Very productive therapy appt :)

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I had a very good therapy appointment last Friday. I hadn't seen my therapist for a few weeks due to scheduling conflicts, and she wanted to know how I'd been feeling since we'd talked last, how I was doing on my increased dose of Prozac, etc. One thing she noticed was how I was picking at my nails/cuticles when we were talking. She said, "That looks like it hurts! Is there a reason why you do that?" I told her it's something I do when I'm anxious or bored, and I've done it for years...and that yeah, it kinda hurts, but you learn to ignore it after awhile. So she asked me, "Well, would you like to stop? 'Cause it looks really painful." I told her yes, I would like to stop. She knows that I have Dory to stroke whenever I get nervous, and she also made some other suggestions, too - like fooling around with the sleeves of my hoodie, a keychain, or even some stones. She even let me choose a couple stones from a collection she has. She goes with her preschool son to a farm now and then and they buy different stones and geodes by the bag. One I chose is flat, brownish and smooth, and the other is small and clear with flecks of blue. I chose the latter one because of its soothing contours.

Also, I figured that then was as good a time as any to introduce her to the rest of my small coping items/plushies, especially since she asked me, "What else helps you feel less anxious?" (I figured that since she asked, I might as well answer ) and I opened my bag and got out Baby Sulley, Piglet, Rebound, Truffles, Little Carol, Miss Important, and Susie. My therapist enjoyed meeting them all, and after I introduced them all, she made a couple of them talk to me...after I briefed her on how Rebound's voice sounds, she had Rebound say to me in a hyper, girly voice, "I don't like seeing you pick your nails, LtlPinkCoupe! It looks like it hurts! Don't you want to stop? Rub my ear instead!" Then she asked me how Truffles (my Blue Nose Friends pig) sounded, and I told her that Truffles' voice sounded sort of like Piglet's, only somewhat deeper, and she was like, "I don't know how to do that."

So, I got to introduce my therapist to the rest of my "friends," and now I have two stones to carry with me (in addition to my "friends") whenever I need something to stim with. Right now I have the stones right next to me at my desk, right next to my laptop.

I'm already feeling pretty good about this...since I got the stones, I haven't bitten/picked at my nails and cuticles nearly as much as I normally do.

This sounds great. I think over time you can pick out the ones that you can call on consistently. Having multiple coping strategies will be so key so that if you can't use one in one situation, you can always call on others.

I have a plushie stuffed animal that I'm very attached to named Amy owl. Sometimes I rub my face in her fur and I've been trying to do this and other fidgeting instead of picking at my skin (especially my face).

Awww, great story!
Someday we have to all have a big get together - bring all the plushies!

I have some rocks that I got from the ocean, I don't carry them around but I have them in my apartment. I feel sometimes like they have actual life. I don't know to explain it, I'm not talking about new age stuff, I'm talking actual scientific life. Could be wrong though, maybe it's just a feeling. But when you look at them and think how long have they lived (or at least existed) compared to you? Crazy idea!

Anyway, I hope they help you. It's nice to not have torn up painful nails!

That's very good news. I'm happy for both you and your therapist.

I hope to get a therapist soon. I hope they're just as understanding as yours.

Sounds great LtlPinkCoupe! I sometime carry a couple of stones in my pocket and roll them round in my hand if I get a bit overloaded. Sounds link you have a great therapist.