u/punkmpe

I've been seeing my therapist for a little over a year now. At the beginning, I honestly didn't think she was the right fit for me. Someone close to me even encouraged me to find another therapist because they felt I wasn't improving after several sessions. I even saw two other psychologists but never followed through with them.

I'm really glad I stayed.

Over the past year, I've noticed a lot of changes in myself. I don't fidget during our sessions anymore, I trust her much more now, and for the first time, when she recently told me she was proud of me, I actually believed her.

After our last session, I ended up writing what was supposed to be a reflection, but it somehow became a thank-you letter. It's mostly about how I've changed over the past year and how grateful I am that I gave therapy a time to grow.

I'm wondering if it's appropriate to send it.

Would that cross any boundaries? Or do therapists generally appreciate hearing this kind of feedback?

I'd especially love to hear from therapists, but I'd also appreciate hearing from clients who have done something similar. Thank you.

I've been seeing my therapist for a little over a year now. At the beginning, I honestly didn't think she was the right fit for me. Someone close to me even encouraged me to find another therapist because they felt I wasn't improving after several sessions. I even saw two other psychologists but never followed through with them.

I'm really glad I stayed.

Over the past year, I've noticed a lot of changes in myself. I don't fidget during our sessions anymore, I trust her much more now, and for the first time, when she recently told me she was proud of me, I actually believed her.

After our last session, I ended up writing what was supposed to be a reflection, but it somehow became a thank-you letter. It's mostly about how I've changed over the past year and how grateful I am that I gave therapy a time to grow.

I'm wondering if it's appropriate to send it.

Would that cross any boundaries? Or do therapists generally appreciate hearing this kind of feedback?

I'd especially love to hear from therapists, but I'd also appreciate hearing from clients who have done something similar. Thank you.

I've been seeing my therapist for a little over a year now. At the beginning, I honestly didn't think she was the right fit for me. Someone close to me even encouraged me to find another therapist because they felt I wasn't improving after several sessions. I even saw two other psychologists but never followed through with them.

I'm really glad I stayed.

Over the past year, I've noticed a lot of changes in myself. I don't fidget during our sessions anymore, I trust her much more now, and for the first time, when she recently told me she was proud of me, I actually believed her.

After our last session, I ended up writing what was supposed to be a reflection, but it somehow became a thank-you letter. It's mostly about how I've changed over the past year and how grateful I am that I gave therapy a time to grow.

I'm wondering if it's appropriate to send it.

Would that cross any boundaries? Or do therapists generally appreciate hearing this kind of feedback?

I'd especially love to hear from therapists, but I'd also appreciate hearing from clients who have done something similar. Thank you.

I've been seeing my therapist for a little over a year now. At the beginning, I honestly didn't think she was the right fit for me. Someone close to me even encouraged me to find another therapist because they felt I wasn't improving after several sessions. I even saw two other psychologists but never followed through with them.

I'm really glad I stayed.

Over the past year, I've noticed a lot of changes in myself. I don't fidget during our sessions anymore, I trust her much more now, and for the first time, when she recently told me she was proud of me, I actually believed her.

After our last session, I ended up writing what was supposed to be a reflection, but it somehow became a thank-you letter. It's mostly about how I've changed over the past year and how grateful I am that I gave therapy a time to grow.

I'm wondering if it's appropriate to send it.

Would that cross any boundaries? Or do therapists generally appreciate hearing this kind of feedback?

I'd especially love to hear from therapists, but I'd also appreciate hearing from clients who have done something similar. Thank you.

I've been seeing my therapist for a little over a year now. At the beginning, I honestly didn't think she was the right fit for me. Someone close to me even encouraged me to find another therapist because they felt I wasn't improving after several sessions. I even saw two other psychologists but never followed through with them.

I'm really glad I stayed.

Over the past year, I've noticed a lot of changes in myself. I don't fidget during our sessions anymore, I trust her much more now, and for the first time, when she recently told me she was proud of me, I actually believed her.

After our last session, I ended up writing what was supposed to be a reflection, but it somehow became a thank-you letter. It's mostly about how I've changed over the past year and how grateful I am that I gave therapy a time to grow.

I'm wondering if it's appropriate to send it.

Would that cross any boundaries? Or do therapists generally appreciate hearing this kind of feedback?

I'd especially love to hear from therapists, but I'd also appreciate hearing from clients who have done something similar. Thank you.

