Can EMDR Help the LGBTQIA+ Community?

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I recently realized that eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR) could be useful for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual plus (LGBTQIA+) community. I had the opportunity to be trained in EMDR as a therapist. This is a therapy for helping individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to heal from their trauma. In addition to being a provider of EMDR, I recently started going through EMDR myself. These experiences made me start to think about EMDR as a modality that may help members of the LGBTQIA+ community in healing from their traumas.

I also started to do some research as to whether or not EMDR is an effective modality for members of the LGBTQ+ community to heal from trauma, anxiety, grief, and more. There are many issues that EMDR can help queer people deal with, and today, I will discuss what this therapy modality is and how it may benefit the LGBTQIA+ community. This therapy is different than traditional talk therapy and may be an appropriate option for folks who feel they have stagnated with traditional talk therapy.

What Is EMDR Therapy? 

The Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing International Association (EMDRIA) trains EMDR therapists and oversees the standards for the clinical use of EMDR. The EMDRIA defines EMDR as:

"a structured therapy that encourages the patient to focus briefly on the trauma memory while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements), which is associated with a reduction in the vividness and emotion associated with the trauma memories. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an extensively researched, effective psychotherapy method proven to help people recover from trauma and PTSD symptoms."1

Much of EMDR centers around the re-wiring of the brain around negative cognitions that people hold about traumatic memories and replaces these negative cognitions with more positive ones.2

How Can EMDR Benefit the LGBTQIA+ Community?

It's no secret that members of the LGBTQIA+ community often have significant trauma. A lot of our trauma centers around experiences of rejection and oppression in our communities, and in more extreme cases, we may have even been victims of violence and hate crimes.

Many LGBTQIA+ folk like myself also have religious trauma that stems from experiences where we were rejected, judged, and shamed by communities of faith that we come from. Some of us, like myself, have undergone conversion therapy in our lives. These experiences can be damaging and create shame-filled narratives in our brains that can be hard to undo. Eye movement desensitization reprocessing therapy has helped me with this. In my own life, I have just started to use EMDR to process my trauma related to the religious community I come from, and I have found it incredibly useful for undoing messages of shame that I internalized, especially around my sexuality. Through EMDR, I have begun to unlearn the belief that I am bad and have begun to replace it with the knowing that I am simply human and there is nothing wrong with me. 

Moreover, the psychological community is catching onto the fact that EMDR can be helpful for the LGBTQIA+ community. In the book Cultural Competence and Healing Culturally Based Trauma by Mark Nickerson, there are numerous chapters devoted to how EMDR can be an affirming treatment for queer and transgender individuals.3 He writes about ways in which EMDR can help dismantle prejudice and build resilience in clients from marginalized backgrounds and devotes three whole chapters to EMDR in clients with diverse gender identities and sexual orientations. The EMDRIA also affirms the use of EMDR in the LGBTQIA+ community and states that it can be a helpful modality for healing from religious trauma, specifically. 

I want to state that while EMDR is an incredible treatment that is helping many people from a variety of backgrounds, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and genders, it is also a difficult treatment.4 It is not easy to go through, and I have also experienced many painful emotions as I sift through my trauma and process it. I recommend that you have a strong support network, many coping skills at your disposal, and a strong relationship with your therapist before embarking upon the reprocessing of memories.

This therapy comes in stages, and it's really important to build grounding skills in the early stages before delving into reprocessing. Jumping into reprocessing too soon can cause distress for some people with trauma.6 Many people I have spoken to who are in the LGBTQIA+ community and tried EMDR quit after a few sessions because they felt it was too intense. In these cases, I think therapists failed to prepare them for the side effects of EMDR. Please discuss these fully with your therapist before embarking upon this journey. 

Sources

  1. EMDR International Association. (2024, February 1). About EMDR therapy - EMDR International Association. https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/
  2. EMDR International Association. (2024, January 8). Experiencing EMDR Therapy - EMDR International Association. https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/experiencing-emdr-therapy/
  3. Cultural competence and healing culturally based trauma with EMDR therapy. (2016). In Springer eBooks. https://doi.org/10.1891/9780826142870
  4. Cultural competence and healing culturally based trauma with EMDR therapy. (2016). In Springer eBooks. https://doi.org/10.1891/9780826142870
  5. Kim Howard. (2023, November 13). EMDR Therapy with LGBTQ Populations. EMDR International Association. https://www.emdria.org/blog/emdr-therapy-with-lgbtq-populations/
  6. EMDR International Association. (2024b, January 8). Experiencing EMDR Therapy - EMDR International Association. https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/experiencing-emdr-therapy/

Waiting for Depression to Pass

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Waiting for depression to pass is interminable, but sometimes it's the only thing to do. In bipolar disorder, what goes down must come up -- at some point, anyway. The trouble is, no one knows when that's going to happen. There can be a lot of waiting for depression to pass in bipolar disorder. I hate it.

