At age 30, I had a stroke, which left me w/little movement, & with the inability to speak. Stroke changes people anyway, but now my anxiety & OCD became more pronounced, & I was wanting my therapist husband to do things for me, that helped me "hide" my anxiety/OCD-personality. (Between the stroke, & my mental illnesses, it is a MIRACLE my husband is still w/me 13 YEARS later!)
My husband has tried to educate me, but I wouldn't have it. It wasn't that I refused purposely, just I couldn't see it. Several times, I was aware that there were needed changes, but I just didn't "get it". When he threatened to divorce me the 1st time, I knew something had to change. I tried hypnosis, a course online, sought advice from religious authorities, tried guided meditation, read several self-help books, did chair yoga...Nothing.
My husband & I usually listen to audiobooks on long car rides (since I can't talk). He knew I was depressed last December, so when we went on a long car ride, while he claimed he had to read Dr. Burn's book "Feeling Good" for work, I think there's a reason he listened to it on a car ride!
Anyway, I embraced his teachings--it really wasn't anything new, but the way he said stuff was more palatable--I wasn't a bad person. (My husband never said I was either, but this came across less offensive or something) I posted about my depression & his book on my website (www.jenannynn/org), & a dear friend (who has a blog for depression-suffers) told me about u, so here I am!I am just barely finishing lesson 1. My husband asks if I have learned anything new. No, I have not, & I actually feel like I have gone backward, not forwards! BUT, as I read "Feeling Good", or had suggestions from my husband, I will think things like, "Oh! Good idea! I want to do that!"...But I don't do it! However, my OCD treats this different, since it is a "course", so I'm sticking to it for now...My motivation is to repair & better relationships w/my husband, & my oldest daughter, who says she hates me, & when she leaves for college in June, she plans to never return home (which puts even more syrain on the relationship with my husband!)
I do have 2 questions:
1 Lesson 1 suggests starting a book, & suggests 3--none of which are audiobooks. I can read, very slowly, ás I have double vision. I am still listening to "Feeling Good" though...does that count?
2. Can I email my coach? I am re-learning speech, but it is difficult t understand, & hard to do...Do I get like 1 email, so I better wait until
I can make it count?