Tigerswallowtail

It has been too long since I last wrote. I started college for the first time a couple of years ago. Things were going well, I had moved onto campus and was living in an apartment with a roommate. For most of the time I had the apartment all to myself as my roommate was rarely home. I think she was living with her grandma or something. Anyway, I preferred to live alone. I was doing ok with classes and working as a student employee as a tutor in the writing lab. I was meeting new people, forming new friendships. It was getting easier to be around guys without having panic attacks. Then,

This summer has been quite eventful for me. I completed my first college class (English 110/ Composition I) in the spring semester and got an "A". I then took English 111 (Composition II) this summer and just got my grades and found out that I passed with another "A". Both classes I doubted my abilities and constantly worried that I wasn't doing a good enough job. Others kept telling me that I was doing fine and that there was nothing to worry about. Every paper, every assignment was the same. I'd work hard on it, but never felt like it was good enough when I turned it in and then would wait a

I have a lot of new beginnings this year, including starting college for the first time. So far I love it. I will be starting the Sign Language Interpreting program this fall, and was advised to join a group to help in learning ASL (American Sign Language) and to meet people in the deaf community. The group meets once a week at various restaurants. I've met a lot of people and am making new friends. The first time I went I was very nervous. I only had just met a few of the college students that are in the program and didn't know any of the deaf people. It took a lot of courage to enter that r

I had a meltdown a couple of weeks ago. The day had started out ok I thought. Well, except for the fact that I was getting over a bad migraine from the night before and wasn't feeling so good. I've had someone describe it as a "migraine hangover". I've never gotten drunk before, so not sure how it compares to that kind of hangover, but I know what I experience isn't pleasant. Anyway, back to my story. I was at college, which I am really enjoying, and was attending a workshop on test anxiety. I usually do ok when taking a test, but I do struggle with anxiety and thought it would be

I've started college for the first time. There are many things that I am enjoying and am excited about. I am starting to get to know some of my classmates and am hoping to form some new friendships. I love the class I am in, English Composition 110. This is the only class I am taking this semester. I was advised to do this to help ease into college life. I think it was a good choice. But then I tried eating in the cafeteria a couple of times. I felt like I did when I was a kid and moving around and having to change schools in the middle of the school year. That being the new girl

I had a session with my T a few days ago. I had been looking forward to it as I had a lot of good and exciting things to talk about. I was going to be starting my first class at the local college and felt like I was making forward progress in my life after feeling stuck for so long. Let's just say that I cried, no, bawled, through most of the session. Not what I was expecting at all. I guess I had a lot of bottled up emotion and it just exploded. Not pretty at all. One of those times where I left feeling exhausted and emotionally drained. So, what happened?? I had just com

Thank you @ContinuingMetanoia for your comments and for praying for me! I made it through the first two days of class (English Composition 110)! I love it! I'm enjoying my teacher, he is passionate about what he is teaching and his goal is to help us become the best writers that we can be. So far I've not had any issues or bad vibes. I'm starting to get to know some of my classmates and hope to make some new friends.

Thank you @Exdancer1986 for your encouraging words! I went today to the college and went thru the process of applying and getting registered. If everything works out with the financial aid, I should start my first class Jan. 16th!!! I'm so excited! It went well today, was nervous especially during the placement test (did bad on the algebra one). At least that part is over. My teacher will be a man. Hoping I do ok with that. Thanks again for writing! I have read some of your posts and hope things will all work out for you too.

I love New Year's Day. It always feels like a new beginning to me. A fresh start. A blank page waiting to be filled with the story of the coming days. This year the holidays have been rough for me physically. Spent a lot of time in bed with headaches or overall body aches so severe that it felt like I had a bad case of the flu. Despite it all, I was able to get together with family for the annual gatherings and I was able to play my harp for the special services at my church. I stayed up late New Year's Eve, thinking about this coming year and dreaming big dreams of what all I

@ContinuingMetanoia First off, Welcome to AS! I've only been on here for a few months, but it has helped a lot to have a place where I can write what I am going through. It was nice to get your feedback. I am enjoying reading "Jesus Calling" and also "Jesus Always". It helps me to stop and reflect and make it personal.

This will have to be short as I don't have much time, but I need to write. Pain has been a daily companion for me, whether it is physical or emotional. I really can't remember what it's like to wake up without physical pain. How much of it is related to my past abuse and the emotions I struggle with because of it, I don't know. The last two weeks have been really bad, with headaches almost every day. Some to the point where I've had to cancel plans/work and go to bed. I have been doing better emotionally, but today not so good. I think the headaches are just getting to me. Ther

Hi FOUND, thank you for the welcome! Tigerswallowtail

I woke up this morning eager to see how the day would turn out. I realized that after my morning counseling session I had the rest of the day free. I decided to take advantage of it and do something. The sun was shining, the sky was blue and the temperature was decent. Thoughts tumbled around my head of what I possibly might do, but didn't get a decision made before going into my counseling session. My session today was an easier one. I went into it feeling bad because I'd not completed my assignments from the last one. The assignments were difficult ones, dealing with my past abuse

I am tense, all the time. I honestly can't remember what it is like to not have my muscles all in knots. Lately it's been worse. My jaw clenches so hard at night that when I wake up my teeth ache and when I go to eat breakfast I feel like it's a bit of a struggle to open it to take a bite. My neck and shoulder muscles are so tight and knotted and I can never get them to relax. I go to bed at night and feel myself tensing up. I lay there, trying to relax, trying to focus on the different muscle groups and trying to let the tension go. I take deep breaths. I feel it starting to ease up

As a child I learned the age old song "Yes, Jesus loves me!" I grew up knowing that I am loved, but recently realized that I haven't truly believed it in my heart. I was sharing with a an older friend who was my coach in a group I was a part of. As I told her my story and the struggles I've been going through, she gave me some things to think about. She challenged me to show myself the same grace and love and compassion that I would so readily show to someone else if they were to tell me their story of past abuse and pain. And then she reminded me that Jesus loved me. I began crying