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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Racer on May 29, 2004, at 12:59:40
Ugh. So, I'm without a therapist and unmedicated when a crisis hits. Great timing, huh?
I'm withdrawing to the point I'm having a hell of a time making eye contact with the people in my house right now, let alone with other people outside the house. I can feel myself getting more and more upset by the upset to our routine, and I have no place to go to get away from it and just be alone for a bit. I've also got the pressure to appear normal in front of strangers, and not a lot of options for getting away from those strangers. And it's even affecting my body and causing a great deal of discomfort.
Just when I really need a therapist I can call to schedule an emergency extra session to get me through this, just when I need medication to help get me calm. Ugh.
OK, I'm available for adoption into a loving, supportive family environment. Middle aged woman; house-broken; cannot fry an egg, but can make poached eggs, bacon and biscuits for breakfast every morning; gets whites white weekly in the laundry; many miscellaneous skills, too numerous to mention; good with pets and doesn't frighten small children (although sometimes makes adults anxious); call for details and application information. All offers cheerfully (enough) considered. Special points for families that can display an understanding of the concept of "boundaries" -- fences optional.
Posted by karen_kay on May 29, 2004, at 13:50:57
In reply to Overwhelmed -- great timing, posted by Racer on May 29, 2004, at 12:59:40
i'll adopt you, but i'm not so great at boundaries. i tend to be very nosey and ask many questions (that aren't any of my business). but, i'm pretty good at cheering people up (me thinks) and distracting them. perhaps i can distract the people you live with so you can have some time to yourself?
but, can i live with you instead of you moving in here? and you have a pony, right? *BONUS!!!*
so, i can move in and you can cook breakfast. i don't like eggs, but i can feed you. i'm not very coordinated, so i may spill food on you, is that ok? i'll clean up afterwards, promise!
and i'll read to you, but i may read the same sentence several times before i realize it. and then i'd laugh. would that be ok?
and we could ave a pillow fight, but i wouldn't hit hard. even if you hit me hard, i still wouldn't hit you hard, promise!
and i giggle often, but it might catch on though. maybe you'd be giggling too! and i pace a whole lot and have a lot of energy, but i could try to put that to good use.
((((racer)))) i hope you feel better soon dear. can you try to escape to your bedroom for a few hours and read? or watch a movie? i'd adopt you in a second dear, if you'd give me a place to live. but, i'm sure i am very hard to live with. too bad we don't all have 'cheers' in our basement, eh? it'd be nice to have woody greet me with a cold one right now, not to mention frasier :)
Posted by B2chica on May 29, 2004, at 14:39:00
In reply to Re: Overwhelmed -- great timing, posted by karen_kay on May 29, 2004, at 13:50:57
(((((racer))))))
Here's all my lovin' in hopes that it make a little difference. Please take care of yourself. take things easy if you can.
Coach is the man for me!
i can say things that i said five minutes ago and he wouldn't mind ;^)
and that cold one sounds pretty good right now! Dr.Bob, needs a cyber bar!
B2c.
Posted by Impermanence on May 29, 2004, at 21:17:19
In reply to Overwhelmed -- great timing, posted by Racer on May 29, 2004, at 12:59:40
You f*cking Americans, I find it hard to even make eye contact with my mother these days, I have lost total contact with all my friends and my eyes twitch at the thought of being around anybody not in my family. I'm adopted so maybe your post was too close to my heart (not that I give a toss) I really don't. Sorry I diden't mean to post here, booze got the better of me. Just count yourself lucky it's just discomfort and not total *piss yourself* like me. Sorry again. *drinks himself to forgiveness for this unesesary post*
Posted by pegasus on May 29, 2004, at 23:32:33
In reply to Overwhelmed -- great timing, posted by Racer on May 29, 2004, at 12:59:40
(((Racer)))
Did I miss what the crisis is exactly? Don't feel that you have to explain if you don't want to. Just wondering if I missed something.
It stinks to be in crisis with no support, and having to have contact with people who don't understand. Can you let yourself off the hook for functioning up to snuff for a while? I mean, tell yourself it's ok to skip on the eye contact, etc. for a while?