I've been seeing my therapist for a little over a year now. At the beginning, I honestly didn't think she was the right fit for me. Someone close to me even encouraged me to find another therapist because they felt I wasn't improving after several sessions. I even saw two other psychologists but never followed through with them.

I'm really glad I stayed.

Over the past year, I've noticed a lot of changes in myself. I don't fidget during our sessions anymore, I trust her much more now, and for the first time, when she recently told me she was proud of me, I actually believed her.

After our last session, I ended up writing what was supposed to be a reflection, but it somehow became a thank-you letter. It's mostly about how I've changed over the past year and how grateful I am that I gave therapy a time to grow.

I'm wondering if it's appropriate to send it.

Would that cross any boundaries? Or do therapists generally appreciate hearing this kind of feedback?

I'd especially love to hear from therapists, but I'd also appreciate hearing from clients who have done something similar. Thank you.

I've been seeing my therapist for more than a year now, and it's only this year that I've started gaining real insights from our sessions.

I told her that I didn't really understand our sessions last year and that there were times when I didn't even want to attend. She thanked me for being honest and told me that it's part of the process, and that I wouldn't be where I am now if last year hadn't happened.

It took me more than a year to finally trust my therapist. At first, I thought she wasn't a good fit for me, but I'm glad I gave myself more time to adjust and trust her. Now, I look forward to our sessions, and I feel safe with her.

Here are some of the things I've learned from therapy so far:

1. I'm not my diagnosis.

I have complex post-traumatic stress disorder, severe major depressive disorder, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

But my therapist constantly reminds me that I am not my diagnosis. Yes, I have these conditions, but I am not defined by them.

In one of our sessions, she kept asking me, "What else is there aside from these conditions?"

That question stayed with me.

I realized I'm a lot of things. But most importantly, I realized I'm a person worthy of living.

2. Understanding comes healing.

As I started to understand my diagnoses, especially complex PTSD, and the triggers that come with it, I began to change.

Before, my response to triggers was usually to shut down, avoid, or withdraw. Lately, I've been able to sit with difficult emotions without breaking down. I'm also learning how to regulate my emotions.

My therapist once asked me how I felt about these changes. I told her I still don't fully understand them and that they're new to me, but I'm learning to welcome them.

3. Healing is not linear.

My therapist often reminds me that healing is not linear and that there is no finality in healing.

She tells me that what's important is safety and stability.

She also reminds me that it's normal to have both good days and bad days, and that having a bad day doesn't mean I've failed.

4. Dialectical thinking.

My therapist introduced me to dialectical thinking.

She explained that life is not always black and white, and that two seemingly opposite truths can exist at the same time.

She emphasized that this doesn't only apply to my traumatic past but also to everyday life.

One thing she said that really stuck with me was this: "You can be struggling at something and still be good at something."

That was a powerful realization for me.

I can be dealing with trauma and still be good at my job.

5. My window of tolerance is expanding.

My therapist encouraged me to practice stabilization tools before going to bed (safe-place visualization, tapping, breathing exercises, and affirmations).

Since I've been doing them consistently, she told me that my awareness and window of tolerance have been expanding.

As a result, some random, buried, and difficult memories have started resurfacing.

She told me that's not necessarily a bad thing.

According to her, it may mean that my nervous system is becoming ready to process memories that I've carried and buried for a very long time.

===

I'm still very much a work in progress.

But for the first time in a long time, I feel like I'm beginning to understand myself better. And maybe that's where healing starts.

I've been seeing my therapist for more than a year now, and it's only this year that I've started gaining real insights from our sessions.

I told her that I didn't really understand our sessions last year and that there were times when I didn't even want to attend. She thanked me for being honest and told me that it's part of the process, and that I wouldn't be where I am now if last year hadn't happened.

It took me more than a year to finally trust my therapist. At first, I thought she wasn't a good fit for me, but I'm glad I gave myself more time to adjust and trust her. Now, I look forward to our sessions, and I feel safe with her.

Here are some of the things I've learned from therapy so far:

1. I'm not my diagnosis.

I have complex post-traumatic stress disorder, severe major depressive disorder, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

But my therapist constantly reminds me that I am not my diagnosis. Yes, I have these conditions, but I am not defined by them.

In one of our sessions, she kept asking me, "What else is there aside from these conditions?"

That question stayed with me.

