Adjustment Guidance

A psychology practice focused on providing therapy that improves mental health and well-being while working, living, and learning in Japan

[adjustment-guidance]

I've had depression for a long time now, about 6 years. Just last year I was at breaking point and almost tried to kill myself. Later on I met my boyfriend and I've opened up to him about everything, including my depression. He does help me, but he and I both know it's not enough as I keep falling back into darkness whenever I feel happy about something. So my boyfriend keeps telling me that I need to see a psychologist. Should I go? I'm really scared to open up in front of a stranger :\

I think that support is a good idea. A good psychologist wont feel like a stranger for long. Having a place to turn during the darkest of times can make all the difference. It is so important when depression hits that you have someone who can help you keep the darkness at bay.

[adjustment-guidance]

Ok hi I'm currently just really stressed about school and applying to college and I've been struggling with the fact that I equate my grades with my entire self worth. I'm a senior in high school and this is a critical period in my life and I feel like getting a C or anything not up to my standards would kill me. I'm always moody and I feel like I'm never going to be happy and that I'll die alone. I'm sorry I just need someone to talk to

A lot of people feel exactly the way you just described feeling. You are not alone. I hope that you will reach out and connect with support in your hometown or via the internet. There are a lot of good peer counseling groups online and they can make a huge difference in how connected you feel while providing you real time support when things get tough.

[adjustment-guidance]

I could use some help? I'm currently in counselling for anxiety problems. I've been reading up on different mood disorders because I just want to figure out what's wrong with me. It seems like I match a lot of the criteria for cyclothymic disorder, and I do have mood swings from depression to elation. But, even though my depressive episodes usually aren't very severe, I have had episodes where I've had severe symptoms of major depression. Does this mean it can't be cyclothymia?

With changes to the diagnosis if you have had a major depressive episode you would most likely not be diagnosed with cyclothymia. It is possible that you may qualify for a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. If your counselor is not qualified to do differential diagnosis I strongly recommend that you see a mental health care provider that is. Self diagnosis is an ok place to start but it is imperative that you follow up with someone qualified to diagnose.

[adjustment-guidance]

[adjustment-guidance]

[adjustment-guidance]

Do not let others define you. Find your own definitions.

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[adjustment-guidance]

I have a made-up world,an extremely intricate world that i spend a lot of time in.When im daydreaming in this i feel the need to run circles around my couch. When i cant run or pace around when im daydreaming,i get really anxious like i want to pace but i cant but i also feel like i have to daydream because its so important to me I have one "friend" who is very important to me that i talk to a lot Is something wrong with me? Also have bad social anxiety and panic attacks but i havent told anyone

I would say that this other world is a by-product of your social anxiety. I feel that it could become a problem because social anxiety is how most agoraphobia starts. I would be concerned that the other world might become so inviting that you withdraw from society.

To help with social anxiety, it might be good to engage in an online world that allows you to make friends that live in your geographical area. Once you establish online relationships, it might be easier to establish in person relationships. Interaction with other people is something most people need ,be it for money or socialization or both. I hope you don't give up on the in person world yet.

With regards to the walking and pacing, these are probably physical triggers that help your brain locate the information that makes it possible for you to reach your inner world.

If you have more questions about social anxiety please feel free to contact me through my website: http://www.adjustmentguidance.com/

[adjustment-guidance]

I think I might have a problem... Almost every day I wake up in the middle of the night and I feel like the war just began and I'm going to die or I interpret some noises as a bomb exploding and I'm paralized that there are seconds till I will be killed by some atomic bomb or whatever. I know it's stupid and I feel so dumb, but I can't help it. Or I dream about war or apocalypse or some catastrophe that causes the end of the world (and my death ofc). What is it? Should I see a psychiatrist...?

If you have never been in a battle zone, I would say that it sounds like nocturnal anxiety. If it is nocturnal anxiety or a panic attack, it is best to get up after the attack and do something for about 5 to 10 minutes before trying to get back to sleep. Often, listening to relaxing music or watching a video helps the mind calm down.

The reason for nocturnal anxiety in individuals that have an anxiety or panic disorder is the same for daytime attacks. For those that do not have daytime anxiety, the cause is unknown.

Some people find anti-anxiety or sleep medication to be helpful. If you are having frequent attacks, I would advise that you talk with your doctor or speak with a mental health care professional about your specific symptoms and sleep issues.

If you would like to ask me about anxiety or sleep issues, contact me through my website: http://www.adjustmentguidance.com/

[adjustment-guidance]

Okay so I have this weird thing where I imagine doing simple tasks like closing the door but when I try to imagine it visually I just see myself somehow closing my toe or finger or arm in the door really hard and a bunch of gore and blood. It's really weird and I don't know what to do or how to make it stop.

What you describe is a type of catastrophic thinking. You can help reduce your ruminating and "worst case scenario" thinking about what can happen when you do simple tasks and already have taken the first step by identifying it as a "worst case scenario."

The second step is a bit harder. It would be helpful to think back to the first time you had a "worst case scenario" thought about a simple task. By identifying the first time, you can begin to understand how this thought pattern began and begin to build coping strategies that well help reduce these thoughts.

