So, I finally get to update, granted I'm doing it with a sleeping puppy who INSISTS on being right beside me, but I'll take it! :)
About 2 1/2 weeks ago I had an appointment with the Employee Assistance Program. I figured it was time to get help. I met with a very nice man named Mr. Lewis and we talked for a while and then he gave me a few recommendations. 1. He recommended a counselor, Dr. Celia Cantor, for me to talk to so she can help me sort through a few things. 2. He recommended a psychiatrist to help me get my medicine straightened out. 3. He recommended I set up an appointment with the Consumer Credit Counseling Service to help with my finances.
Well, I had all three of those appointments last week. I met with the counselor first. We sat and talked so she could get to know me and we set a pretty good path forward. I think I'm really going to like her which I know is very important when seeing a counselor. We've started working on my self-esteem first. Even though I've always been confident when it comes to work or school I've always been completely lost when it came to interpersonal relationships. We're also working on trying to stop me from being so hard on myself. My first "assignment" was to write down 5 positive things about myself everyday. I can't include work related issues (since that's not an area I struggle with) but interpersonal relationships at work are fair game. I haven't been great at writing the things down everyday but I have made it a point to think through them and recognize the positive steps I'm taking. Also, as the session was ending we were discussing the many ways to deal with anxiety and Dr. Cantor mentioned that I may want to stay away from caffeine since it can make you jittery. I told her it had the opposite affect on me, it actually calms me down when I'm edgy. She said that that is a sign of ADD and she actually going to do some testing on me.
The next appointment I had was with Consumer Credit Counseling Services. I filled out some financial fitness paperwork and we set down and talked through my situation and goals. They are helping me with a budget to help me get things turned around instead of just surviving. I know things won't magically get better over night but I've got a good feeling. I don't have overdraft protection on my account right now. At first it seemed like it was only making matters worse, but I realize now that having it suspended temporarily is actually a good start to helping me dig out of a hole.
Finally, I met with the psychiatrist Friday. He didn't change my anti-depressant since my depression is pretty much under control but he did up my anxiety medicine. He mentioned that I was currently taking a VERY low dose at 5mg once a day and that the normal dose is 10mg 3 times a day. I've been on that dosage now for a few days and I must say I'm feeling better already. My craving for Dr. Pepper has even gone down, lol (though unfortunately I still like the taste too much).
On to other things....two weeks ago I was gone to New Jersey on a trip for work. On my flight into Philly (it's the closest airport to the part of Jersey we were going to) there was a lady sitting beside me that does couponing (not the EXTREME stuff but pretty serious). We got to talking and she gave me a lot of good tips and got me really excited about saving more (without going to the crazy, almost hoarderish extreme). My goal, once I get my finances straightened out, is to be able to use coupons to buy stuff that I can donate to food banks, animal shelters, etc. I really enjoy helping others and that is one of the biggest things that's bothered me about my finances is not being able to help like I want to. Well, in the mean time I've found a way to help others that doesn't cost me more than a stamp (and a $1 or $2 donation every now and then). You see, deployed soldiers can use coupons up to 6 months after their expiration date. So, I've decided to donate any unused coupons (whether they expired or I just wouldn't use them) to the soldiers. I've gotten together a bunch to put in the mail tomorrow. They can only accept manufacturer coupons (no store specific coupons) and the place you send them to for disbursement asks that they be only 1 month expired so that by the time they can get packed together and processed to be sent they will still be useable for the soldiers. Here's the link to the website if you want to know more. http://www.operationexpiration.net/default.html
Well, I guess that's all for now. Liv woke up and she's convinced I'm not paying enough attention to her. Oh puppies, gotta love 'em. :)
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