I realized I'm a lot of things. But most importantly, I realized I'm a person worthy of living.

2. Understanding comes healing.

As I started to understand my diagnoses, especially complex PTSD, and the triggers that come with it, I began to change.

Before, my response to triggers was usually to shut down, avoid, or withdraw. Lately, I've been able to sit with difficult emotions without breaking down. I'm also learning how to regulate my emotions.

My therapist once asked me how I felt about these changes. I told her I still don't fully understand them and that they're new to me, but I'm learning to welcome them.

3. Healing is not linear.

My therapist often reminds me that healing is not linear and that there is no finality in healing.

She tells me that what's important is safety and stability.

She also reminds me that it's normal to have both good days and bad days, and that having a bad day doesn't mean I've failed.

4. Dialectical thinking.

My therapist introduced me to dialectical thinking.

She explained that life is not always black and white, and that two seemingly opposite truths can exist at the same time.

She emphasized that this doesn't only apply to my traumatic past but also to everyday life.

One thing she said that really stuck with me was this: "You can be struggling at something and still be good at something."

That was a powerful realization for me.

I can be dealing with trauma and still be good at my job.

5. My window of tolerance is expanding.

My therapist encouraged me to practice stabilization tools before going to bed (safe-place visualization, tapping, breathing exercises, and affirmations).

Since I've been doing them consistently, she told me that my awareness and window of tolerance have been expanding.

As a result, some random, buried, and difficult memories have started resurfacing.

She told me that's not necessarily a bad thing.

According to her, it may mean that my nervous system is becoming ready to process memories that I've carried and buried for a very long time.

===

I'm still very much a work in progress.

But for the first time in a long time, I feel like I'm beginning to understand myself better. And maybe that's where healing starts.

I've been seeing my therapist for more than a year now, and it's only this year that I've started gaining real insights from our sessions.

I told her that I didn't really understand our sessions last year and that there were times when I didn't even want to attend. She thanked me for being honest and told me that it's part of the process, and that I wouldn't be where I am now if last year hadn't happened.

It took me more than a year to finally trust my therapist. At first, I thought she wasn't a good fit for me, but I'm glad I gave myself more time to adjust and trust her. Now, I look forward to our sessions, and I feel safe with her.

Here are some of the things I've learned from therapy so far:

1. I'm not my diagnosis.

I have complex post-traumatic stress disorder, severe major depressive disorder, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

But my therapist constantly reminds me that I am not my diagnosis. Yes, I have these conditions, but I am not defined by them.

In one of our sessions, she kept asking me, "What else is there aside from these conditions?"

That question stayed with me.

I realized I'm a lot of things. But most importantly, I realized I'm a person worthy of living.

2. Understanding comes healing.

As I started to understand my diagnoses, especially complex PTSD, and the triggers that come with it, I began to change.

Before, my response to triggers was usually to shut down, avoid, or withdraw. Lately, I've been able to sit with difficult emotions without breaking down. I'm also learning how to regulate my emotions.

My therapist once asked me how I felt about these changes. I told her I still don't fully understand them and that they're new to me, but I'm learning to welcome them.

3. Healing is not linear.

My therapist often reminds me that healing is not linear and that there is no finality in healing.

She tells me that what's important is safety and stability.

She also reminds me that it's normal to have both good days and bad days, and that having a bad day doesn't mean I've failed.

4. Dialectical thinking.

My therapist introduced me to dialectical thinking.

She explained that life is not always black and white, and that two seemingly opposite truths can exist at the same time.

She emphasized that this doesn't only apply to my traumatic past but also to everyday life.

One thing she said that really stuck with me was this: "You can be struggling at something and still be good at something."

That was a powerful realization for me.

I can be dealing with trauma and still be good at my job.

5. My window of tolerance is expanding.

My therapist encouraged me to practice stabilization tools before going to bed (safe-place visualization, tapping, breathing exercises, and affirmations).

Since I've been doing them consistently, she told me that my awareness and window of tolerance have been expanding.

As a result, some random, buried, and difficult memories have started resurfacing.

She told me that's not necessarily a bad thing.

According to her, it may mean that my nervous system is becoming ready to process memories that I've carried and buried for a very long time.

===

I'm still very much a work in progress.

But for the first time in a long time, I feel like I'm beginning to understand myself better. And maybe that's where healing starts.

I've been seeing my therapist for more than a year now, and it's only this year that I've started gaining real insights from our sessions.

