[Don W]

Ryan, Becky is so right. There are sometimes things in life you can avoid and get better. Like poison ivy. Mental Health requires dealing with the issues. I don't believe we are disabled. We have been injured mentally. Like a physical ailment we can get better. I made the mistake of thinking my prescribed medication would make me better. I took it and waited to feel good. When I didn't I'd tell the doctor it wasn't working. He'd add or switch it, and still the same. Then I learned from my VA counselor that the medication only helps you " deal" with not avoid the problem. Makes sense, the same happened with the alcohol. I kept drinking to feel better. When I didn't, I drank more, switched or both. Hummm? that sounds familar. Ryan and angel as you already know, this can be painful and difficult. However, I think at times we need to feel the pain in order to identify it. I needed to allow my brain to revisit events to put them into perspective. Surprisingly, in some cases the simple method of verbalizing, brought relief. Morning Glory taught me that. Verbalizing some fears or guilts or shame, is like flicking a lightswitch will make the darkness disappear, so will the light of exposure end a fear. Many here are following this. The key is to stay the course. I, in the past would escape when the pain of remembering, or the fear would try and continue it's hold. I just closed my eyes and believed what Morning Glory said was true. After all, the only thing to lose is the fear. You already might believe, as I did, It can't get worse. Be prepaired, sometimes things do get worse before better when you revisit. Recovery is long term, and the longer you travel the path and gain experence the sweeter the rewards. This happens by simply having our blinders removed. Don W