Reading · Questions You'd Probably Ask A Therapist

I grew these cuttings from my already established blackcurrant bush. I grew a dozen of them even though I don’t have room for any new blackcurrant bushes.

In the garden this week, aside from the unseasonably warm weather, I’ve been experiencing the familiar feeling of overwhelm. Why does everything happen at once and, more to the point, what can I do about it?

A challenge I encounter across all aspects of my life is that of consistency and order. Plans are abundant. Execution is more hit and miss.

In garden terms, this usually means developing a meticulous strategy for all the crops I want to grow to get maximum use out of the available space.

What results, is generally a plan rarely referred to, the purchase of seeds I have no practical likelihood of being able to grow, windowsills full of seedlings that were planted far too early, and a significant dip in enthusiasm when it all feels too much.

What I’ve learned though, is the benefit of self compassion. Rather than berating myself for my flaky behaviour, I remind myself that this is how my brain operates and, to get the best from it, what’s required is not chastisement but a shift in methodology.

Which brings me to the point of this note.

I’ve been writing consistently for well over a decade. It’s probably the only thing I’ve managed to maintain.

In my professional life, I’ve also been collecting thousands of questions from clients, through freelancing work, and from people who learn what I do and immediately want to ask me if it’s odd to be phobic of chinook helicopters (it’s not odd to be phobic of anything).

At the time I chose to create these posts, it made sense to me that I separate the longer form essays and these questions you might ask a therapist, but it’s created a level of overwhelm that’s meant I lost enthusiasm and haven’t posted anything here for ages (sorry). Like too many tomato plants only with words instead of seeds.

So now I’m moving to a consolidated version. One post, both topics.

This is what you can expect.

Roughly fortnightly, a longer piece, almost certainly rooted in memoir, that explores a topic at the centre of or adjacent to mental health.

In addition, shorter posts based on a real question that someone has asked. For example,

Is therapy worth it?

How can I get comfortable with failure?

My answer won’t be the same as the one you might get if we were working together in therapy, but the gut feel response I might offer if this were to be my only shot at answering, which it often is.

If there’s anything you’d have particular interest in reading about, or if you have a question you might want to ask a therapist without currently having an alternative facility to do so, I’m always pleased to hear from you.

Whatever your level of engagement, I’m pleased you’re here and grateful that you are.

So this will be the final post here. I think I can migrate you into my main list so that you don’t have to do anything so, let’s hope that works out OK.

Overwhelm and what to do about it

Comments