I told her that I didn't really understand our sessions last year and that there were times when I didn't even want to attend. She thanked me for being honest and told me that it's part of the process, and that I wouldn't be where I am now if last year hadn't happened.

It took me more than a year to finally trust my therapist. At first, I thought she wasn't a good fit for me, but I'm glad I gave myself more time to adjust and trust her. Now, I look forward to our sessions, and I feel safe with her.

Here are some of the things I've learned from therapy so far:

1. I'm not my diagnosis.

I have complex post-traumatic stress disorder, severe major depressive disorder, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

But my therapist constantly reminds me that I am not my diagnosis. Yes, I have these conditions, but I am not defined by them.

In one of our sessions, she kept asking me, "What else is there aside from these conditions?"

That question stayed with me.

I realized I'm a lot of things. But most importantly, I realized I'm a person worthy of living.

2. Understanding comes healing.

As I started to understand my diagnoses, especially complex PTSD, and the triggers that come with it, I began to change.

Before, my response to triggers was usually to shut down, avoid, or withdraw. Lately, I've been able to sit with difficult emotions without breaking down. I'm also learning how to regulate my emotions.

My therapist once asked me how I felt about these changes. I told her I still don't fully understand them and that they're new to me, but I'm learning to welcome them.

3. Healing is not linear.

My therapist often reminds me that healing is not linear and that there is no finality in healing.

She tells me that what's important is safety and stability.

She also reminds me that it's normal to have both good days and bad days, and that having a bad day doesn't mean I've failed.

4. Dialectical thinking.

My therapist introduced me to dialectical thinking.

She explained that life is not always black and white, and that two seemingly opposite truths can exist at the same time.

She emphasized that this doesn't only apply to my traumatic past but also to everyday life.

One thing she said that really stuck with me was this: "You can be struggling at something and still be good at something."

That was a powerful realization for me.

I can be dealing with trauma and still be good at my job.

5. My window of tolerance is expanding.

My therapist encouraged me to practice stabilization tools before going to bed (safe-place visualization, tapping, breathing exercises, and affirmations).

Since I've been doing them consistently, she told me that my awareness and window of tolerance have been expanding.

As a result, some random, buried, and difficult memories have started resurfacing.

She told me that's not necessarily a bad thing.

According to her, it may mean that my nervous system is becoming ready to process memories that I've carried and buried for a very long time.

===

I'm still very much a work in progress.

But for the first time in a long time, I feel like I'm beginning to understand myself better. And maybe that's where healing starts.

I've been seeing my therapist for more than a year now, and it's only this year that I've started gaining real insights from our sessions.

I told her that I didn't really understand our sessions last year and that there were times when I didn't even want to attend. She thanked me for being honest and told me that it's part of the process, and that I wouldn't be where I am now if last year hadn't happened.

It took me more than a year to finally trust my therapist. At first, I thought she wasn't a good fit for me, but I'm glad I gave myself more time to adjust and trust her. Now, I look forward to our sessions, and I feel safe with her.

Here are some of the things I've learned from therapy so far:

1. I'm not my diagnosis.

I have complex post-traumatic stress disorder, severe major depressive disorder, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

But my therapist constantly reminds me that I am not my diagnosis. Yes, I have these conditions, but I am not defined by them.

In one of our sessions, she kept asking me, "What else is there aside from these conditions?"

That question stayed with me.

I realized I'm a lot of things. But most importantly, I realized I'm a person worthy of living.

2. Understanding comes healing.

As I started to understand my diagnoses, especially complex PTSD, and the triggers that come with it, I began to change.

Before, my response to triggers was usually to shut down, avoid, or withdraw. Lately, I've been able to sit with difficult emotions without breaking down. I'm also learning how to regulate my emotions.

My therapist once asked me how I felt about these changes. I told her I still don't fully understand them and that they're new to me, but I'm learning to welcome them.

3. Healing is not linear.

My therapist often reminds me that healing is not linear and that there is no finality in healing.

She tells me that what's important is safety and stability.

She also reminds me that it's normal to have both good days and bad days, and that having a bad day doesn't mean I've failed.

4. Dialectical thinking.

My therapist introduced me to dialectical thinking.

She explained that life is not always black and white, and that two seemingly opposite truths can exist at the same time.

She emphasized that this doesn't only apply to my traumatic past but also to everyday life.

