Pre Overt
I’ve been on a waitlist for 9 months and due to a really high deductible, therapy is an out of pocket cash payment for me. It is really expensive and having this organization help me is really beneficial for my financial situation.
I have struggled with varying degrees of different mental illnesses since I was about 7 years old. Anxiety was my first struggle. I was constantly afraid of death and hypervigilant, especially around my moms safety. This continued into high school where I missed a lot of school due to that fear. Now in my 30’s, i’m able to look back and see my obsessive compulsive disorder running wild, but at the time just felt damaged and shame.
I am tired of being such a highly sensitive person. I am tired of feeling paralyzed in my body. I want to be able to feel peace. I don’t want to feel frozen. I want to heal and love myself. I don’t want to be a people pleaser forever. I want to trust myself fully and feel present in my body.
During Overt
At the beginning of my program I felt like I was such a mess mentally so I just word vomit at her sometimes. I was able to share times in the last month when I sat with my discomfort to challenge old patterns which felt empowering.
I was able to talk with my therapist about some really challenging things that have happened since our last session. I was reminded that I’m allowed to be sad and frustrated about an unfair situation which was very helpful. I was also able to share a few wins with my mental health which felt so so good.
Things have been up and down but overall trending upwards.
Later in the sessions I was able to share something with my therapist that I hadn’t shared with anyone previous to last week. It was difficult and felt embarrassing but I felt very proud of myself after. I was able to talk through some difficult things, and identify signs of my healing and growth which was very validating. Overall, my mood has been a bit better even though I’m facing some really difficult things. I’m feeling lighter as I stay true to myself.
As I go through this program with Overt knowing I was going to have therapy on the days I did helped me get through some really difficult thoughts and emotions. Just having a safe space to lay it all out has been really helpful.
Post Overt
Although my anxiety at times is worse than before I received assistance, that is only because I have had the opportunity to begin working through some really difficult things. I am also making positive changes in my everyday life to be more true to myself that is also causing an increase in anxiety.
I have been able to more frequently take a step back from my thoughts and see them for what they are. I have also been able to notice unhealthy patterns within myself and my family systems that I had always labeled as “normal”.
Going through the Overt Foundation helped me face things that I never would have been able to face before and being my healing journey. I am not sure if I would have been able to do this on my own.
After 25+ years of stuffing my intuition and hiding my authentic self, I have learned that I am worth the hard work I am putting in to heal myself and future generations.
I have learned the importance of putting myself first.
I have been able to greatly reduce the shame that comes along with my OCD symptoms.
I am so so grateful for the help. This is such an amazing resource!