Hi, I'm Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes. How can I help?
Good morning, docs night. I wanted to check-in with you and do my morning mindfulness routine. As part of my relapse prevention plan. Are you ready?
Good morning! I'm glad you're here and ready to dive into your morning mindfulness routine. Let's get started. What's the first thing you'd like to focus on today?
Well, generally, going through my routine, this physically, I'm feeling a little tired because it was a busy weekend. But overall, I got a fair amount of rest, so I'm not feeling too bad considering. Interpersonally, it was wonderful because my kids came over this weekend and we spent a lot of time together. And they actually got along, which was wonderful. Emotionally, I'm feeling content I can't say that I am exhilarated about anything, but it was a long weekend, and I will take content any day. Cognitively, I'm a little foggy, and I think that's from the long weekend. And what I've decided to do is really make a point of making lists today and writing things down to keep me on track and try to be as compassionate with myself as possible because after all, it is a Monday and a Monday after a holiday. Environmentally, I don't have any triggers around me right now My house is relatively clean after the holidays. That's always a good thing. And I think I'm feeling pretty set on what I need to do today. I have a lot to do. And my biggest relapse trap this week will be trying not to get overwhelmed.
It sounds like you had a fulfilling weekend with your family, which is wonderful to hear. Feeling a bit tired and foggy after a busy time is completely normal. Making lists is a great strategy to keep yourself organized and focused, especially on a Monday after a holiday. It's also fantastic that your environment is supportive right now. To manage the potential overwhelm, consider breaking tasks into smaller, manageable steps and taking short breaks to recharge. How effective do you think this approach might be for you today?
I think that'll probably be pretty effective. My big biggest concern is I've got an appointment for orientation at my new job that hasn't been set yet. And I have no idea when it's gonna be set or, um, how much lead time they're gonna give me, and I really don't like having that ambiguity hanging out there. There.
It's understandable to feel uneasy with that uncertainty. One approach is to reach out to your new employer and ask if they can provide a tentative timeline for when the orientation might be scheduled. This could help ease some of the ambiguity. Meanwhile, consider writing down your concerns about this situation and examining the facts for and against each worry. This can help ground you in what's within your control. How do you feel about trying this approach to manage the uncertainty?
Well, I've already reached out to them, and they tell me they don't know when they're gonna have the orientation, which is part of the problem. But as far as examining the thoughts, you're probably right. I mean, what are they gonna do? Fire me before my first day? And it's not reasonable to expect me to turn on a dime and suddenly drop everything and show up for an orientation with less than 24 hours notice. So I guess you're right. The other thing, I guess, we can talk about while we're here is Thanksgiving holiday. And as I mentioned, mine went well, but I'm really frustrated because my daughter went to, uh, her husband's families for Thanksgiving, and they were very disrespected and they don't believe or understand celiac disease, and she's tried to explain it to them. She even brought her own food so she wouldn't get exposed to gluten. And they pressured her, and I don't exactly know what that means, but they pressured her into eating some of their food anyway And so she was exposed to gluten, which means that for the next week, she's going to be fighting off horrible stomach cramps and pains and and other things. And it's just so frustrating. They've been together for 6 years now, and his family is totally unwilling to respect even some of the most basic issues that my daughter presents.
It sounds like you're dealing with a lot of frustration, and understandably so. It's tough when loved ones aren't respected, especially when it comes to something as serious as celiac disease. Your daughter's efforts to protect herself by bringing her own food show how proactive she's been, and it's disheartening that her boundaries weren't honored. This situation highlights the importance of setting and maintaining firm boundaries, even if it means having difficult conversations. Encouraging your daughter to express how this experience affected her might help, and perhaps discussing with her husband how they can approach his family together in the future could be beneficial. How do you feel about supporting her in having these conversations?
Unfortunately, we've already had those conversations. And No matter what she says to his family, they Ignore her. They disrespect her. They don't believe her. And she's provided information about celiac disease She's provided information about what she can and can't eat and why. And they don't seem to care. Um, and her husband, unfortunately, doesn't stand up for her. Um, it seems like he gets steamrolled by his parents And, obviously, without me being there, don't exactly know how things are going down. But his only response is, well, maybe we shouldn't go. And that doesn't seem to be a reasonable response.
It sounds like a really tough situation for your daughter, and it's understandable that you're feeling frustrated. When boundaries aren't respected, it can be incredibly disheartening. It might be helpful for her to have a candid conversation with her husband about how this affects her and the importance of him being an advocate for her needs. Sometimes, having a united front can make a difference. If his family continues to disregard her health needs, it might be worth considering alternative ways to celebrate holidays that prioritize her well-being. How do you feel about discussing these possibilities with her?
I guess that's possible. Maybe they could attend through Zoom or something so they're not actually there. Because she's already had discussions with him, and he knows how bad it impacts her. Uh, he sees the pain, and he has to pick up all the chores when she's not able to really function because she's been, as she puts it, gluten So but that's a good idea. Maybe trying to figure out different ways to celebrate the holiday that are safer for her since they're not even physical boundaries. Okay. Well, thank you for your chat today. I will talk to you tomorrow.
You're welcome. I'm glad we could explore some alternatives that might help your daughter feel more comfortable and respected during the holidays. It's important to find ways that prioritize her well-being. I look forward to our chat tomorrow. Take care until then!