another excuse or resistance mechanism. I will figure something out for him. For us. I just need a little more time, which is really annoying because that also is a resistance mechanism... I feel like this process is very convoluted sometimes. Alas. I am not giving up.

Anyway, my SO said at therapy that he really does want us to work and that he really does believe in me. That is all I wanted from him this morning. He doesn't know how badly I needed to hear those words. My heart is warm.

Goals:
Be free of understanding everything. I can't and never will.
Trust the process, especially the pace. I cannot force anything. 

Monday, March 30, 2015

Feeling a little overwhelmed

30 March 2015

Ever feel like you are on information and emotion overload? 

Yes. 

I understand its only like 4 days in but Holy Hell I am starting to feel a little overwhelmed with everything. I honestly have no clue where my SO stands on us which literally rips my heart out every chance it gets. I have cried every single day since Thursday (it's Monday...). Most days have been multiple times and often I will just burst into tears at a very random time. 

I told him tonight that I have a fear. I have always been pretty terrible at being completely vulnerable with him and allowing myself to be "imperfect" around him. This is not good. It has made me keep emotions inside and not totally open up to him and has ultimately kept him at a small distance from the far depths of my heart. So, tonight I told him that the distance we are creating from each other I fear will cause yet another wall to form. I already told him weeks ago that sex with him has sometimes been scary for me or foreign because we will go so long without it that I almost shut off my ability to feel sexual and then when we do be intimate it's almost like my guard is up. I almost fear it. Absolutely none of these tendencies I want nor does he deserve. I want the magic. I know he wants the magic too. I know that we both are realistic that it is not always and never will be all rainbows and butterflies but we both are so young and healthy that we should have and absolutely deserve inhibited intimacy with each other. We deserve the ability to be imperfect around each other. We deserve vulnerability from one another. 

We deserve commitment.

Here is another idea that I stumbled upon. My SO knows that some of the baggage that I have is commitment issues. I have too many experiences, both personal and circumstantial (I don't know if that's how you describe it... I'm referring to being around the situations) of infidelity. I mean seriously all 6 years of my military service were drowned in "who's cheating on who", "marriage doesn't mean shit", I've even heard "If you aren't in the same zip code it doesn't count". For God's sake! I wonder why I have a hard time trusting anyone, let alone myself!! 

But here's the thing, if I choose to hold on to that baggage and not let my guard down, I won't need to because I will be alone. So, I am being conscious of how I am thinking during this time of separation. I am being positive and un-intruding. I am giving him the space that he has asked for and in turn ridding myself of the burden of wondering if he wants to seek love or intimacy or whatever. I know that my SO is a good man and I know that he really doesn't ever want to hurt me. I know that he deserves my trust and therefore I am giving it to him. 

I love him. I will never stop loving him.

Some ideas from my reading:

My past has NO power over me. Just because I have once believed something does not mean that it is infinite. 

We are all here to transcend our early limitations. We are here to recognize our own magnificence and divinity no matter what "they" told us.

Whatever we believe will come true for us. My beliefs stem from a thought pattern and patterns absolutely can be changed. Example is that I have always said that I will be the one to ruin this relationship. Even now, in the place where we are at, I have to rid myself of that belief. I have to forgive myself. It takes TWO people to make a relationship. Honestly, I don't know if any ONE person can ruin a relationship but I know that one person sure can influence the outcome of any relationship. 

Another idea I really love is the idea that we are NEVER stuck. The point of power is always in the present moment which is always changing. I cannot forget that I am the only person who thinks in my mind therefore I am the authority and I am in control. 

Areas that you are hesitant and maybe don't want to change are probably what you NEED to change. Thoughts no longer have any power over me. I choose to be free, All is well in my world.

Goals:
-stay aware of my thoughts and catch them when they start to spiral
-stay away from the thoughts that create pain and cause illness


At this very moment, I do not know what the future holds of me. I know what I can control and I know where I want to be. Therefore, it is my personal responsibility to do everything and anything in my power to get there and make it happen. 

I love you Aly. I believe in you. My faith is with you. You are in control. 

A plan.

29 March 2015

Here's the deal. There absolutely is no more excuses for why I am putting off my own progress for healing myself and in turn healing my relationship. Communication is a son of a bitch for all relationships so I forgive myself for struggling, however, I can no longer push off the actual work and pray for results. Truth is that will NEVER work. It never has and it never will. I need real, actual work and real, actual results.

This is what happens to cause our relationship blow outs. It will start with my SO doing something that will upset me or piss me off. For whatever reason... Then, I allow myself to boil with my anger and react in an explosion of irritability, irrationality, and emotions. From the beginning of the issue, the conversation is doomed. THIS is what needs to change. (Along with my self-love... that is a work in progress). 

How do I change it? 

I am going to start by making a legit checklist for myself and printing it out. This honestly should be like common sense for me because when I was flying we lived and breathed by our checklist. 

When I feel angry, frustrated, sad, and/or panicked:

Step 1: Count to 10. Literally. 
           1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10

Step 2: Remind myself that Matt is NOT my enemy and he does NOT want to hurt me.

Step 3: Decide what I am actually angry about. Anger/fear is a wish. What am I wishing for? (Those panicked feelings are my signal!! Do not fear them, address them)

Step 4: Address Matt or Ryder calmly beginning with "I am frustrated/angry/mad/sad because ___________. How can we fix this?"


1. Rid the other person of the responsibility for our anger. "He/She made me angry" 
-others may be a stimulus of our anger but they are not the cause
-the cause of anger lies in our thinking-in thoughts of blame and judgement

2. Anger is from a need not being met. 
-NOT "I am angry because they..."
-BUT "I am angry because I am needing.."
***I am missing the ball on this because I have been too scared to ask for my needs being met. The other night if I could have said "I am really needing some personal time with you" they would have been met. Instead I allowed myself to get angry at you therefore causing a huge problem AND not getting my needs met.

“While I understand you are angry with me, it is not acceptable to me for you to speak using such harsh and accusing words. You and I will talk about this in a calm way or we will wait until we are both calm enough to do so. I expect you to treat me with respect even when you are angry.”

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Happy. Sad. Mad. Glad.

29 March 2015

Happy. 

That is the root of all evils. If I am choosing to be unhappy with myself, I will be unhappy with everyone. 

Sad.

I am sad for the time I have lost being unhappy. I honestly am searching desperately for the root of my unhappiness and have not been able to put my finger on it. When I can't figure something out I get very frustrated and angry. However, in my book, the author writes that the root of EVERY problem is when self-love is not present. My heart is telling me that if I start there things will fall into place. 

Mad. 

I am so MAD right now. I am mad that I let this happen. I am mad that I have not been embodying the example I want to be for my son. I am mad that my SO is done and over us. I am mad that he has decided to protect himself from me and my toxic energy. But, I cannot stay mad forever. I will not. In fact, just writing about this anger is helping it escape me. How can I be mad at him for knowing that I am bringing him down? How can I be mad at myself for getting off track with my life when the opportunity to change is staring me back in the mirror. I can choose to be mad or choose to be glad.

Glad.

I am glad I have this life. I am glad I have this body. I am glad I have this soul. I am glad I have me. I am glad that I have happiness. I know what it feels like, tastes like, smells like. I am glad for all things that are me and what I am becoming. 

"I love you and accept you for EXACTLY who you are"