IOP stands for Intensive Outpatient treatment. I’ve done full inpatient before, but I had never done IOP. My therapist, upon hearing what had just gone wrong with my life, suggested that I apply for a program. Not only am I now without structured time during my day due to being on short-term disability and unable to work, but she felt with everything that had happened recently, group therapy, coping skills, and different classes would be exactly what I needed to help me get back on an even keel.

At this point, my health has gotten so weird and complicated, I don’t even want to attempt to summarize. I diagnosed with various mental illnesses, but I might not have them? I’ve had physical illness my entire life, but I didn’t know about it? I was doing okay for a solid 3 weeks before medication withdrawal erased all my progress? I’m still waiting on my psych test results! I have been having a three-month long existential crisis coupled with three weeks of brutal physical withdrawal symptoms and it shows no signs of letting up?

With all of that said, I actually feel really good about this. Not entirely sure why. Maybe I don’t have anything left to feel right now. Who knows? I am excited to see where this goes and quite frankly, if it all goes terribly wrong, how will I even know?

Final Thought: I have an appointment for Monday and they asked me if I was going to be safe until my appointment. I really appreciated that. I have talked to too many doctor’s offices while in a mental health crisis and they tell me my appointment is ages away as if leaving me to my own devices until then is greatest idea they ever had.