So I have an intake appointment at another IOP program today, and my enthusiasm for enrolling in an IOP is quickly waning. I have managed to get myself back into a routine and I'm starting to think heavily about how disruptive to that routine an IOP would be. I've had a great week so far. Just to illustrate what I've been doing:
Saturday - day off, went paddleboarding in the morning, worked out with the personal trainer in the afternoon, got my hair cut in the evening, watched at Netflix DVD at night
Sunday - worked a full day, then met a friend for dinner and went to see The Founder (highly recommended BTW)
Monday - went spinning at the gym in the morning, then worked until 8pm
Tuesday - worked a full day then went on a 14 mile bike ride with friends
Wednesday - unexpected day off, had the ex-wife help me set up a new MacBook Pro, went on a long walk, sushi dinner with friends, Costco run
Thursday - day off, went with a friend to Blue Spring State Park to see the manatees in the morning, worked out with the personal trainer in the late afternoon, Publix run, watched a Netflix DVD
Friday (today) - work, intake appointment for an IOP, Billy Joel concert at night
Saturday - work, no plans for the evening as of yet, will probably just stay home and veg since it will be a late night tonight
Sunday - day off, spinning at the gym in the morning, then playing on a recital at a historic home in the area (some of you know that I had a first career as a symphony orchestra musician) with some fellow musician friends and I'm sure we'll hang out after
The reason I am still entertaining the idea of IOP is that I don't know how long I can keep up this level of activity without support therapy. On the other hand, IOP being 9-10 hours a week, will seriously curtail the amount of time I'm able to spend out and about and being active. I really don't know what to do at this point. I suppose ultimately I'll decide after going to this appointment and getting a feel for whether or not I think this IOP program will be helpful. I'm certainly no stranger to both inpatient and outpatient treatment, so I hope I'll be able to effectively gauge whether or not I'm just going to be spinning my wheels, or if this is something I should do. In the meantime, the idea of adding IOP and curtailing the amount of time I have to do things I want to do is causing me serious anxiety. Maybe individual therapy once a week is the answer.