I'm Waiting for My Depression to Pass

I'm currently in a place where I'm waiting for depression to pass. Depression has hit me -- hard -- and now I'm waiting for it to abate. This waiting is so painful. Waking up every day to the weight of depression on my chest makes waking up a thing I don't want to do.

When I'm awake, it's not passive waiting, either. It's more like running and hiding from terrifying demons with spikes for teeth. I'm trying to make sure they don't kill me while I'm waiting for depression to pass.

What Can You Do While You're Waiting for Depression to Pass?

You absolutely, positively need to be getting the help of a doctor when you're waiting for depression to pass. But it's important to acknowledge that even with the best treatment, you'll likely wind up in a waiting loop at some point anyway. Treatments take time to work. Doctors take time to see. Waiting is inevitable. 

During this time, you need to be using every coping skill you know to escape the demons. Coping skills tend to be personal, but distraction is a big one for me. If I let my brain just think, then it becomes a very dangerous place to be. If I focus it on other things (typically trivial things because they are easier to deal with), the dangerous thoughts are pushed out. Keep in mind distraction is not something you can do forever. I've found that keeping all your dangerous thoughts and feelings bottled up constantly will hurt you in the end, so if you use distraction as a coping technique, make sure you also set time aside to let go and talk to someone about what you're really feeling. (A therapist is great for that.)

Waiting for Depression to Pass Is Worth It

I know that waiting for depression to pass can seem endless. It can seem like depression will never leave. This is normal. But this is a lie that depression tells us. Depression will leave, eventually. Depression will respond to treatment, eventually. Waiting may feel impossibly hard, but it's worth it because when depression does pass, your self will be back. And that is worth all the waiting in the world.

Softening the Impact of Borderline PD Triggers

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Softening the impact of borderline personality disorder (BPD) triggers means creating a buffer against the onslaught of emotional turbulence. For instance, rather than succumbing to impulses, I channel my energy into soothing activities like taking a warm bath, and I substitute self-harm with self-nurturance. Yet, life isn't always so neatly compartmentalized. There are moments when triggers ambush me mid-sentence, and the simple rituals of daily life offer little sanctuary. In these instances, my anchor is in the art of coping ahead to soften the impact of BPD triggers.

Impact of Borderline Personality Disorder Triggers: Recurring Themes

From the sting of exclusion in a group to the ache of being left behind, I'm all too familiar with these recurring themes of abandonment and rejection. Through countless cycles of self-observation, I've learned to identify the sting for what it is: a trauma response; my body is undergoing emotional dysregulation. When I am calm again, I assume the role of emotional detective to untangle the threads of each trigger. Through these deliberate acts of self-exploration, I soften the impact of BPD triggers that will inevitably bubble up in the future.

Impact of Borderline Personality Disorder Triggers: Reframing Suicidal Ideation

For half a decade, I brushed aside my diagnosis, letting it collect dust in the corners of my mind. Untreated BPD gifted me a collection of coping mechanisms, each one a relic of survival. Among them is a dark gem: suicidal ideation. No, I wasn't plotting my exit, but the thought of fading away was a frequent visitor. Softening the impact of this BPD trigger required understanding the symptom at its roots. I've learned to ask myself, "What is my body trying to tell me when I receive intrusive thoughts of suicide?" This fundamental shift in perception has been central to my recovery.

Yes, I'm on the journey of healing, and that means making room for the raw truth: suicidal thoughts emerge from deep wells of pain. In softening the impact of BPD triggers, I lean into the advice of trusted confidants and mental health professionals. And when words fail me, when the weight of it all feels too heavy, I find release in song or the unfiltered flow of stream-of-consciousness writing. Instead of viewing suicidal ideation as a sign of weakness or inevitability, I've come to recognize it as a potent indicator of inner turmoil and a call for compassionate self-attention.

Accepting the Impact of Borderline Personality Disorder Triggers in My Story

The reality is living with BPD means my days will be marred with triggers. I win my life back by reframing impulsive urges as opportunities for mindful reflection and intentional choice. Consciously opting for deliberate action empowers me to reclaim agency over my response to triggering stimuli. Borderline personality disorder is a part of my story, sure, but it doesn't hold the pen. 

