When I’m frustrated or anxious or upset, I vent to the few friends I have. This is a negative coping mechanism as it damages our relationships. I also experience extreme remorse after doing so, which further perpetuates it because I’m constantly asking to be forgiven.
Earlier this year I tried to see a therapist and ask for advice on this. She dismissed me and said that it’s ok to do that and you can’t simply keep everything inside.
She was incorrect and was also a shitty therapist for various reasons (she was 15-30 minutes late to each session and just dismissed anything I said).
I’m hopefully trying again with a new therapist soon, but I need advice in the meantime. It is actively damaging my relationships.
“Journaling” is not an option because I can’t stop what I’m doing at work to go journal something whenever the need arises.
Thanks all. I can delete on request if needed.
Finding a better therapist would help. Also finding the right people to vent to. Some people handle it better than others. You can try even saying, “hey, I’m not looking for advice, I just need to vent, would you mind being an ear?” at least that way you have their permission and they understand that they aren’t expected to fix whatever the issue is. Controlling who you vent to is also a good way to prevent venting to the wrong asshole who can’t shut their mouth.
I know you said no Journaling, but also consider a journal app on your phone or even just a Google docs. It’s a discreet way to vent briefly. I remember also taking a pen and a notebook and writing how I felt over the same line over and over so it wasn’t legible to anybody walking by. It’s likely something you’ll never read again and it’s about letting out the frustration more than anything.