My Mounting Misery
The words to this song just keep circling in my head today and I can't seem to break free. "I'm dying inside and nobody knows it but me!" I've tried so hard to shove down all the devistation I feel since my daughter left but I just can't hide behind the smile anymore. My panic attacts have increased in both intensity & frequency. I rarely see her. My son tells me almost daily that he misses her & wants to see her. He is only three & a half and I've run out of ways to try to make it easier on him. I'm not doing well physically or emotionally. I feel like everytime I talk to her another chunk of me is torn away. She has only been here a handful of times since she left. The longest was on Christmas Day & that was for maybe four hours. I don't want to push but this uncertainty is excruciating. My family has a big gaping whole torn out and I keep trying to patch it up & make things allright again. On top of all the emotional crap, we have been dealing with financial hardships not unlike so many out there.I had a hard time with my fibro before this & all the stress had added to my pain level. My functionality has been at such a low level even before this. I struggled to get motivated on a good day & now I just don't seem to care. I have alwyas struggled to keep up with the housework due to the fibro & depression. So much so that at times I have had people decide to turn me in to children services. Luckily, they didn't take any drastic measures and I was able to resolve the clutter issues. Last summer I was strugling and called them myself to get some help with organization. We now have someone in here to help me get motivated. She has been a great help but the added "rules" on top of dealing with the Steph situation, Morgan's Asthma, Sammantha's Autism & all the scheduling that intails on top of my fibro & my huband being gone almost 14 hrs. a day almost daily make it dificult for me to hanled it all by myself. I feel like I'm drowing and failing. I almost dropped my son the other night after he fell asleep on my lap & I was trying to carry him to bed. My husband was allready in bed asleep-normal every night. My depression is kind of in check most of the time but the tight reign that I have had on my emotions is slipping. I haven't really let anyone esle in to help deal with it all because they all have their own trials to get thru. How do you get through the loss of a child who isn't dead? I feel like I keep mourning her and the loss of my complete family & and all my dreams over & over. How do you talk to friends & family about all these hardships without sounding like you are whining, complaining or trying to make it sound like your problems are the only ones who matter. I was in therepy for a while last year but my therapist quit on me when I had to reshedule a few meetings due to childrens illnesses & my fibro. I just don't have anyone to vent to who truly understands where I am & what I'm going thru. I've tried praying & just crying out to God but I can't seem to find the peace or even resolve I need. My heart aches, my head hurts, I can't breathe and I think way to much. I'm falling apart & no one seems to even notice. I feel like I'm in a sound proof room and srcreaming at the top of my lungs & no one even hears. I need to be better for the family I still have here & I don't think I have the strength or energy to even try. I am so srry that my family has to suffer with me not being the best I can. Sometime I think if I was gone one way or another that they would all be better off. Obviously, Steph & my husband don't need me. I wonder if anyone does. Morgan nedds his nap & so do I. Thanks for not judging me-I can't take that on top of everything else.
Replies
Awww Brie..... I wish I could give you a giant hug!!
I understand how you\'re feeling, to an extent, perhaps the emotions rather than the reasons.
Some suggestions:
Can you find another therapist? Sounds like you could really do with someone to help you through this - it IS a big deal.
Can you go to counselling with your daughter? Or get her to go at least, to try and bridge the gap? Does her father encourage the gap between you, or would he support you in trying to repair what ever is going on with her? Even if it\'s not her moving home, if you could see her more often and he would support you, it might help.
Are there any support groups in your area? It doesn\'t have to be for fibro, although they would understand that aspect of you. But a depression group, family support group, even a toddlers group??? Just a group of people who have issues, that you could talk with and share some of your problems with, have a coffee with, get out of the house for..... I think that might help a little.
I\'m sure your hubby does need you - you\'re probably both at that catch 22 place - he\'s working long hours - your exhausted and sad - he\'s exhausted and doesn\'t know how to fix your problems, so he backs off...... Perhaps even family counselling with him might help?
I don\'t know if any of this helps, but perhaps even joining in more on the support boards here might help. No-one can reach out if they don\'t knwo there is a problem sweetie. People here all understand we have our ups and downs - some of us are in a place we can offer support and help while you go through a tough time, and then the tables might reverse.
Please dn\'t be afraid to reach out for help.
Take care xoxo