One thing she said that really stuck with me was this: "You can be struggling at something and still be good at something."

That was a powerful realization for me.

I can be dealing with trauma and still be good at my job.

5. My window of tolerance is expanding.

My therapist encouraged me to practice stabilization tools before going to bed (safe-place visualization, tapping, breathing exercises, and affirmations).

Since I've been doing them consistently, she told me that my awareness and window of tolerance have been expanding.

As a result, some random, buried, and difficult memories have started resurfacing.

She told me that's not necessarily a bad thing.

According to her, it may mean that my nervous system is becoming ready to process memories that I've carried and buried for a very long time.

===

I'm still very much a work in progress.

But for the first time in a long time, I feel like I'm beginning to understand myself better. And maybe that's where healing starts.

I've been seeing my therapist for more than a year now, and it's only this year that I've started gaining real insights from our sessions.

I told her that I didn't really understand our sessions last year and that there were times when I didn't even want to attend. She thanked me for being honest and told me that it's part of the process, and that I wouldn't be where I am now if last year hadn't happened.

It took me more than a year to finally trust my therapist. At first, I thought she wasn't a good fit for me, but I'm glad I gave myself more time to adjust and trust her. Now, I look forward to our sessions, and I feel safe with her.

Here are some of the things I've learned from therapy so far:

1. I'm not my diagnosis.

I have complex post-traumatic stress disorder, severe major depressive disorder, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

But my therapist constantly reminds me that I am not my diagnosis. Yes, I have these conditions, but I am not defined by them.

In one of our sessions, she kept asking me, "What else is there aside from these conditions?"

That question stayed with me.

I realized I'm a lot of things. But most importantly, I realized I'm a person worthy of living.

2. Understanding comes healing.

As I started to understand my diagnoses, especially complex PTSD, and the triggers that come with it, I began to change.

Before, my response to triggers was usually to shut down, avoid, or withdraw. Lately, I've been able to sit with difficult emotions without breaking down. I'm also learning how to regulate my emotions.

My therapist once asked me how I felt about these changes. I told her I still don't fully understand them and that they're new to me, but I'm learning to welcome them.

3. Healing is not linear.

My therapist often reminds me that healing is not linear and that there is no finality in healing.

She tells me that what's important is safety and stability.

She also reminds me that it's normal to have both good days and bad days, and that having a bad day doesn't mean I've failed.

4. Dialectical thinking.

My therapist introduced me to dialectical thinking.

She explained that life is not always black and white, and that two seemingly opposite truths can exist at the same time.

She emphasized that this doesn't only apply to my traumatic past but also to everyday life.

One thing she said that really stuck with me was this: "You can be struggling at something and still be good at something."

That was a powerful realization for me.

I can be dealing with trauma and still be good at my job.

5. My window of tolerance is expanding.

My therapist encouraged me to practice stabilization tools before going to bed (safe-place visualization, tapping, breathing exercises, and affirmations).

Since I've been doing them consistently, she told me that my awareness and window of tolerance have been expanding.

As a result, some random, buried, and difficult memories have started resurfacing.

She told me that's not necessarily a bad thing.

According to her, it may mean that my nervous system is becoming ready to process memories that I've carried and buried for a very long time.

===

I'm still very much a work in progress.

But for the first time in a long time, I feel like I'm beginning to understand myself better. And maybe that's where healing starts.

As the title says, any Spurs fans here from Bacolod? Would love to chat. 😂😁

​

I’m confused about something and I’m wondering what you think about this.

There’s someone very important in my life, almost like a maternal figure, who stayed with me during one of the darkest periods of my life, including when I was struggling with my mental health and very much su*cidal. I’m an only child, live alone, and both of my parents have already passed away.

After my mom died, this woman — who also lost her only teenage daughter a few years ago — became some sort of maternal figure to me. I know she worried about me a lot and was very present in my life.

Recently though, I’ve been doing better in many ways. I reconnected with journalism (I left my journalism job last year and have been doing consultancy work since then) after feeling like I had lost myself. I recently returned to journalism work and took on a high-risk assignment that made me feel alive again, and I’m slowly finding purpose again.

But at the same time, she’s become distant and barely replies now. I honestly don’t know what changed. Part of me wonders if she disapproves of my choices — returning to journalism, taking risks, or not focusing enough on job hunting. She made it known last month that taking this high-risk assignment was not good for me and that it might ruin the progress I’ve made in therapy, which I’ve been attending for more than a year now.

