I am going through a great period of stress.

[erinlough]

I have three 85+ year old parents that my husband and I are caring for and none of them are doing well. I have a great son who is trying to break into a business he has spent thousands to train for who is having a really hard time making ends meet and I don't have the money to help him. I think the business my husband works for is going bankrupt and it is possible that in our mid 50's he will be jobless. I teach special ed at a middle school....enough said. I am about to go into negotiations with a school district that has no money. I have dental problems that hurt all the time. I am overwhelmed.

I got some psychological therepy when I went through a divorce which did help me to build a good life and keep things in perspective for many years, but I dread taking on the work that therepy demands. I want a big fat pill that will give me some relief.....I really mean that. I'm tired and I can't see the end of it all until it gets much worse. I have actually smoked more and overeaten during this time because I see no joy in getting old any more. I figure I'll just have very bad habits and decrease the amount of time I have to spend in old age.

Tonight my mother fell, she didn't hurt herself but my dad couldn't get her off the floor and he needed me to help. I live close enough to walk over and the look of frustration and giving up that my once proud mother had hurt me to the bone. I just don't want to do this anymore. I want to go away in a fog and just sleep.

My question if I have one is: does anyone know of a good pill for situational depression? I think that once this is over I will be OK, or at least I'll have time to do the work I need to do in therepy. For now I feel like I just need relief.

Thanks for your help
Kathy

[EFerrari]

1. I don't know of a Big Fat Pill but if anyone does, I want one, too.

((((((((((((Kathy)))))))))))

:hug:

[varkam]

2. Kathy

Your situation doesn't sound easy at all, and I don't think that anyone blames you for feeling frustrated and fed up. I wish I had some answers, or even words of wisdom that might make things better, but I have no answers nor am I particularly wise. I do know that if you're interested in pills you might check in with your GP or a psychiatrist.

I am overwhelmed.

It's easy to get overwhelmed when you get so much on your plate. Don't beat yourself up over that one. I think every single one of us feels that way from time to time for different reasons. Situations like this tend to get right up in your face and talk very loudly, so you can't even hear yourself think. I'm not giving any advice, but I've always found it helpful to try to take a step back and maintain the big picture - realize that I have been through suffering before, and I will come out the other side this time, too.

...I see no joy in getting old any more.

I don't guess that in your situation there is much joy. You're spending time and resources caring for elderly loved ones, and things like that can take a toll. I don't think I'd see much joy in it either if all I dealt with were the problems and the complications of aging. Sometimes though, it's very easy to get sucked into the suffering of the situation and see the world through depression-tinted glasses.

I want to go away in a fog and just sleep.

I'm in my early twenties, so arguably I've got more adversity in my future to face - but I've had a big dose of it here recently and I know that feeling very well. Just close my eyes and let the world pass me by. Sometimes that sounds better to me than having to look at the same damn problems that are waiting for me when my feet hit the floor in the morning. It sounds better, but it isn't. Problems rarely go away on their own - they just get bigger and uglier and louder. The trick is learning how to face them down and to not let yourself get too overwhelmed. Probably needless to say, I don't have that trick down.

Again, I'm not a wise man, I just play one on TV. I hope something I said helped in some small way. Feel free to PM anytime :hi:

[erinlough]

3. Thanks so much for your encouragment

You are very wise for such a young age. I have a son who is 25 and wise like you, I treasure him. Yesterday was a very bad, horrible day. Thanks for your concern, I will make it but it is very nice to talk to people about it sometimes.

Thanks again.