u/Maximum-Nobody6429

I (27f) ran competitively through high school and college. I just finished my third marathon cycle about 3 weeks ago now and I’m mentally burnt out. I’m running 10 miles a week but I don’t actually know because I’m not tracking anything. I got really obsessed with the data this last cycle and put SO much pressure on this race for reasons only my therapist knows, that I just need a break.

And I feel like my friends don’t really get it. We all meant at a run club and most of them started running in their 20s. Some of them are doing ultras, iron man, and it’s great. But I don’t think they get why I’m burnt out and that’s been really hard the last few weeks. I feel super alone in it.

So, I guess, I’m just wondering if anyone else has ever stopped and taken a breather.

I realized today in therapy how badly my impulsive part needs to be allowed to lose control. For just 5 minutes. I was struggling to find ways to let this part lose control that involve blowing a couple thousand dollars (we don’t want any hypomanic behaviors). I’m pretty sure though, that if this part isn’t allowed to lose control very soon (in a safe and calculated way), flight tickets, clothes, etc will be bought.

But also, I’m recognizing that this part does need to lose control, so really, this is a win.

It’s not that crazy, right? People do it all the time, but I’ve had people in my life (who did go to nursing school) say I won’t be able to. Even my psych np, who obviously went to nursing school, said I’ll have to drop down to part time at some point. I really was pushing it off, but I’m about to accept a full time job opportunity at the hospital that would pay my tuition and I’m kinda wondering if they may be right and I’m setting myself up to stretch myself too thin (which has happened before.)

I’m 27 and have been diagnosed with PCOS for 10 years (wild). My biggest struggle is with irregular periods.

I also have PMDD. Some months I get all the symptoms of a period. I get the low mood, irritably, bloated, cramps, etc. but I don’t bleed. It feels like I’m cycling without a period. I’ve googled a little bit and apparently “phantom periods” are a thing?

Is this common in PCOS? Is this something completely different?

(Obviously I’m going to ask my doc, but curious if anyone else has an experience like this?)

This sounds weird. But, hear me out. Without struggling with mental illness I wouldn’t have met my therapist who has had a hugely positive impact on me. I wouldn’t have met my psychiatrist who has become somewhat of a role model for me. Without struggling with mental illness I wouldn’t have the empathy that I have now that is pushing me to go to back to school with my end goal of becoming a psych np. I have such a greater understanding of how hard life can be and how much physical pain comes with mental illness. And that pushes me to be a better person to everyone around me because you really don’t know what someone is going through.

So, really, my mental illness has given me a sense of purpose in life. It has shown me the strength I have inside me.

I used to be afraid of my depression and run from it. Today, I am saying thank you instead.

I’ve been curious about acupuncture for a while and was talking to my psychiatrist about how bad my stress and anxiety is right now and she mentioned she really likes acupuncture and suggested it to me to help with my stress levels especially since medication (which is helping) isn’t my favorite thing.

I had never thought of trying acupuncture for anxiety and curious if anyone else has tried it for this purpose.

I (27f) have been with my therapist for almost 4 years consistently. She’s been absolutely amazing. Truly, I wouldn’t be where I am today without her. She showed me the power of therapy and therapy gave me my life back. But for the last few months, I guess I just don’t know how much I feel she’s helping, or how much therapy is helping.

And then last July I started seeing a psych np. And she is amazing. I see her once every 3-6 weeks depending on medication changes. I know I can’t, but wish I could see her more in more of a therapist role. She’s super helpful and has me on a great medication cocktail. In fact, she’s a big reason I applied (and got into) nursing school. I really look up to her. She’s kind, patient and challenges me. She challenges me in a way my therapist used to, but doesn’t anymore.

(Also both are like 34/35 and pregnant with their first kids and going out on maternity leave towards the end of summer, so…)

I (27f) have been with my therapist for almost 4 years consistently. She’s been absolutely amazing. Truly, I wouldn’t be where I am today without her. She showed me the power of therapy and therapy gave me my life back. But for the last few months, I guess I just don’t know how much I feel she’s helping, or how much therapy is helping.

And then last July I started seeing a psych np. And she is amazing. I see her once every 3-6 weeks depending on medication changes. I know I can’t, but wish I could see her more in more of a therapist role. She’s super helpful and has me on a great medication cocktail. In fact, she’s a big reason I applied (and got into) nursing school. I really look up to her. She’s kind, patient and challenges me. She challenges me in a way my therapist used to, but doesn’t anymore.

(Also both are like 34/35 and pregnant with their first kids and going out on maternity leave towards the end of summer, so…)

Before I (27f) decided to go completely off hinge and all dating apps and be in my ‘single girl era’ I matched with one guy. He waited for me to be done marathon training to go out on a first date (which was about 3 weeks). We had a great first date and went further than i typically go on a first date. I like him, he’s cool, but now he’s asking me to hang out again and I’m struggling. The intrusive thoughts started today and with the work stress I’ve been under I’m prepping for a rough week. AND I had to cancel my therapy session this week for a job interview which means i have to work a little harder to be ok.

No one but my mom knows I have PMDD and she isn’t the best at allowing me to feel my feelings and is only able to help me get out of them which isn’t always effective. And I’m mad because I started lamictal to help with this and while it’s been amazing for the other weeks, my luteal is still really hard and I already tried to get a sooner appointment with my psych to talk about dose increases but she’s booked out and she’s going on maternity leave soon anyway. (And that’s what I get for choosing a millennial psych np and therapist. Just sucks they’re pregnant and due around the same time.)

