Ask Me Anything...
and let me ask YOU about sciatica
hi!! You’ve found yourself at dialoguing, a newsletter where I talk parenting, marriage, friendships, identity, habits, the relationship to myself and my body, sometimes through the lens of my day job—I’m a psychotherapist—in the least clinical way possible. As the name of this newsletter suggests, I’m conscious of how we talk. to oneself, to each other, in and about pop culture.
One thing before we jump in, I show up very much as myself here. Myself first, and all my other labels are secondary. If a therapist speaking candidly feels like too much to your system, that is absolutely is OK and this may not be the best particular newsletter for you.1
Hello dearest reader. I always think about you as I write these—wondering, hoping that you’re well. As well as anyone can be. Really, truly.
And, yet, sometimes the wellest we can be is still not all that well. Mentally, physically, spiritually. And, I believe, we have to welcome each other and ourselves when that is the case, too.
I’m currently dealing with some sciatica that just won’t quit. She’s persistent which I respect and resent with equal fervor. There is something particularly sick about an ailment that feels it’s worse while you sleep.
So, while I’m mostly here to invite you to Ask Me Anything—about my work as a therapist, my personal life, my writing—for a future newsletter, I’m also low-key asking you about sciatica. If you’ve ever had it, tell me everything you’ve ever done to treat it. 🙏
Regarding the first ask, you can fill out the AMA form here. Please do! I’ve separated the form into sections to help in eliciting your curiosity.
Coming up: Later this week an In Session with Pop Culture on episodes two and three of this season of Shrinking and a monthly round-up next week, both for paid subscribers. And then a Let’s Talk Therapy interview with Marc Typo of Raising Myles.
Disclaiming: Therapy can be great. This ain’t therapy. You can find more info and my full disclaimer on my about page here. Abridged version: I’m a therapist, but not your therapist—even if you are a client of mine ~hi, dear one!~ this isn’t a session. I don’t think you could possibly confuse this newsletter with mental health treatment. Alas if that were to happen, let me say definitively, dialoguing is an entertainment and informational newsletter only, not a substitute for mental health treatment. To find a mental health provider, Psychology Today or Zencare can be a place to start. You can check out my Bookshop.com storefront here with all the books I’ve mentioned in dialoguing over the years.
Come say hi! Any comments, questions, suggestions, please feel free to email me at dialoguingsubstack@gmail.com—or if you’re reading this via email you can hit reply and send me a message. Love hearing from you for any and all reasons!
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say more is a series where I explore what I’m watching, reading, wearing, listening to, eating and moving to and what it made me feel. I also explore some way I’m trying to take care of myself, my family and community using what I know from my work and how it doesn’t always go to plan. These newsletters are a labor of love. They have been described as “epic.” One reader said she “devour[s] them like a giant dessert.”
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This newsletter gets into several different areas of exploration.
With the Let’s Talk Therapy questionnaire I get to ask my favorite Substackers about their relationship to therapy.
In Session with Pop Culture is a series where I watch TV shows and movies or listen to a new album with my therapist hat on.
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Kaitlyn, sciatica is the WORST so I'm sorry. Things that have helped me -- ice (heat can sometimes initially ease it but it can actually inflame the nerve), acupuncture, yoga (this one is good: https://yogawithadriene.com/yoga-for-sciatica/), and walks.
I did eventually have two steroid injections after years of dealing with it and they were life-changing for me. I hope you're feeling better soon, it can be so consuming to deal with.
Oh good luck with your sciatica. I haven't experienced that, though I vaguely recall from my yoga training that working with releasing the psoas muscle may help. Also, acupuncture has been my go-to for many body-related things. And I wrote about conversations with my frozen shoulder on my Substack this week - listening to when and why the symptoms may have shown up feels important. Take care over there ❤