Peer Group Chat// Emotional & Mental Exhaustion// Thursday 7th December 2023, 7-8:30PM AEDT

[Blackbird11]

I had a go at the energy accounting @TideisTurning. I found my withdrawals were all high ratings. It was difficult to come up with deposits. Here is my list...

 a great insight!

[TideisTurning]

@Glisten @Healandlove @Blackbird11, I'm really glad you all were able to have a go at this, and from the sounds, may have found it helpful.

 & Blackbird, it's a tough one!   it makes sense to me that it was harder to think of deposits as opposed to withdrawals- I wonder if negativity bias (being a tendency to more easily notice negatives- more here if you're interested) might have some influence here? 

[Blackbird11]

Thanks @TideisTurning 

I am exploring Alexithymia with my psychologist at the moment, we start next session.

[Healandlove]

 @TideisTurning , here is mine. I seem to have more deposits which is good and the values there are high but I suppose my withdrawals are also very high. I forgot to add my husband's complex-PTSD is a rating of 100 depletion of when I have to observe and or support him through a downward emotional spiral. Big emotions deplete me. 

[Healandlove]

@TideisTurning , here is an updated one. I realised that I also do have moments with my husband where it is a deposit, when those moments are happy and calm. I shouldn't forget about those positive moments, even though they may be few. 

 

[Glisten]

@Blackbird11 & @TideisTurning 

I had to Google Alexithymia. So many things about the brain 🧠 

[Blackbird11]

So complex and can be so overwhelming @Glisten @TideisTurning 

[Glisten]

@Blackbird11 @TideisTurning 

Please keep me updated on your progress.

[TideisTurning]

Alexithymia in sounds like a really interesting topic to explore with your psychologist @Blackbird11, though I can certainly understand how the experience of it may be overwhelming at times. As Glisten said though, feel free to keep us in updated and reach out as needed 😊

@Healandlove, it's awesome you've been able to identify both withdrawals and deposits relating to time with your husband.  it and also make sense to me that big emotions would be more draining, especially when it's someone close to us. That's a great list though- I hope it may help to lean on and engage in those deposit items when you notice a few withdrawals!