Tag Archives: DBT

Looks Like a DBT Skills Type of Day

Posted on by Gertie

Good Afternoon, World!!! It is early afternoon in my corner of the world. I have been dealing with a bump in the road for about three to four weeks now. It appears to be turning into a funk but if I have anything to do with it, it won’t get into a funk. But for those of us who deal with mental health challenges sometimes the funk is beyond our control which sucks shit.

As the symptoms of my mental health challenges appear to be increasing I realize it needs to be a DBT skills type of day. I say this because I have been fighting of dissociation due to the PTSD I struggle with. I am also struggling with Depression symptoms. Specifically, isolation. I am also struggling with self harm urges and want to reassure you that I AM CURRENTLY NOT AT RISK of harming myself.

Considering the type of symptoms, I am currently struggling with I realize that using my DBT skills today is key to my recovery and long term goals. Specifically, the DBT skills I will be using all have to do with creativity. For me being creative is what helps me with the dissociation. In fact music will be a major part of my day. I say this as if I am not playing my flute or harmonica, I will be listening to music as I am creative in other ways. I plan on doing some art. I am actually going to be painting. I have an idea or two for what I want to paint. I love painting as it helps me expression my emotions when I am having difficulty expressing them in other ways as well as not knowing what emotion I am currently feeling. Another way, I plan on being creative is writing. In fact I am writing right now as I blog. However, I am planning on writing some poetry as I feel a few poems that may be on the horizon. Poetry is another way to express my emotions. Of course I will be listening to music as I paint and write like I am doing now. Like I mentioned earlier, I will be playing my flute or harmonica at some point today. Of course I will not be listening to music when I am playing one of my musical instruments.

I am thinking that I don’t have much more to say that I will go end the post especially since I am hungry and in need of making lunch. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things. I hope everyone has a great Saturday and weekend. Peace Out, World!!!

Weekly Plans

Posted on by Gertie

Sunday

  • Blog
  • Workbook (The Artist Way)
  • Lunch w/Friends
  • Artist Date

Monday

  • Blog
  • Workbook (The Artist Way)
  • Therapy
  • Art Group

Tuesday

  • Blog
  • Workbook (The Artist Way)
  • Appointment w/Employment Specialist
  • Dinner w/Friends

Wednesday

  • Blog
  • Workbook (The Artist Way)
  • Appointment w/Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
  • Open Communication Group
  • Household Chores

Thursday

  • Blog
  • Workbook (The Artist Way)
  • DBT Group
  • Dinner w/a Friend

Friday

  • Blog
  • Workbook (The Artist Way)
  • Laundry
  • Binge Watch Television

Saturday

  • Blog
  • Workbook (The Artist Way)
  • Binge Watch Television

Weekly Check-In

Posted on by Gertie

Hello, World!!! As I stated in a post sometime late last week, that I would start my weekly check-ins back up on Saturdays. So, here I am doing the weekly check-in. I don’t have much to say this evening as I have discussed most of what I wanted to talk about through out the week.

The big event that happened this past week was my 40th birthday on Thursday. My birthday turned out to be a good one which I am quite grateful for. In fact I am still celebrating my birthday this weekend. Due to my birthday I have been spending time with both family and friends. It has been great spending time with those care about me. It does still feel weird to have folks celebrate me as I still feel like I do not deserve to be celebrated.

Something I started this past Monday was a writing course that WordPress puts on. I am doing a writing course called Finding Your Everyday Inspiration. I decided to do the course to help me get back in the habit of blogging on the regular basis again.

Another thing I started this week was a workbook called “The Artist Way.” I started it yesterday and I have to admit it seems quite overwhelming and challenging and it is only day two. It is a twelve week workbook course. I am doing this workbook at the suggestion of my therapist. My therapist thinks it will be helpful for my recovery and helpful in regards for me to build structure in my life which I am all for.

The other thing I started back up was going to Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) group. I have had the group facilitators before and I like them. The teach the DBT skills quite well. Speaking of DBT I need to do my DBT homework for today.

I don’t have much more to check-in about. This week has overall been a good week. I hope that everyone has a good rest of their weekend. Peace Out, World!!!

Okay, Who Decided to Send Me Snow for My Birthday

Posted on by Gertie

IMG_0447

Good Evening, World!!! The above picture is what it looked like a good portion of the day. It snowed today, my 40th birthday. I have experienced snow before but never on my birthday. I have considered myself as a “spring baby” but every once in a while Mother Nature reminds me that I am technically a “winter baby.” When Mother Nature reminds me that I am a “winter baby” it usually is a wind storm with lots of rain and a few down trees and the occasional power outage but never snow.  In fact, I am still trying to figure out who sent me the snow for my birthday because, I sure in the hell didn’t want the white stuff for my birthday. I am not a big fan of snow.