I have a weekly scheduled session for therapy but this week it just doesn’t work for both my therapist and my schedules. Except this is a week I really could use a session.

Guess this is a good week to practice my coping skills and using other supports, especially since she’s going on maternity leave at the end of the summer. (And I guess my reframe is a way that therapy is working)

I (27f) am planning a trip with my friends out to Yellowstone in June. I’ve been tent camping before but that was as a kid with my family at the beach where we had access to showers/bathrooms.

This time will be dispersed camping. I’ve never been dispersed camping before. What do I need to be as comfortable and prepared as possible without breaking the bank? We’re flying into salt lake and going to be renting gear out there, but what should I be bringing/renting?

In high school and college I took a 3 -4 week break every May. I haven’t done that since. I’ve been running consistently (at least 3 miles 5-6 days a week) since graduating in 2020. I just finished my 3rd marathon, running 4:04 and kind of want to take a break. My goal was to not track any runs for a month and just run, but now I’m thinking I might just take a complete break from running for 3-4 weeks. The only thing I might still do is run on Thursdays at my run club, but I can run super slowly or just walk with some friends.

Anyone else ever do this? Did you come back feeling refreshed and more relaxed? What did it do for your relationship with running?

I started lamictal back in January in the beginning of my marathon training cycle so I wasn’t drinking. It’s now post marathon and I drank a beer and split a mixed drink with my friend last night. And oh my goodness. I’m not doing well. I already had no tolerance and struggled the day after, but I barely had anything to drink and I’m struggling with hangxiety and depression.

Summer is coming up and I have some vacations planned and there will be drinking. I don’t drink often and maybe drink 1-2 times a month and only ever 1-3 drinks per time. My psych said a drink at a party is fine, but I’m curious about other people’s experiences. I’m also only on 50 mg and it’s working well, but am thinking of asking my psych if we can increase to 75 at my next visit.

I completed my third marathon yesterday. It was a PR and I’m proud of how I raced even if I didn’t get my goal time. (I ran 4:04:38, I’ll let you guess my goal.) I put a lot of pressure on myself leading up to this race. I put pressure on a race like I hadn’t before (and I ran in college) for reasons only my therapist knows and it took a toll. It affected my last month of training and made me physically ill the week before race day.

Now, I want to go completely data free. I want a month where I can just run. Where I don’t wear my watch, don’t listen to music, or bring a phone on my runs. Ive been wearing a watching for every run since college and post everything to strava and i want to redefine my relationship with running. Run the way I did as a kid. Because I want to.

Has anyone else done this? What were the benefits you noticed when you did? When you went back to tracking (if you did) what did you notice?

So technically I (27f) am not diagnosed with bipolar disorder, but it has definitely been a discussion between my therapist, psych, and I about me having bipolar 2. I almost meet the criteria for hypomania.

I started lamictal in January for mood stabilization and it has been life changing for me. I am so much more balanced and it’s so much easier for me to regulate my emotions. It’s kept me from the highs and impulsivity and I haven’t hit any low lows. If lamictal is working and stabilizing my mood, does this confirm a bipolar diagnosis?

(I also take Wellbutrin and Clonidine, had some hypo symptoms when I started the Wellbutrin last year, but it helped me out of a severe depressive episode and I was pretty closely monitored with regular appointments.)

I am so grateful for therapy. Therapy has saved my life and it has given me my life back. But oh my goodness it is so expensive. I have good health insurance, but until I hit my $2000 deductible I pay the insurance rate of $128/session. That’s over $500/month on therapy.

And to be honest it’s hard and it’s stressful, especially when everything is so expensive right now. I’m counting down the days until I hit my deductible and my therapy costs go for $500 to $80/ month.

I (27f) currently got into nursing school (yay!) and am seriously looking for jobs that will give me tuition reimbursement. The disability question on applications has been interesting for me recently. Because, while PMDD isn’t necessarily listed, depression and anxiety are. And they do impact my life enough that I am on medication and I do go to therapy to stay stable. But, my mental health issues has never impacted my work life. Or at least not enough that anyone has noticed. They may notice I’m not my usual self, but I keep it pretty locked down at work.

I don’t know, I guess I don’t consider myself disabled. But, technically, I guess I do have a disability and could receive FMLA or short term disability benefits if I ever needed them.

I’m 27(f) and feel more comfortable with people closer to my age, and I guess this is what I get for choosing millennials for my care team. It also gives me hope. They’re both 34/35 and both having their first babies. It just makes me feel better that I didn’t miss my chance at being a mom and it is still possible. That said, it does really suck. I switched to my current psych np last summer and she’s been really helpful and I’ve been able to open up her unlike my previous psych. And my therapist, we have a long, very strong relationship and I trust her immensely and am really comfortable with her. I just hope I’m able to continue with them when they come back.

I guess the plus side is that I’m doing pretty well right now and I’m stable which is a new word to describe me.

I (28f) have been in therapy for over 3.5 years. My therapist has seen the lowest of the lows and the highest of the highs (and a bipolar 2 diagnosis). She has seen me through one too many situationships and one very real relationship. She has seen me through starting medication for my mental health. She has seen me grow in ways I didn’t know I need to grow and we celebrated that today through reflection of who I was a year ago. I have a hard time celebrating myself and I’m often really hard on myself so it was really good to have a space where I could talk about some of my wins over the last year.

I left session today with a smile and knowing that I got this. And I’m also a little sad because I know that therapy may be coming to an end soon. And maybe it’s fantastic timing that she’s pregnant right now.