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Just Joined Today... not sure which issues to tackle first

User Profile: Andy012
Andy012 April 9th, 2017

First of all, I love that this community exists. Bless all of you. As someone who has been alone on the road... and overseas in some pretty wild places, much of the last 5 years I only regret that I didn't find something like this sooner. In brief, I'm a pretty high functioning mess. I have a very exciting but very stressful job (self employed)... that takes me all over the world (I'm not wealthy... I scrape by living out of a backpack so that I can do what I love and keep my freedom). But I'm dealing with chronic anxiety and depression... going back to childhood, and I'm self medicating a lot with alcohol. Also have unresolved grief issues from losing a parent almost 7 years ago. Zero family support network (family fell apart when we lost my mom), so I've been alone with nobody to talk to for literally years. Just recently maried to the sweetest woman ever (met while traveling), and I don't want to mess it up. I found out about 7Cups when I was looking for an online community/ alternative to therapy. I Would do therapy in an instant, but I can't afford it, and I don't live in a country where resources are widely available in English. Not sure where to start, as I'd be a solid candidate for half of the categories I see on the list of personal paths here: alcohol, anxiety, OCD, relationships... and I'm beginning to suspect Bipolar disorder as well. What's the best way to get started? Just reach out to a random listener? Start out in group discussions? Thank you for any insights

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User Profile: WGlasser
WGlasser April 10th, 2017

Andy, Welcome aboard. Price is right here! I just joined 1 APR - no fooling! There are trained empathetic listeners 24/7. Top left of screen "Path" willl guide you down the 7cups road, but also be aware of some awesome specific training under the "path" button to include Depression etc.

Where to start on problems??? Keep in mind we (listeners) don't function as therapists but I love Wm. Glasser's Choice Theories. We always have choices, but sometimes make suboptimal or even harmful ones. Need to decide what elements you seek in your version of quality world (sounds like your romantic interest is one) and make optimal choices (and related goals) so we can drive ourselves toward that quality world with optimal behaviors.

In short to start we ask ourselves "what do I want?" = our quality world. Step 2 is our choices/behavior/action moving us toward our quality world. If not we need to adjust our behaviors, actions, choices as we would a steering wheel.

Welcome aboard, Andy!