Originally Published: February 23rd, 2025
2026
What advice would I give my teenage self?
The same advice I gave in 2025:
Get a good therapist, and remain in therapy to learn how to be successful in the world.
In 2026, I will add:
Dive into Buddhism. Start meditation and practice mindfulness to bring inner peace into your young heart.
S, 🌻
2025
Get a Good Therapist
Working in a middle school surrounds me with teenagers who are trying to discover who they are independent of their parents.
I also see a lot of eye rolls and hear a lot of sarcastic comments.
That said, teenagers are a fun age to work with because underneath all that posturing are kids who want to feel accepted for who they are.
So, what advice would I give to my teenager self?
What would my wisdom be?
It would be:
Before you move out on your own, get a good therapist who will properly diagnose, help and support you before your Borderline Personality Disorder, Histrionic Personality Disorder and Alcoholism get out of control.
This threapist will give you the tools to navigate the world skillfully.
Only then will you have the opportunity to be an authentic, confident, and independent young woman with a long-term life and career goal navigated with a detailed map to get there.
Would I have listened?
Maybe.
Maybe not.
S, 🌻
Yes! So much yes! I was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder soon after graduating high school. Finding a good therapist was difficult for me and I only just now found a good one. But I did find a good psychiatrist who weaved psychotherapy into each appointment and it was just enough to set me on the right path. That, and how good of a doctor he was handling my medication.
Like any profession, just because you have the title doesn’t mean you’re good at it or a good fit. Took me a few decades to understand that in terms of a therapist. I tended to believe anything and everything they told me.
I’m truly happy for you. 💛🌻
BPD, if you don’t live it, you don’t understand it.
Sending you much happiness and joy as you walk this path called life. 💛🌻
Stephanie, 🌻
Thank you for your kind words!
Teaching middle school definitely gives you perspective
It sure does! I should clarify, I’m not a teacher – I am support staff. I work with those who need extra behavioural or physical support in the classroom. 🌻💛🌻
Bless you, as a teacher I know how much you are appreciated and needed
♥️