By Published on

Thursday 31st July 2025

Cartoon illustration of an airport baggage claim area with a conveyor belt system. The scene shows anthropomorphised heart-shaped "Lovehearts" candy with arms and legs walking around. In the foreground, a blue suitcase character and a pink suitcase character both have 'NOT MINE' written on them. A yellow bag character in the background has a speech bubble saying 'HOW ARE ALL OF THESE BAGS MINE'. Various other luggage pieces are scattered around the baggage claim area, including what appears to be brown and other colored bags with labels. There's a sign reading 'EMOTIONAL BAGGAGE CLAIM' hanging from the ceiling. The setting has typical airport features like drop ceiling tiles, fluorescent lighting, and beige walls. The cartoon is signed by the artist @TommySiegel in the bottom right corner.
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Counselling, Baggage, Guilt and Tears

Part of my treatment plan/therapy was to start counselling. After two sessions of assessment, it appears I'm not ready for CBT yet. I need to take time to unpack years of baggage that I've locked away to ensure CBT will work effectively for me when I get there.

It's only one hour a week, but that hour takes absolutely everything I have to give - emotionally, mentally, and physically. I've started to remember painful memories I'd locked away, and I'm reminded why sometimes you have to protect yourself and look after your own mental health by burying things deep.

The process: I'm finding this so upsetting, but Claire, my therapist, is amazing. I can't believe how much I trust her with all my feelings and the mess that pours out during our sessions. It feels like she's helping me sort through a storage unit that's been padlocked for years - everything's jumbled together, some things are broken, and it all needs careful handling.

I hope this helps my recovery. The past few days have been rough, with a fall down the stairs just to make me feel even more feeble physically, mentally, and emotionally. Sometimes it feels like my body's reflecting what's happening in my head - everything's a bit unstable right now.