1) I made a commitment to psychotherapy

Now 36 years old, I’ve been in and out of therapy for about 20 years. I definitely found it more challenging to stick with a therapist and commit to the process when I was younger (between 16 – 21) for a few reasons. 1) I struggled to find the right fit and was often connected with student therapists who didn’t have enough experience to effectively support my case. 2) We didn’t really talk about mental health in the early 2000’s. The literature was sparse and hard to access, and social media didn’t exist! 3) I didn’t know what I didn’t know! I truthfully wasn’t responsible enough and hadn’t learned the importance of taking care of my health, nor did I have the capacity to understand “the work” (the skills, the psychoeducation etc.) 4) There was a lot of stigma around going to therapy - I was frequently encouraged to keep quiet about my moods and challenges.

…which brings us to my 20’s when I was eventually diagnosed with a cocktail of mental health conditions: major depression, general anxiety, social anxiety, an eating disorder, body dysmorphia, and borderline personality (BPD) traits. Eventually, reassessment proved that BPD was a misdiagnosis (as it usually is for so many). In fact, I learned that I am a woman with ADHD / AuDHD and PTSD - the combination looks a lot like BPD. Since becoming a therapist, I’ve helped many women gain access to reassessment proving that they are in fact neurodivergent. 

Like a lot of folks, I didn’t do too much with the labels I was given at the time. I took the meds that were prescribed by my psychiatrist and continued repeating unhealthy patterns. My turning point came when I realized I actually had something to lose: a future. In my mid-late 20’s I began a new romantic relationship (who is now my fiancé) and had also begun school to become a therapist - now registered psychotherapist. 

Over the course of approximately 2 years, I buckled in and did the work. I attended therapy sessions biweekly (often weekly) and rarely missed an appointment. Therapy was a non-negotiable practice if I wanted to have a life worth living.