beandelphiki

There's a smallish discussion over in house_md about "One Day, One Room," and how realistic it is for House to have abuse in his backstory. More yawning AND aggravation over people who Just Don't Get It.

However, hry2007 linked to this site on emotional abuse which may or may not be of interest to some others on my list.

As a general rule, I would have ignored this link. But I had an OOC brainspasm a few months back, and bought a book at Chapters from the...self-help section.

Understand, I NEVER do that. Self-help books, in my opinion, are written by money-hungry con artists feeding on human insecurity, or they're written by namby-pamby touchy-feely therapists convinced there's deep meaning in the shapes you see in the clouds.

Nevertheless, I've been more and more bothered lately by the sense that my life is stuck, wheels spinning in the mud. Treatment for ADHD got me a few inches farther, but not by much. Now what?

The book I bought was Secrets You Keep From Yourself: How To Stop Sabotaging Your Happiness. (Also on Amazon.com here.)

As you might be able to tell, it's one of those namby-pamby ones that basically asks you to identify all your !Deepest Fears! and tell them to Bugger Off.

I've never been less happy than I was after reading the first few chapters of this book.

See, I've been under the impression that I've greatly improved over the years. That a lot of my past is past. Oh, I know - everyone with a yucky past says that! But really - a lot of ugly ways of getting by in this world that I used to employ are no longer at the top of my list of coping skills.

What this book taught me: I've just REPLACED THEM, and possibly increased them. The long list of self-sabotaging behaviours the author lists - I have almost ALL OF THEM. I reject the idea that it's necessary to go to therapy for this shit, but still, if I have THIS MUCH work to do, maybe flinging myself off a bridge would be easier. (Note: that's not actually a plan of action.)

Is it any wonder that watching House is so raw sometimes, that I relate to him so much?

The above book was maybe just TOO much of a kick in the pants. This list - slightly less so, and I clicked it and considered it for that reason.

( From the link - Characteristics of Emotionally Abused People )

Probably I'll have more to say on this later, but House is on. Oh, and I think we need more cat food.