See Also

PTSD and Dealing with Uncertainty

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As someone with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), I've learned dealing with uncertainty is akin to sitting in the middle of a field during a thunderstorm, praying lightning won't strike you. Uncertainty and PTSD are not my friends. They have not been kind or reassuring. They have not taken my hand and led me toward the sunlight. They have only ever presented as a long, dark tunnel with no end.

Unfortunately, lacking certainty is simply a part of life — and learning to deal with uncertainty has been a huge part of healing from my PTSD. 

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Uncertainty

Research indicates that an intolerance of uncertainty is associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms.In other words, after experiencing trauma, individuals might develop an aversion to or extreme fear of uncertainty. Being able to anticipate an outcome gives the sufferer more perceived control over the situation at hand.

This was the case for me. After a life-altering trauma at age four, I began to struggle immensely with doubt and panic regarding the unknown. Any time I was uncertain about the future — which, in retrospect, was quite often — my brain would fill in the blanks with worst-case scenarios. I never really considered a bright alternative; my brain only ever saw horror. I thought if I could anticipate a potential disaster, I would at least be prepared enough to handle it. If it all went wrong, at least I'd have multiple outs and options to flee. I would have a plan to save myself and others. All the responsibility then fell on me, as it always did.

Dealing with Uncertainty with PTSD

I write this as someone who still struggles with PTSD and is actively dealing with uncertainty. Throughout life, we won't always have the answers, but there are some shifts we can make to manage anxiety. Here's how I've learned to deal with uncertainty and PTSD:

  • Focus on what you can control. We live in a world of what-ifs, and though you might crave power over external events and forces, all you really can do is focus on yourself. A game-changer for me has been defining what I can and cannot control. For example, in romantic relationships, it's natural to wonder about the future and whether things will work out. In those instances, you can only focus on being the best partner you can be while also staying true to your values and needs. You cannot force someone to want what you want or love how you love, but you can control whether you communicate your desires and whether you choose to stay in the relationship.
  • Brighten the narrative. What if you replaced the word "uncertainty" with "serendipity?" To me, serendipity is the happy-go-lucky version of uncertainty. It's a reminder that even though we might not know how a situation will pan out, that doesn't mean it won't be even better than we could have imagined. For example, if you're worried about your career and whether you'll land a job that pays the bills, shift the narrative and dwell on the positive outcomes that might manifest. Perhaps you'll make even more than you thought possible — all while doing something you love every day. Trust you'll get what is meant for you.
  • Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. As someone with PTSD, you likely know this best: life isn't always comfortable. It's filled with pain, fear, and sadness, but it's also filled with joy, passion, and love. Two things can be true at once. To lead a fulfilling life, we sometimes must accept the good with the bad — the comfort with the discomfort. Think of some (minor) ways you can expose yourself to stress while working on regulating your nervous system. For example, yin yoga has expanded my ability to deal with physical discomfort. For minutes at a time, I sit in an uncomfortable position and breathe through the slight pain and tension while reminding myself this will help me become more flexible — in body, mind, and spirit.
  • Make friends with uncertainty. I mentioned earlier that uncertainty is not my friend because of PTSD. This got me thinking: what if I made more of an effort to be friends with my uncertainty? What if I sat with it, asked it questions, got to know it better, and empathized with it? Maybe that part of you — the part that sends your heart racing and makes you dizzy with fear at the thought of "not knowing for sure" — just wants to be understood. Can you show it more compassion?

How do you deal with uncertainty while battling PTSD? Share in the comments below so we can all help each other.

Source

  1. Oglesby, M. E., Gibby, B. A., Mathes, B. M., Short, N. A., & Schmidt, N. B. (2017). Intolerance of uncertainty and post-traumatic stress symptoms: An investigation within a treatment seeking trauma-exposed sample. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 72, 34–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2016.08.011

Conditional Love Is Verbally Abusive

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I consider conditional love to be part of verbal abuse. Not all verbally abusive behaviors are apparent. Instead of demeaning insults or threats, sometimes it involves less obvious actions, like withholding affection. This type of conduct can still be harmful to anyone who is the target of conditional love and verbal abuse from a person they care about. 

Conditional love happens when one person withholds affection from someone to try and alter their behaviors or actions. This passive-aggressive tactic is just as hurtful to the recipient as other verbally abusive strategies. 

