So on Tuesday, following a rough couple of arguments with my wife, I got so low that I called the 'counselling hotline' and was referred for some face to face sessions with a counsellor. Yesterday I had my first such session and what a revelation! I was told to expect feelings of elation and ecstasy after a first session - and that these feelings would not last - but I came away feeling really positive that I had actually made a move that might ultimately change my life.
Of course it will be a slow process, and nobody can promise that it will work, but coupled with my new-found motivation for healthy eating & exercise and my recent 3 stone weight loss (I'm now down to just under 13 stone from a near 16-stone peak) I think these sessions will round off a new-me.
The counsellor is absolutely fantastic. Non-judgemental and easy to talk to. One thing she said which really hit a chord with me is that I am an artist, and a seemingly repressed one at that. I've always loved music and poetry and I have not pursued these passions at all. This was a big eye-opener. It never really occurred to me that such personal passions make such a difference to mental health, but on reflection I think she is absolutely right.
Anyway, the diet, exercise and counselling continues! Lets see how things flourish.
P.S. I just noticed (1 month too late, by the way, because I'm editing this on 16th June 2009!) that this post marks a 4 year (and 2 day!) anniversary of my blog! Woopee! 4 years of blogging! It doesn't seem like that long....... I notice the same old issues go round and round in this blog. how predictable am I?!
