Back again :o

Hola!

Phiiiieeeewwww, long long time. How long, like 2, perhaps 3 years? I still see some familiar faces around, Kitt, Jamie, how are you all doing? Karen, you still lurking here as well?

Anyway, for those interested, a brief history. I think I stopped visiting this place when stuff got even worse for me. I got into therapy, and after half a year started meds as well. Things were going a little bit better and I decided to try and go to university again. That didn't work out, before the first day stress made me so sick I couldn't do anything any more. So my therapist and I decided it was time to take another step and I got into 20-hour a week therapy with people my age. I was there for 9 months in total, and in that time I found the name for what I had / have. It is called Body Dysmorphic Disorder, and depression and social phobia where only side effects. Knowing what caused my sadness and insecurity helped a lot, and me being sick of being sick lead to me doing everything I found hard to do. For those who never heard of BDD, it is kinda like anorexia only you don't see yourself as fat, but as deformed. I felt like some alien experiment to recreate something that resembles a human, but failed. Every time someone would look at me, I would fill in what he or she thought and trust me, that wasn't very positive.

Anyway, right now I am off meds again, actually studying (environmental sciences), I live on my own again, and actually enjoying life for the first time in a long, long time. I changed from being unable to leave the house except in complete darkness with a hoody and a scarf on to walk around the campus without too much on mind. Girls used to be my worst nightmare, now I actually have a gf. Not to say all is fairytale like perfect, but it is getting close :).

So, there's my story, my sincere apologies for forgetting you all :(. I'll try to visit this place a bit more often and try to give this community something back for all it has done for me.

Cheers, and all the very best!

Erik

Heeja NW!

Thank you! How have you been doing, and more import, how are you doing now? Hope everything is OK. Knowing myself I can't really say how often I will pop in, study and teaching is taking loads of time and energy and both of those I only have in limited supply. We will see

Erik,

Yeeehaaaaa, I is here !  I get to play with all Karen's peeps while she works ~ not a bad deal huh? 

I am delighted to hear you have a dx and a new girlfriend too.  You have worked hard to come this far and you deserve to be happy.  Do stick with us and let us know how you are doing and bring the girlfriend next time .

We will always be right here to support you !  Good to see you my friend.

Kindly,

Kitt

Heej :)

Wow, awesome to see all you here! Awesome to hear that you are working again Karen, how is that going for you? Is it work you can enjoy?

Kitt, how's you? With some luck, I won't be around too often for support, though I am grateful to be welcome here when times are hard.

And Aurora, great to hear from you again! How have you been holding up the last time? I hope you are OK.

Major hugs to all,

Erik