Conditional Love In a Verbally Abusive Relationship

Unfortunately, I've been in more than one verbally abusive relationship that involved conditional love. After having someone withhold their love from me, I developed an unhealthy attitude toward myself. Some observations I've made from my past experiences are: 

  • Love is only handed out when you follow the rules or obey orders.
  • If you don't listen or if you fall out of line, you risk losing others' affection.
  • You must work to be loved. 
  • You don't deserve unconditional love and affection.
  • You aren't good enough just as yourself. 

As I matured, I carried these emotions with me into other relationships. Often, I would be terrified that my loved one would leave me if I upset them or didn't meet their expectations. 

Leaving Verbal Abuse and Finding Unconditional Love

With the help of professional therapists, I've managed to leave verbal abuse behind and find unconditional love. This doesn't mean that I am perfect or receive undivided attention all day, every day. I've learned that love is complex and can exist even when you have arguments with your partner or loved ones. 

I never wanted my children to grow up feeling the same way I did. I tried to reinforce my unconditional love with them, even when I was upset.

After an incident with one of my kids, they declared they were stupid and made a dumb mistake. I was quick to correct them. Instead, I told them they were not stupid; everyone makes mistakes, and that's how we learn. I don't want my children to have that negative voice inside them telling them they aren't good enough. I need them to know that no matter what they do, they can always count on their mom to love them unconditionally. 

I'm no longer afraid my spouse will leave me if we disagree on a topic. I can express my feelings without fear of rejection or the threat of verbal abuse. And when I face someone who withholds affection to try and alter my behavior, I know to keep my distance. Those individuals aren't beneficial to my mental health. 

An Anti-Mental Health Stigma Conversation I Recently Had

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My physical therapist, Marge, really surprised me by starting a conversation about mental health stigma on my last visit with her. I need to be in physical therapy because I’m recovering from double knee replacement surgery. Our conversations have revealed that she’s very anti-mental health stigma. Some people aren’t, so I just don’t discuss it with them. Physical therapy suddenly took on a whole new dimension.

My Conversation About Mental Health Stigma

I was doing a squatting exercise when Marge just started preaching to the choir–in this case, just me–about how people need to be more aware of mental health and lamenting about how there’s so much stigma surrounding it. I was so happy to hear someone else starting a conversation about mental health stigma that I was stunned into silence. When she started bemoaning how people with mental illness are stereotyped as violent, I broke my boundaries. I asked her if she knew that people with serious mental illnesses, like schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, are usually the victims of violent crimes, not the perpetrators. She did know that. Then we started talking about the mood stabilizer I take for my schizoaffective disorder. Her aunt, who has bipolar disorder, is on the same medication.

When I told her I had a mental illness after I realized that she was a good ally, she said she knew about my condition. I think it’s in my chart for physical therapy that I have schizophrenia. I don’t know why they don’t have the diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, but I do know it’s sometimes the case that practitioners of physical health don’t know as much as they should about mental health (even though mental health is physical health). It’s easy for blanket terms to become part of your medical record. This kind of simplification doesn’t apply to Marge.

Having Mental Health Stigma Conversations with People Like My Physical Therapist

I love it when people outside of my circle of family, friends, and colleagues are so on top of the truth about mental illness. This mental health stigma conversation with Marge reminded me of something at a Tori Amos concert my husband, Tom, and I attended in late May of 2022. The opening act of twin sisters said on stage that their father had mental illness and that they thought mental health was very important, and I cheered and clapped, which got other people cheering and clapping. I guess I was more effusive than I was with my physical therapist. At any rate, I was proud of myself at the concert for getting the audience to cheer.

This anti-mental health stigma conversation with Marge came at just the right time because it brightened up my late winter blahs. Learn more about it here:

Anxiety and Experiencing Loss

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I have experienced anxiety and loss. It's been about five years since the loss of my father, and this year, I've been reminded that grief takes its own route and doesn't operate on a schedule -- particularly with regard to anxiety and loss.

Not only have I experienced grieving in relation to his passing, but for a long time, I experienced anxiety when I thought of it and the events surrounding it. The anxiety was related to both the loss itself and things that happened during that time, people I had interacted with, and coping with the grief of my family as well.

Recently, people in my life have experienced losses in their own lives. This has triggered, for me, memories of my own losses and resulting anxiety.

