The Onyx Tower

Almost added more panels to meme, but this works. :D

Jack Shenani-whatever #4

Therapist: Oh! Sounds like you need to do YOGA! That will help!

Me: *signs up for yoga*

Therapist: ok lets refocus on things you like about yourself. This week i want you to try and journal about good things you’ve for yourself and others.

Me: *does the homework* yeah but i still hate myself but feel bad cause i shouldn’t

Therapist: feeling like you shouldn’t hate yourself is a step in the right direction. Mental health is complex and isn’t something that will ~magically~ improve. We have a lot of hard work head of us but I’ll be here to help you.

As a psychologist the amount of bullshit on this site, the amount of fucking dangerous bullshit on this site about how therapy is neurotypical bullshit and isn’t worth it and how exercise is pointless and good diet is pointless and that therapy homework is pointless DRIVES ME UP THE FUCKING WALL

Exercise is fucking important. good diet is fucking important therapy is fucking important. WHY???

because pills alone don’t help. they improve the hormonal imbalance (as does exercise and good diet which ALSO are a form of very real self care as your physical being is sorta connected to your mental one but go fucking figure right?), but guess what? the suicidal thoughts, the thoughts of harm, the thoughts of hating yourself, they’re still there.  suicides actually increase when medicated.  why? because suddenly you have the energy to fulfill thoughts of harming yourself.  which is why you NEED therapy alongside pills.

it has taken you years, or decades to create your maladaptive thought processes and behaviours.  that shit doesn’t disappear overnight. core beliefs don’t change overnight. these are the very fucking core of your personhood, your being and personality. THAT TAKES TIME TO CHANGE

Once I passed him an analogy he could use: Walk to the bottom of a hill, then turn around and walk back up. Which one took longer? Which one was harder?

It takes time getting to a particular mental state, and it’s far easier to stay where you are than to move to a different one. If you picture the hill as fairly steep with loose patches and obstacles in the way that can block and trip you up, then think of the therapist as a guide that can point out the safe path and can keep you motivated by letting you know how far you’ve come and how close you are to where you’re trying to go.

Another one:

Think of a ladder inside of a well. Some time ago you climbed down the ladder and got stuck in the dark and can’t find your way out (depression). Finally help comes in the form of a rescuer with a lamp (therapist) and they bring you to the ladder (counselling, lifestyle changes, and/or medication) and start leading you out. But it’s a long ladder, and the farther you go the more tired you get and the harder it seems to move forward, and the light at the top never seems to be getting closer. So you decide to stop climbing, maybe even let go of the ladder (stop the homework, self-improvement work, and/or meds). What’s going to happen? You’re going to get stuck where you are, or fall back to the bottom and hit it harder than before (backslides so often end up resulting in worse situation than the start *especially* if you stop taking meds cold-turkey. {{{PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE never stop taking depression meds because “they aren’t working”. Talk to your provider/doctor and if they really aren’t helping they can help you get off them safely.}}})

Anyway, whole point is: Both directions take time. Took time going down, will take time coming back up. The therapist will try to help you get to the top as fast as you are able to safely go, but it won’t be easy, it won’t be instant, and they can’t “fix you” - just show you the way to help yourself. And show you how to avoid falling back down once you *do* manage to get yourself up.

Police training is about grinding trained response into level of instinct, so it makes sense from Judy on that front, but that’s not what’s happening with Nick. This may have been before the big wall comes down, but she’s already been slowly crumbling those foundations all through this.

From the start he saw his own crushed dreams in her, and - while that triggered the angry/sarcastic response of trying to tear her down - he can’t help but feel that connection. I believe that somewhere deep inside he *wanted* her to succeed despite him because it might mean he still had a chance. (While the other part of him wanted her to fail so he could say “See, it’s not my fault I failed. The system is rigged.”)

If you pay attention, after Judy wins over Mr. Big (and we get to see Nick’s shocked face) his attitude toward her changes *there*. The skycar ride may be where it can be acknowledged, but it already changed. Proof can be seen in the fact he didn’t jump into the skycar during chase, then turn to help her in. He wanted to get her in *first*.

One of the many curses of having a girlfriend~ 

tfw your crush is just too beautiful you can’t help but gush

@cloudyloudy @yasminoliveira534 @ihavewaytoomanyproblems @nickwildeandjudyhoppsaremyotp @trashasaurusrex 

Lies and slander! I am fierce werewolf, just waiting for my chance to strike