For some people, it is necessary to address each individual thought and scenario and others are able to generalize their coping strategies once it is defined. The way the thought pattern was formed holds the key to overcoming it. Once you are able to figure out the why, the how to resolve it becomes more clear.

If you would like to discuss this further please feel free to contact me through my website: http://www.adjustmentguidance.com/

I hope this has been helpful.

[adjustment-guidance]

Hi! Im writing to thank you. Ive had a bad year and you helped me through so much. I went to some dark places but with counseling and a med regiment and support from here Ive been able to get a lot better. Im also writing to say that today was notably worse than how I've been doing lately, I felt really down and anxious today for the first time in a while but I because of the support Ive gotten from counseling, the tumblr community, and your blog, I feel confident that I can come back. Thank you

I'm sorry that today has been a bad day. I am happy that you have found some relief and are doing better overall. I am humbled that you would credit me and honored to be a part of your recovery. If there is anything I can do to help you through today, please do not hesitate to ask.

I am happy that you sound hopeful even though today is hard. If you would like to contact me privately, you may do so via my website: http://www.adjustmentguidance.com/

[adjustment-guidance]

Do not let others define you. Find your own definitions.

AG Quotes (via adjustment-guidance)

[adjustment-guidance]

I am alone. I have gone through depression and self harm for 3 years now and everyone assumes I'm fine. I want to talk to my parents but whenever I bring things like this up they end up yelling at me. I can't trust my friends either...

If you are self harming, identifying your triggers is extremely important. It is my hope that you are in remission or recovery from self harm. Self harm should never be taken lightly, and even though it may cause tension, it is important that your parents listen. Sometimes, it is necessary to fight to be heard. I know this can be extremely challenging, but it is worth it.

Once you have a voice, your whole life will change for the better. Your family relationships will improve as will your relationships with your friends. I know it's not easy, but finding your voice may be the most important thing you ever do.

Please feel free to contact me via my website: http://www.adjustmentguidance.com/

[adjustment-guidance]

I've had a few close friends for several years now and they are all i have. They keep pressuring me into doing drugs when they say they aren't pressuring me. I'm not happy with what they are doing and trying to get me to do and it upsets me...

Your friends are making choices that make you uncomfortable and one of the benefit of friends is having people who get you. It doesn't sound like your friends are getting the fact that you don't want to do drugs. I would suggest telling them that you will not be doing drugs as a personal choice and that, if they are your friends, they will respect you and respect your choice, just as you are respecting them and their choice.

Please feel free to contact me via my website: http://www.adjustmentguidance.com/

[adjustment-guidance]

I'm so lonely. I have friends but like they're never there for me. but it's not their fault, it's mine. I act like I'm always happy and fake laugh. My dad doesn't let me out, he never lets me out of the house. I'm so quiet all the time and I'm getting worried. I stare at the wall and just think how boring and stupid I am. I want to be happy but I don't know how

It seems to me that you are not connecting with yourself and your feelings, which makes it difficult for others to connect with you. Everyone has interests, and these interests usually give us interesting things to talk about.

Your inability to feel joy and celebrate positives about yourself seem like you might be suffering from depression. Depression impedes our ability to connect and build a social life.

Your father seems a bit over-protective and that may be contributing to your depressoin. A lack of freedom can lead to feelings of being trapped.

Talk with your father about how you feel. Find well-supervised activites to do with your friends. Maybe if the activities are well-suprervised, your father will be open to letting you out more. Feel free to contact me through my website: http://www.adjustmentguidance.com/

[adjustment-guidance]

I am always question my beliefs, likes, and other personality traits. Sometimes I just don't feel like myself, and I question whether or not what I call my personality is real, or if it's really mine. I have paranoid and obsessive thoughts about the validity of my personality. Could this be a personality disorder?

It could be a personality disorder or a type of OCD. It is possible to have OCD without compulsive actions. Obsessive thoughts can be a product of a personality disorder, anxiety disorder, mood disorder, or OCD. I would need more to narrow it down.

It couls also be that your sense of self is in flux or you are transitioning into a different personality, giving your current personality a sense of the unreal.

Please feel free to contact me via my website if you have any more questions - http://www.adjustmentguidance.com/

[adjustment-guidance]

Hi! So I've noticed that I'm stuck in an unfathomable cycle where whenever I get close to someone I panic and distance myself from them (unintentionally or subconsciously) leaving them confused and feeling abandoned. I have had a really bad experience with a past friend and I think that may be the root of the problem but who knows. I hate that I do this but can't seem to stop. Advice?

It sounds to me as if you have a fear of intimacy and that you push pepople away to confirm that it is "difficult" to get close to you. It also sounds as if you are taking all of the responsibility for people not being able to get close to you.

I don't think it is totally your fault or down to a bad experience. My thinking is that it may a by-product of miscommunication. A lot of times when we have trust or intimacy issues, we don't let others know and then they are unable to know how to become close.

I would suggest trying to let people know that you tend to push people away and why. This will let people know that it takes a little more effort then they might suspect when it comes to getting to know you and building intimacy.

Please feel free to contact me through my website if you have more questions: http://www.adjustmentguidance.com/

[adjustment-guidance]

Anxiety makes even the simplest of decisions feel impossible to make

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