What It Feels Like When I Experience Loss and Anxiety

I was present during my father's passing, so for a long time afterward, I experienced anxiety in relation to this memory. I often experienced sleepless nights, not having an appetite, shortness of breath, and a fast heartbeat. I also found that I would feel anxious when I talked to family members following his death.

The process of grieving was difficult and, I believe, is still not complete. I still occasionally experience anxiety when my thoughts are flooded with memories of that time. Additionally, I've experienced other losses and additional anxiety since then.

How I've Coped with Anxiety and Loss

I don't think coping with the anxiety that I experience in relation to loss is a simple process. There have been other situations in my life that have resulted in higher levels of anxiety, but I don't feel the anxiety associated with grief ever really goes away. I don't feel like it can be coped with in the same way as I would with other situations. If anything, I feel like I've had to learn how to live with it. I think coping, for me, has varied quite a bit. I've focused on resilience and being able to bounce back after I've experienced those difficult emotions that I know will pass with time.

Resilience, for me, has included exercise, eating well, and focusing on those people in my life with whom I'm closest. I've learned that taking care of myself is sometimes the best thing I can do for myself and those in my life as I wait for the time to pass and to feel better.

If there are things you do to cope with loss and anxiety, share the strategies in the comments below.

Time Flies When You Are Neurodivergent

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Time flies when you are neurodivergent. I know this because I am not neurotypical, given that I have been diagnosed with double depression and generalized anxiety disorder. I am aware that many people do not consider depression and anxiety as neurodiverse conditions. But I do, and my lived experience matters. Plus, my psychiatrist himself told me that having depression and anxiety for years has changed the structure of my brain such that it is different from that of a person without depression and anxiety. So, let's talk about time and neurodivergence.

Time and Neurodivergence Is Affected by Executive Function

I find that time flies because I have mental illnesses. In particular, I hold depression responsible for something called executive dysfunction. According to Health,

"Executive dysfunction is a phrase used to describe the challenges someone has with their executive functioning, such as difficulties with memory, thinking, planning, and organizing. Executive dysfunction is not an official diagnosis, but instead it's a symptom of another condition like depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer's, and more."1

In particular, executive dysfunction means I struggle with neurodivergence and time management. When I go through an episode of depression, virtually every task I do is affected in the sense that I am slower at finishing it than before. Worse, I don't quite notice that I'm taking significantly more time than usual to finish said task. So, I show up late at most events, work longer hours than my neurotypical peers to do the same amount of work, lose track of time, and so on. Since executive dysfunction also affects motivation, it is also the reason why there are days when I struggle to get anything done

Time and Neurodivergence Involves Paying Selective Attention

With neurodivergence, to get something done on time, I have to tune out everything else and focus on it. In technical terms, I consciously pay selective attention to the task I want to complete. According to VerywellMind, 

"Selective attention is the process of focusing on a particular object in the environment for a certain period of time. Attention is a limited resource, so selective attention allows us to tune out unimportant details and focus on what matters."2

From the above definition, it is obvious that even neurotypical people pay selective attention because there is simply too much stimulus in our world to pay attention to. However, I'm talking about making a conscious choice to pay selective attention, and therein lies the difference between neurotypical and neurodivergent people. 

Being Realistic About Neurodivergence and Time

Being realistic is important. The truth of the matter is that neurodivergent and disabled people should not compare themselves with neurotypical folks. Why, even two neurodivergent or disabled people should not compare themselves to each other because each one of us is wired differently. Accept your strengths and limitations, and do your best to work with what you have. If you need professional help, consult a licensed therapist. Focus on whatever you can do with your 24 hours and leave the rest for tomorrow. Yes, it's unfair that time flies when you are neurodivergent. But that doesn't mean you have to lose sleep over it. 

Sources

  1. Gordon, S. (2023, September 25). What is executive dysfunction? Health. https://www.health.com/executive-dysfunction-7969318
  2. MSEd, K. C. (2023, December 18). How we use selective attention to filter information and focus. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-selective-attention-2795022

I Was Prescribed the Wrong Mental Health Medication

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Recovering from a mental illness is already hard, but being prescribed the wrong mental health medication makes the experience even harder. In the past, I have been prescribed the wrong mental health medications, and I’ve heard many stories of others who have had to deal with the same situation. Being medicated incorrectly can be harmful, so speaking up when there’s something wrong is critical.

I Was Prescribed the Wrong Mental Health Medication

In my early 20s, I was on a hefty dose of antidepressants. It started in college. When I was experiencing depression symptoms, my doctor would up my dosage. Then I’d feel better for a few months, only to fall right back into a depressive episode, which led to a higher dose. That cycle continued until I reached the maximum dosage, and I still didn’t feel okay. At that point, I had energy, but I was angry, irritable, and unbalanced.

