I have a terrible personality

I would say I am religious and spiritually inclined. I spoke about why I was not doing church this holiday season on another thread that got closed. It was a popular topic as there was a lot of participation...and I think spirituality can be a big factor either pro or con in mental health. For me it provided a sense of community and stability...but I am going to honor PC and not discuss it.

Of course. I agree.

My own view of therapists is that there are a few that are insightful and helpful while the rest are not worth the time you spend and can be downright harmful too.

I think anything that gets someone to change the way they spend their time, and what they think about, is a crucial ingredient to psychic change, expanding the horizon. It's when we can get to what they call CAVU Ceiling and Visibility Ulimited. I watched the funeral yesterday. At least most of it on tape and watched McCain's funeral too.

Maybe it is time for another Peace Corps mission? You wrote that if you solved your money problems you would be free tolive the life of your choosing rather than one imposed upon you, if I am correct?

It's also essential to have energy. We all have our limitations. Mine is I simply poop out and rest a lot.

I also heavily censor what I do and do not write about online, under any guise.

[QUOTE=tecomsin;6358250]My own view of therapists is that there are a few that are insightful and helpful while the rest are not worth the time you spend and can be downright harmful too.

I think anything that gets someone to change the way they spend their time, and what they think about, is a crucial ingredient to psychic change, expanding the horizon. It's when we can get to what they call CAVU Ceiling and Visibility Ulimited. I watched the funeral yesterday. At least most of it on tape and watched McCain's funeral too.

Maybe it is time for another Peace Corps mission? You wrote that if you solved your money problems you would be free tolive the life of your choosing rather than one imposed upon you, if I am correct?

It's also essential to have energy. We all have our limitations. Mine is I simply poop out and rest a lot.

I also heavily censor what I do and do not write about online, under any guise.



I have seriously thought about rejoining Peace Corps...but its motto of, "This is the toughest job you'll ever love..." is for a reason. It isn't a walk in the park. I was young and my ex and I joined for an extended adventure/honeymoon right after we got married. It was a cool experience but also extremely difficult. The world is quite dangerous and there are a lot of places I wouldn't want to be posted. (I believe the country where I once served would now be off limits.)

With regards to mental health care...your words have an uncanny accuracy and fit in with my thinking today. I now belong to an HMO and it occurs to me that the care there is below par. I have been banging my head against the wall. I also called crisis hotlines and they have steered me towards services in my community that I have not worked out. I have been given the impression that I need to "work hard" to find a decent therapist.

What nonsense. The bottom line is that therapy has never much helped me with serious life problems...and nowadays...especially...it has become therapy light. It has appropriated spiritual practices from Buddhism such as mindfulness meditation...and since I am a Buddhist scholar and with advanced training in meditation... I find it offensive. (Probably because I relate to meditation as a salvific spiritual practice) -- finally, if it is all about behavioral modification...and a change of attitude...I don't need to pay someone for professional hand-holding in that area. I went for a few free consultations with therapists last year and it was a waste of time.

I would pay a fitness coach but I actually don't have the money.

I think anything that gets someone to change the way they spend their time, and what they think about, is a crucial ingredient to psychic change, expanding the horizon. It's when we can get to what they call CAVU Ceiling and Visibility Ulimited.

I do believe the above paragraph is the most uplifting and intelligent I have ever read on PC....ever. Thank you for your intelligence and charming way of writing...and I say charming in the true sense of the word. When depressed only the most charming ideas attract the attention. Thank you for this. Thank you, my friend, you have made my day a bit brighter.

If I have made your day brighter, then it is all worthwhile.

What follows is not a political statement. I watched the George HW Bush funeral and read online about his life. Learned that he had a plaque engraved with the letters CAVU at his home in Keenebunkport and it was the code his friends and family used to announce his death amongst themselves. It's a military phrase for pilots "Ceiling and Visibility Unlimited" and meant a perfect day to fly. After his airplane crashed in the ocean when he was a Navy pilot, he was rescued by a submarine.

Your life is also an amazing story. Thanks for sharing it.