The Midwestern Abyss, Episode #29 - Beth Finally Reaches Out

Summary

Beth reflects on her struggles with trust and emotional boundaries after losing her close friend, Jenna, who moved away. She talks with Matthew about her ongoing challenges, including a difficult neighbor and strained therapy sessions. Despite her emotional turmoil, Matthew encourages her to reach out to Jenna, guiding her through roleplay exercises to help her communicate more calmly. The conversation highlights Beth's internal conflict between needing support and fearing dependency, with a focus on taking small steps toward healing and reconnection.

Takeaways

• 😀 Beth enjoyed the film making club meeting, despite feeling grief and reminders of past losses.
• 😀 Beth feels conflicted about reaching out to Jenna due to fear of becoming clingy or codependent.
• 😀 The stress of losing a summer job and dealing with a family friend's death has made Beth avoid direct contact with Jenna since June.
• 😀 Beth feels self-conscious about appearing codependent and has difficulty trusting herself in social situations.
• 😀 Beth's new neighbor has been filing false noise complaints, leading to ongoing conflicts and misunderstandings with her landlord.
• 😀 Beth's therapist misinterpreted her relationship with Jenna and suggested she go on medical leave from school, which added to her frustration.
• 😀 Beth is struggling with depersonalization and derealization due to extreme mental stress, and she is concerned about her health.
• 😀 Matthew encourages Beth to reach out to Jenna, reassuring her that reconnecting is a step towards healing.
• 😀 Matthew suggests roleplaying to help Beth find the right words to text Jenna, emphasizing honesty without sounding desperate.
• 😀 By the end of the conversation, Beth feels ready to reach out to Jenna and is motivated to send her a text the following day.

Q & A

What kind of emotional challenges is Beth currently facing?

Beth is struggling with feelings of grief, anger, and sadness. She’s also experiencing depersonalization and derealization, and is afraid of becoming clingy and codependent after Jenna's move.

What does Beth fear in relation to her relationship with Jenna?

Beth fears that if Jenna finds out about the difficult events happening in her life, such as losing a job and a family friend, Jenna will think she’s codependent and avoidant of responsibility.

How does Beth feel about seeking support from her roommates regarding Jenna?

Beth is hesitant to speak with her roommates, Athena and Aphilia, about Jenna, as she fears becoming clingy and dependent, which has been an issue in the past.

What is the conflict Beth is facing with her neighbor?

Beth's neighbor has been filing false noise complaints against her, even though she maintains a quiet and orderly lifestyle. This has led to unnecessary tension and even police involvement.

How does Beth view her therapist’s advice regarding her emotions?

Beth disagrees with her therapist, who accused her of bottling up emotions and suggested her relationship with Jenna was toxic. She also felt the therapist pushed her to go on medical leave, which she found unhelpful.

What coping strategy does Beth's therapist suggest that Beth doesn’t agree with?

Beth's therapist suggested that she try yelling and screaming to cope with her emotions, but Beth disagreed and did not feel this was a productive way to handle her feelings.

Why does Matthew encourage Beth to reach out to Jenna?

Matthew believes that reaching out to Jenna is the right choice for Beth and that she will benefit from being honest and expressing her feelings. He suggests it could help her start feeling better emotionally.

What role does roleplaying play in the conversation between Beth and Matthew?

Matthew uses roleplay exercises to help Beth practice how to approach Jenna calmly and clearly. They practice simple phrases like 'Hey, Jenna. How are you doing? I miss you,' to help Beth communicate her feelings without coming across as desperate.

How does Matthew react to Beth's concerns about sounding desperate when texting Jenna?

Matthew reassures Beth that expressing feelings like 'I miss you' will not make her sound desperate. He encourages her to be honest and says it’s a normal and healthy way to communicate emotions.

What does Matthew notice about Beth’s mental and emotional state?

Matthew notices that Beth is showing signs of depersonalization and derealization, indicating that she’s under extreme mental stress. He encourages her to take care of herself and not to push too hard.