After college, I worked with a doctor I felt uncomfortable with, one who questioned my bipolar disorder diagnosis. He kept up the full dose of depression medication but insisted on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) testing. (The results showed both ADHD and bipolar disorder.) A stimulant was added to my regimen.

At that point, I felt even worse. It felt like a constant manic or mixed episode. After a very tiring year (one that brought a lot of bad judgment and pain), I sought out a new doctor. Her immediate reaction to my prescribed medications was shock. Sure, my medications had kept me away from depressive symptoms, but with no mood stabilizers and extra stimulants, I had become erratic. Being prescribed the wrong mental health medication had harmed my life.

Ensuring My Mental Health Prescriptions Weren't Wrong

Honestly, it was a relief to hear that I had been prescribed the wrong mental health medication. I had blamed myself for years, calling myself “crazy” or “stupid” (which is harmful to associate with mental illness in general).

I knew something was wrong, but I was too intimidated by my initial doctor to say anything. I thought that as long as my depression didn’t keep me in bed for weeks, the medication worked well enough. Fixing half the problem was not good enough.

I was scared to get a new doctor, but it turned out that finding a new doctor was the best thing for me. She was able to adjust my medications, which completely changed my ability to manage my mental illness.

Being Honest About the Wrong Mental Health Medication Prescriptions and Symptoms

In my case, there had been a dismissive doctor and a lack of trust that caused me to stay on the incorrect prescribed medications. That’s not always the case.

While doctors are considered experts in medicine, they are not experts on each person. Medication is tricky, and everyone is different. Each person is an expert regarding their own body and experiences.

Not only does there need to be trust between a patient and doctor, but also trust between a person and themselves. If something feels wrong, that’s worth looking into. If symptoms worsen or persist, it’s time to talk with a professional.

Being prescribed the wrong mental health medication is frustrating. What I thought was “good enough” turned out to be making my symptoms worse, and the sad truth was I knew there was something wrong, but I didn’t believe in myself enough to face it for years. It does not have to be that way. Medications should be helpful, not hurtful. Building trust with oneself and with one's doctor can make finding the right medication and managing mental illness so much easier.

Building My Self-Esteem with Exercise

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In my self-esteem journey, I've turned to exercise as a constant companion. Whether it's yoga, sports, weight lifting, or biking, the benefits of physical activity have been my steadfast allies. What I have come to realize, however, is that the positive impact of exercise goes far beyond the physical realm; it extends deep into the subjective domain, influencing the way I perceive myself. Ultimately, I've found that exercise boosts my self-esteem. 

Building Self-Esteem with Exercise

One of the most profound effects that I have experienced is the enhancement of my body image. As I engage in various forms of exercise, I cannot help but notice the transformation happening within me. It's not just about shedding a few pounds or building muscle; it's about feeling a profound connection with my body. This connection, in turn, has a remarkable effect on my self-esteem. I find myself appreciating the strength and resilience that my body possesses, fostering a positive self-image that transcends physical appearance. 

Beyond the external changes, exercise and self-esteem have a direct impact on my inner wellbeing. The release of endorphins acts as a natural mood booster. I have witnessed firsthand how a good workout can elevate my mood and create a sense of wellbeing that permeates every aspect of my life.

Exercise Builds Self-Esteem and Overall Wellness

During my time as a personal trainer at a gym, I often emphasized this transformative aspect of exercise to my clients. It's not just about physical fitness; it's about building mental resilience and shaping a positive self-concept. Exercise becomes a powerful tool for personal development, offering a pathway to enhanced self-esteem that goes beyond societal expectations. 

Moreover, I have discovered the ability of exercise to focus my mind during challenging subjective states. When faced with anomalous thoughts or emotions, engaging in physical activity becomes a grounding force. The rhythmic movements and the concentration required provide a channel for redirecting my thoughts, helping me to regain control and stability. This coping mechanism has proven invaluable.

In conclusion, I wholeheartedly encourage everyone to add some form of physical exercise to their wellness toolkit. It's not just about sculpting the body; it's about sculpting a positive self-image and building resilience from the inside out. Embracing exercise and self-esteem has been a transformative journey for me, contributing significantly to my overall wellbeing. So, lace up those sneakers, find an activity that resonates with you, and embark on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment through exercise. Your body and mind will thank you for it.