Besides dealing with the snow for my birthday, I attended Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) group as it started today. In my opinion I think getting back into DBT Group and it starting today was the best birthday present I could give myself. I say it is the be present I could give myself because it is something that will help me throughout the years to come just like it has helped me the last fifteen plus years.

Another thing I am doing for my birthday is that a couple of neighbors are making a birthday dinner for me. In fact dinner is at 7:30 this evening and it is just after seven o’clock in the evening in my part of the world. I am looking forward to dinner with friends. I am happy that people are willing to celebrate my birthday with me.

I do not have much more to say in this post. I want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things. I hope you all have a good rest of your Thursday. Peace Out, World!!!

Birthday Plans

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! As I mentioned in my last three post, today is my 40th birthday. A birthday I never thought I would see. A birthday I am grateful for and plan on celebrating it in a number of ways.

One of the first ways, I plan on celebrating my birthday happens early this afternoon. I plan on starting a new group. Well, not exactly new, but new in a way. Today, the DBT Maintenance Group starts and I figure it is a great way to start my 40’s as well as a way to celebrate my birthday and recovery. I know it is an unusual way to celebrate my birthday but it is much more than celebrating my birthday, it is celebrating my recovery.

Another way I am planing on celebrating my birthday is spending it with friends. In fact my friends are taking me out to dinner. They are taking me to my favorite restaurant, Red Robin. I love me some Red Robin. I have been going to Red Robin every year for my birthday since I was thirteen years old. So, that means I have been going to Red Robin for my birthday every year for the last twenty-seven years. I am grateful for my friends for taking me to Red Robin. I am glad I have friends that know me well enough to know that Red Robin is the place I want to be on my birthday.

As far as celebrating with my family, I will be celebrating with them tomorrow (Friday) due to some family member’s work schedule’s. I will be celebrating with my grandpa, dad and two uncles on my dad’s side. I would be celebrating with my mom too if she would be willing to come to Seattle but she is “too scared to drive in Seattle traffic” and I am not about to go to Olympia to celebrate my birthday with my mom especially since she is toxic for me. My family and I are going to a local mom and pop restaurant that I really like going to.

I do not have much more to say in this post. I am hoping to post again later today but not sure how the will be as it is my birthday. I want to thank you all for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things. I hope everyone has a great day. Peace Out, World!!!

Everyday Inspiration; Day 2: Write A List

Posted on by Gertie

Today’s assignment for Finding Everyday Inspiration is to write a list. We were given a list of topics to use for idea’s for a list. I chose from one of the topics as it resonates with me.

Things I Have Learned:

  1.  How to meditate, as it has helped bring peace in my life.
  2. How to do mindfulness. This has helped me calm my mind and bring peace to my life.
  3. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills as this has helped me a great deal with my recovery with mental health challenges.
  4. Learned how to read music when I learned how to play the flute. Playing the flute and reading music has helped me in many areas of my life. Music was the first way I learned how to express myself and my emotions.
  5. Learned how to play the harmonica. If I didn’t learn how to play the flute and read music I would have never learn to play the harmonica. This too has helped me in many areas of my life. Just like playing the flute it helps me express myself and my emotions.
  6. I learned the are of writing poetry. This has helped me express myself in ways people can relate to.
  7. I learned how to paint. In fact I am still learning how to paint. This has helped me express myself when I am unable to use words to express myself.
  8. I am in the middle of learning how to enjoy life even when difficult situations arise. I hope that someday I will be better at this especially among the difficult times.
  9. I learned how to do self care and how to appreciate it. This has helped me a great deal in my recovery
  10. I learned how to accept another persons love. In fact this is something I am still learning how to do. My cat, Lil Gertie, is helping a great deal with this as I have accepted other people’s love a lot easier since I adopted her. It is still a challenge for me but it has become easier since adopting my cat, Lil Gertie.

Weekly Plans

Posted on by Gertie

As I mentioned in a previous post last night (Saturday), I am starting to post my weekly plans again on Sundays. Well, it it Sunday and time for me to post my weekly plans.

My weekly plans are as follows:

Sunday

  • Blog
  • Meditation and Mindfulness practice
  • Workbook
  • Lunch with friends
  • Household chores
  • Binge watch a television show

Monday

  • Blog
  • Meditation and Mindfulness practice
  • Workbook
  • Art group
  • Get weekly meds
  • Laundry

Tuesday

  • Blog
  • Meditation and Mindfulness practice
  • Workbook
  • Therapy
  • Appointment with employment specialist

Wednesday

  • Blog
  • Meditation and Mindfulness practice
  • Workbook
  • Open Communication group
  • Schedule a time to get my taxes done

Thursday

  • Happy 40th Birthday to me
  • Blog
  • Meditation and Mindfulness practice
  • Workbook
  • DBT Group
  • Birthday Dinner with friends

Friday

  • Blog
  • Meditation and Mindfulness practice
  • Workbook
  • Word nerds group
  • Belated birthday dinner with family

Saturday

  • Blog
  • Meditation and Mindfulness practice
  • Workbook
  • Household chores
  • Binge watch a television show

The Count Down Is On

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! I can’t believe I almost forgot to post about this as today (Thursday) February 7th marks one month till my 40th birthday. I honestly did not think I would make it to my 40th birthday. I say this as I thought I would have died by suicide by the time I turned forty and have absolutely NO plans on doing so as I am in a really good place with my mental health challenges.

