Hi...Your caretaking of loved ones is wonderful but it sounds like you are doing too much and it's at the expense of your health now. You won't be any good to yourself, let alone anyone else if you run yourself into the ground.

Do you have others in your life that can help pick up some of the slack? Can you get a home health care aid for your parents? How about a baby sitter to give you a break from your friends kids?

Maybe until you can manage your stress better make it okay in your mind to say no to others. You can't be everything for everyone...but I so get that thought process. I have done it myself....gotta learn to set up boundaries and ask for help from others in your life when needed. Ask for what you need - no one can read your mind...and I have to remind myself that often as well.

As far as your friend who is far away...can you two skype? Skype is better than just chatting online or on the phone. At least you can see each other. Hang in there...take care.

I just wanted to thank you. Not only are you helping friends at home, but also helping one of our boys in the military. My bf is a vet so he would definitely appreciate you...and actually, he is having the same problem with his friends. He continually does things for them, but he's been sick for a while AND found out that his grandparents are both sick and where are they? Frankly, it pisses me off. But I think part of the problem is that some of his friends are very busy and at least one of them has depression problems, too. However, it may be the case that since you are such a giving person that these "friends" are taking advantage of you. I would sit them down individually and talk to them about it. If you get the sense that they are having depression problems also, maybe share you experiences and encourage them to find some help (because believe me, my friendships have suffered bc of my depression...I just have such a hard time maintaining them). But if you get the idea that they are using you...which alot of "friends" of ours have done...or taking advantage, I would say you need to rethink those friendships. As someone who has very few friends, I can tell you it is not impossible to break ties and start anew. It might be hard, but It might be the best thing for you...bc you aren't going to get better until you focus on your recovery. As far as the friends who are too busy, if they are too busy for you, but you still do things for them...then maybe you should be too busy for them for a while. It can't be a one sided relationship. I hope this helped!

I hope you will consider looking into learning about codependency.
Have you heard of the book Codependent No More by Melodie Beattie? Also, you can go to CoDa.org and read the patterns and characteristicsand see if you fit.Knowledge is power.