Therapy saved and saves my life

I am not ashamed to admit that I am in therapy. I have been going for over 8 years, 6 of them with the
same therapist. I have been through so much with her that I give her a lot of credit to helping me discover the true Laura I am today. It also helps that she has a therapy dog!

Every other week I look forward to my brain dump. It is an hour that I can tell her everything that is bugging me, everything I am scared of and I mean everything and anything! It is so nice to know that it is someone who will not judge me for the things I have going on in my mind. Because I will admit it's not always pretty!

I believe that everyone should have a therapist. A lot of people think that it's weird or they will bring things up from your childhood that will ultimately blame your mother. Yes it does bring up a lot of things but it helps put things into perspective as to who you are and why you react in certain situations.

Six years ago when I first walked into Therapist's office I was broken. I was scared of EVERYTHING. I couldn't even go into the grocery store alone. I would panic and run out of the store. I was terrified to leave the house during winter months. I didn't stand up for myself and say no to others. I was miserable and depressed. And the worst I didn't want to have children due to fear.

Working with therapists I have been able to sit back and realize that it's ok to be afraid but I have to face my fears.  Our motto is: Facing Fear is the Death of Fear. I love and live by this.

I am a fan of different techniques when it comes to therapy. Here are a few that work for me:
- Deep Breathing
- Progressive Relaxation
- Visualization
- Facing Fear
- Accepting that "I can't change it right now"
- Patience
- Accepting that my experiences and talents are gifts and need to be shared

When i found out I was pregnant I cried in her office. I was happy and excited yet I was scared to death. And I mean death. I didn't think I would make it the whole 9 months and I couldn't even begin to figure out how I was going to take care of a tiny human when I couldn't even take care of myself.

We worked through visualizing myself with the baby inside and how beautiful and wonderful my body was that it was able to grow a human inside of me. It helped so much! She talked me through my fears of getting morning sickness and getting sick during labor. We worked together every week for 40 weeks. And guess what?! I did make it through the entire pregnancy! Therapist was one of the first people we called when Reid William was born. And she rejoiced along with me. We celebrated my success. I faced my fears and I succeeded.

She has been there for my lowest lows and my highest highs. She has never once judged or laughed at my wacky irrational thoughts I can conjure up. I mean doesn't everyone believe that Isis will use chemical warfare and release Ebola in Fort Worth, Texas? Because I sure do!

So in conclusion I will continue therapy for the rest of my life. I there ever is a time when I don't need it I will be amazed. I don't look at it as a negative but a positive. Without it I wouldn't be who I am today!