As much as I am thrilled that I am a month away from being forty years old, I can not help but think of all the ways that helped me get to where I am at. First and for most if it wasn’t for Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and many years of various types of therapy including DBT, I would not be here writing this post now.  I really thought I would have died by suicide and due to many people who believed in me, I am still here.

I am beyond grateful that I am still here as I have so much I can offer this world. Yes, I have some pretty bad downs however, I now know that I can get through them with with my DBT skill and the help of my friends as well as my mental health treatment team. To me making it to forty is proof that no matter how difficult things are, you can get through it. It might seem daunting as it most certainly is at the time but just know you can make it through.

I don’t have much more to say as I just posted about twenty minutes ago on an entire different topic. Thank you so much for ready my blog as it is greatly appreciated from my end of things. I hope everyone has a good rest of their night. Peace Out, World!!!

Friday Evening Randomness

Posted on by Gertie

Happy Friday, World!!! After my last post, I went directly to bed. I was so tired it wasn’t even funny. I woke up about an hour ago and had some dinner then I played with my cat. I am honestly worried that I won’t be able to sleep tonight due to the amount of sleep I got today.

Since I have been asleep all, that pretty much sure I will be up most of the night. That is why I am coming up with ways to use my Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) skills. One of those skills I plan on doing is of course some art work. Specifically, I’ll be doing a lot of painting tonight. I might even add some collaging to my paintings.

Another thing I plan on doing tonight is reading. I will be reading the fantasy book I never really finished and decided pick it back up. I am really enjoying the book thus far even I am reading the parts I have read before. I just want to make I don’t miss anything when I get to the parts I have not read yet.

I am also planning on binge watching some movies. Specifically, movies that can be related to the holiday, Halloween. I have idea’s of what movies I am going to choose from but not a definite decision yet. Movies are a great way of distracting myself no matter what it may be.

If you regularly read my blog you are aware that I have advertisements on it. Any time anyone clicks on one of those advertisements I earn money. Not much money but I earn some. It would be greatly appreciated if you could click on an ad or two each week so I can earn extra money.

I want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated. I hope everyone has a wonderful Friday evening. Thank you again for reading my blog. Have a wonderful weekend. Peace Out, World!!!

Two O’clock in the Morning Bullshit

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! It is two o’clock in the morning in my corner of the world and all I have to say is a bunch of bullshit for being in the middle of the night. Bullshit that is nothing but a bunch of randomness. I, of course obviously can not sleep if I am blogging at this time of night. I did get a few hours of sleep in since I posted my last post which is a good thing.

Right now, with the way I things are going I have to make sure I use my Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) skills. My DBT skill have helped me a great deal over the last seventeen years. Yes, the DBT skills helped me in both the good a bad times. Right now my DBT skills are helping me with being somewhere in the middle of good and bad.

One of the things I am going to do is do some art work. I have been working a great deal on combining two genres of art and this painting and collaging. As awesome as it has been combining the two genres, I feel like now is not the time to work on neither painting or collaging and even both. So the art the I am going to focus on right now is coloring. Coloring is a mindfulness skill for me and it is quite meditative to me.

Speaking mindfulness and meditation I will also be doing some mindfulness and meditation practices. As they help me put me in a better place than I am in even if I am in a great place.

I, of course will be doing some binge watching some television tonight. Not sure what show I will be watching but it will be on one of the streaming sites a subscribe to. That will either be Netflix or Hulu but again not sure what type of television I will be watching. Hell, I might even watch a movie instead of television. I am pretty sure you don’t like the ads on my blog as I don’t either but I don’t get paid till I hit $100 and I am barely at $50. So once I get paid I will take of the advertisements off of my blog. So please click on the advertisements once or twice a week so I can get the $100 I need to get paid so I can get gifts for friends and family for the holiday season.

Again, I want to bring up some bullshit I keep bringing up in recent post and hope that you can do me the favor of clicking on the advertisements that appear on my blog. Every time someone clicks on an advertisement and lets it load all the way, I get anywhere from a few cent to a couple of dollars.

I want to thank you all for reading my post especially this one since it is a bullshit post. The main bullshit of this post is me asking you to click on the advertisements on my blog as each click does give me money but I don’t receive that money till it hits $100 which sucks but what can I do about it. Nothing. Thank you again for reading my blog as it is much appreciated. I hope you continue to read my and even click on an advertisement or two. Peace Out, World!!!