I wouldn't want to be married to either of you. A trip for your kids to Disneyland when you have a germ phobia is a horrible anniversary gift. I have no germ phobias and wouldn't want it.
But YOU are irrationally angry at the responses, not a good communicator (I bet anything he broached the subject and you said it sounded like a good idea), and sound like you have a major phobia you're not dealing with.
This post is absolutely turning into a "run with it" feeding frenzy.
Why is it cool to bait someone with real issues?!
People gave her real advice. She reacted like ML is insane for reading her post and offering advice. Then it devolved. People didn't jump on her without reason.
Hello! Come on over to MM Moms where we have a Daily Disney thread. You are also welcome to read my not quite finished trip report. I got back on Friday:
I struggle with anxiety too, though mine is largely irrational and my son licked a pole at the airport and I didn't even flinch. I suggest you take that anxious planning energy and focus it on planning THE MOST MAGICAL TRIP OF ALL TIMES. We can help you learn more acronyms than you've ever dreamed. Get your Magic Band on and prepare for the Frozen Sing-a-Long!
Post by speckledfrog on Oct 20, 2014 14:55:00 GMT -5
If your therapist isn't giving you strategies (up to and including medication) to handle your anxieties, then it is absolutely time to see someone else. I agree with cville that you deserve better care.
Post by mrsukyankee on Oct 20, 2014 15:06:07 GMT -5
Go for CBT therapy - you're going to need to do things through life with your kids that will put you in touch with germs. Better to deal with it than not.
I am in talk therapy and it has helped to some degree, but she always says that she thinks it's mild and I don't need medication.
Then maybe try a different therapist (assuming you've been honest with the current one).
It's not mild if you'd rather lose $2,000 and a fun family trip than potentially be exposed to some germs that, if you stay home and just take the kids to the grocery store and pediatrician's office you're still going to be exposed to anyway.
This is Stella's playing "bring it". Just so we're clear.
People are being shitty in this post. People thinking I've done shitty things before doesn't negate that. If you're going to try to use it to threaten/dangle it not so subtly over my head, I'll engage. If I were afraid of that I wouldn't be here.
This is Stella's playing "bring it". Just so we're clear.
People are being shitty in this post. People thinking I've done shitty things before doesn't negate that. If you're going to try to use it to threaten/dangle it not so subtly over my head, I'll engage. If I were afraid of that I wouldn't be here.
Whut? You brought up Ratchetgate (which has nothing to do with this post) to try to show Astrid's 'poor decision making' so yeah....pot, kettle and all that LOL
OP: I have severe anxiety about certain things, including germs. My therapist (whom I love) said that if my anxiety is bad enough it prevents me from doing "normal" things, it's time for meds.
I really think you need to consider a new therapist.
I am in talk therapy and it has helped to some degree, but she always says that she thinks it's mild and I don't need medication.
I don't think you are being completely honest with your therapist. It isn't fair to your family to not be able to do fun outings because of YOUR issues.
This.
When your baggage is impacting your family's day-to-day life, you're not a semi-germophobe. You've trended into something beyond mild.
Maybe you need a different kind of tx. Cognitive Behavior Therapy was life changing for DS. He has GAD. Medication has been useful as well.
I am in talk therapy and it has helped to some degree, but she always says that she thinks it's mild and I don't need medication.
Please, please, please have your therapist refer you to a psychiatrist. I have the exact same issues as you, and I have been on medication for about four months. Honestly, I think they have been the best four months of my life. I can go out and do things without obsessing over germs and getting sick. I can let my DD play with other kids without worrying what kinds of sicknesses the kids might be carrying. I can take vacations without obsessing over all of the bad things that might happen. I just feel like a weight has been lifted off of me. Taking the leap from therapy to medication has been one of the best decisions I've ever made.
Now, see, I'd say xanax if it was an isolated issue that OP only occasionally encounters, like fear of flying ... take a xanax for the duration of the flight and then you're done with it. But something like semi-, full-blown- or hemi-demi-semi-germophobia, well, that's going to be a recurring issue and something as addictive as xanax I wouldn't think would be the best first choice drug.
I only read the first page of the thread and now I'm last one--nothing in between. So I don't know if this has been mentioned but it sounds like the OP is borderline agoraphobic.
"Why would you ruin perfectly good peanuts by adding candy corn? That's like saying hey, I have these awesome nachos, guess I better add some dryer lint." - Nonny
Post by Pixiehollow on Oct 21, 2014 12:03:38 GMT -5
Really? She read the first and last page and commented that I was near agoraphobic? I wasn't nasty. I was actually laughing about it hence the lol. And I have absolutely no fear of flying so not sure where that came from. I love to fly and travel.