What confuses me is this: why would someone stay when I was at my worst, but become distant now that I’m in a better headspace?

I don’t want to beg or force myself into anyone’s life. I’m trying to live my own life too. But what’s bothering me is that I don’t even know what happened.

​

I’m confused about something and I’m wondering what you think about this.

There’s someone very important in my life, almost like a maternal figure, who stayed with me during one of the darkest periods of my life, including when I was struggling with my mental health and very much su*cidal. I’m an only child, live alone, and both of my parents have already passed away.

After my mom died, this woman — who also lost her only teenage daughter a few years ago — became some sort of maternal figure to me. I know she worried about me a lot and was very present in my life.

Recently though, I’ve been doing better in many ways. I reconnected with journalism (I left my journalism job last year and have been doing consultancy work since then) after feeling like I had lost myself. I recently returned to journalism work and took on a high-risk assignment that made me feel alive again, and I’m slowly finding purpose again.

But at the same time, she’s become distant and barely replies now. I honestly don’t know what changed. Part of me wonders if she disapproves of my choices — returning to journalism, taking risks, or not focusing enough on job hunting. She made it known last month that taking this high-risk assignment was not good for me and that it might ruin the progress I’ve made in therapy, which I’ve been attending for more than a year now.

What confuses me is this: why would someone stay when I was at my worst, but become distant now that I’m in a better headspace?

I don’t want to beg or force myself into anyone’s life. I’m trying to live my own life too. But what’s bothering me is that I don’t even know what happened.

​

I’m confused about something and I’m wondering what you think about this.

There’s someone very important in my life, almost like a maternal figure, who stayed with me during one of the darkest periods of my life, including when I was struggling with my mental health and very much su*cidal. I’m an only child, live alone, and both of my parents have already passed away.

After my mom died, this woman — who also lost her only teenage daughter a few years ago — became some sort of maternal figure to me. I know she worried about me a lot and was very present in my life.

Recently though, I’ve been doing better in many ways. I reconnected with journalism (I left my journalism job last year and have been doing consultancy work since then) after feeling like I had lost myself. I recently returned to journalism work and took on a high-risk assignment that made me feel alive again, and I’m slowly finding purpose again.

But at the same time, she’s become distant and barely replies now. I honestly don’t know what changed. Part of me wonders if she disapproves of my choices — returning to journalism, taking risks, or not focusing enough on job hunting. She made it known last month that taking this high-risk assignment was not good for me and that it might ruin the progress I’ve made in therapy, which I’ve been attending for more than a year now.

What confuses me is this: why would someone stay when I was at my worst, but become distant now that I’m in a better headspace?

I don’t want to beg or force myself into anyone’s life. I’m trying to live my own life too. But what’s bothering me is that I don’t even know what happened.

​

I’m confused about something and I’m wondering what you think about this.

There’s someone very important in my life, almost like a maternal figure, who stayed with me during one of the darkest periods of my life, including when I was struggling with my mental health and very much su*cidal. I’m an only child, live alone, and both of my parents have already passed away.

After my mom died, this woman — who also lost her only teenage daughter a few years ago — became some sort of maternal figure to me. I know she worried about me a lot and was very present in my life.

Recently though, I’ve been doing better in many ways. I reconnected with journalism (I left my journalism job last year and have been doing consultancy work since then) after feeling like I had lost myself. I recently returned to journalism work and took on a high-risk assignment that made me feel alive again, and I’m slowly finding purpose again.

But at the same time, she’s become distant and barely replies now. I honestly don’t know what changed. Part of me wonders if she disapproves of my choices — returning to journalism, taking risks, or not focusing enough on job hunting. She made it known last month that taking this high-risk assignment was not good for me and that it might ruin the progress I’ve made in therapy, which I’ve been attending for more than a year now.

What confuses me is this: why would someone stay when I was at my worst, but become distant now that I’m in a better headspace?

I don’t want to beg or force myself into anyone’s life. I’m trying to live my own life too. But what’s bothering me is that I don’t even know what happened.

According to one resident, “Na trap sila kay ginpalibutan sang Army, daghan man Army. Amo to nag-encounter sila, na trap…waay sila daganan. (They were trapped because they were surrounded by the Army, a lot of Army. That’s why there was an encounter. They were trapped… They had nowhere to run).”