A lot of us here had experiences in programs, and I was wondering:
what does life after the program look like?For me, before TS I was a total computer geek. Chess club, scholar's bowl, all around geekiness. I was into reading computer manuals in my free time: seriously.
Then, after what happened, I realized that people were more important than staring at a screen 20 hours a day.
My fourteen year old self wanted to be a psychologist so I could go undercover and expose the abusive facilities.
My eighteen year old self wanted to be a psychologist so I could work with families, looking for alternatives to placement.
My twenty-two year old self realized she wasn't going to be of any help to anyone until she got her shit together.
I dropped out of college after five years. Got some really good therapy.
Now I work as a peer support counselor, and I love my job. I work with adults, many of whom were in a local state hospital that closed, helping them to adjust to life on the outside and being a part of their daily support system.
I love my neighborhood, where I can walk to a library and the grocery store and two (!) fantastic Thai restaurants. I still usually have my nose in a book, but computer manuals stopped being my style a long time ago.
I'm pretty much okay. I have a support system of my own, a family made up of sweet friends. I play guitar and Phase 10. I'm weird, and kind, and grateful I made it to adulthood.
What's your story? :cheers:
