Stress Center Peer Support

I am so new at all of this...The opening up, The asking for help and trusting people enough to value their opinions and take their advice to heart... Even though I know that there ARE people like me out there, I've lately begun to doubt the credibility of people's words... I have never known anyone that could truly relate to me... I don't whine. -BUT- I have an automatic tendency to bottle everything up inside until it has nowhere to go and then one day I find myself crying in the middle of an exam, or just being negative and hurtful to those around me that are trying to help and understand what I'm going through... I know I'm doing it to myself, but I really would like to change that somehow... I wonder if there's anyone else like me out there...Someone else who sees and feels things similarly... Help?

Alyssa,
Ahhh, you sound like me years ago. I've since learned to talk about things when they bother. I used to refer to myself as Mount Vesuvius. I would hold in everything and then literally erupt and spew molten lava on everyone in 10 mile radius! (Please don't take my humor the wrong way, I smile now, knowing that I'm a better person now). I would then hate myself and feel terrible guilt because I unloaded on someone, mostly my husband. I have since learned to talk to that person that I have an issue with. I'm really working on what my expectations are or were and discuss with that person what their expectations are or were and then come to some sort of resolution or compromise. I do once in a blue moon, unload on my husband, but even then, it comes down to communication and expectations. We didn't communicate our expectations. I've also been in talk therapy for a year and a half and have found that it has helped me tremendously.

As for finding a way to change, keep with Lucinda's program, especially the tape for week 3, positive self talk. This is where it all starts.

You too can change and become the person you want to be.

Thank you...So MUCH... Just That one message made me feel like there's and upside to things...That I CAN change and that I CAN go up from here... I Hope This feeling lasts...I Hate feeling guilty and angry and hopeless...So once again, Thank you.