I wish I had some great advice, or something. But all I have is sympathy and support and some positive wishes to send your way.
pegasus
Posted by All Done on May 30, 2004, at 4:00:15
In reply to Overwhelmed -- great timing, posted by Racer on May 29, 2004, at 12:59:40
(((Racer))),
I'm sorry you're having a difficult time. I'm with Pegasus. Don't worry about the eye contact if you can't bring yourself to do it. That's okay.
For the moments you might be able to find some time for yourself (i.e. away from the strangers), make sure you do your favorite things. Try and pamper yourself as best as you can even if it's only for short intervals.
You can come live with me, but I must warn you - I have a silly boy living with me...plus my two-year old son and a dog. I promise you wouldn't have to do a thing even though I would be tempted to take you up on the laundry offer. I've baked a fresh batch of chocolate chip cookies. You could have as many as you'd like. Or maybe a bubble bath with your favorite book and music?
Try to fit in some time for yourself and let us know what we can do to help.
Take care,
Laurie
Posted by Racer on May 30, 2004, at 9:41:40
In reply to Re: Overwhelmed -- great timing, posted by Impermanence on May 29, 2004, at 21:17:19
I'm sorry my post brought that all up for you. Doesn't sound like a lot of fun to be in your shoes right now.
My situation is a little different from a lot of 'mere discomfort' stories, but that won't make a lot of difference to you, I'm guessing.
I don't know what else to say to you, though, since i don't know what you're going through.
Posted by Racer on May 30, 2004, at 9:52:14
In reply to Re: Overwhelmed -- great timing » Racer, posted by All Done on May 30, 2004, at 4:00:15
>
> Try to fit in some time for yourself and let us know what we can do to help.
>And therein lies the rub. I've got my aunt staying with me, and she is ALWAYS under foot. I can't make breakfast without having to tell her to move over and over again. I'll pick up the egg pan from the stove -- hot pan, burn alert -- and she's right back in front of the sink where I have to put it. Then, she's offended that I TELL her she has to move now, despite the real issue involved: it's a heavy pan that I have to swing from the stove to the sink to keep from dropping it. You know the sort? She just wants to be so close all the time, and talking, that she upsets me so much first thing in the morning by "helping" with breakfast (read: "hanging out in a tiny kitchen while I cook") that the rest of the day includes a lot of unnecessary discomfort for me. (Normally, my husband empties the dishwasher while I check email, then he checks email while I cook. That, my friends, is the solution to division of labor in a "two butt kitchen." (We call it a two butt kitchen, because any more than that and you can't function.)
I do think that the real problem is not having any time alone. I think if I could get a solid hour to relax, alone, I'd have been better able to get through this. Auntie goes home today. THen there are a few more days of stress, and then it will ease. I'm scheduling the meltdown day for Thursday, since that's the first day I don't have the stress inducing responsibilities and can take a day to fall apart in the utter, blessed privacy of my own little cage. It's just that it's so dang hard to get through until then.
Posted by gardenergirl on May 30, 2004, at 13:49:11
In reply to Re: Overwhelmed -- great timing, posted by Racer on May 30, 2004, at 9:52:14
Racer,
Despite all of the added stress, it really sounds like you are hanging in and handling things as well as can be expected. Your aunt sounds just like my friend's mother-in-law...underfoot and talking non-stop. You can escape here. We've got a spare bedroom. I'll just tell my hubby that my sister is back, and steal his contacts. No problem, right?
Take care, sweetie. You can get through this. What do you have planned for your melt-down day? You know if you plan a meltdown, you also have to plan a recovery day, right?
gg
Posted by Impermanence on May 30, 2004, at 22:37:27
In reply to Re: Overwhelmed -- great timing » Impermanence, posted by Racer on May 30, 2004, at 9:41:40
I apologize again Racer, I was drunk and out of order when I posted that. This is supposed to be a place for support not taking your anger out someone for no reason.
Things ant that bad, I have good days and bad days like most. If I could just stay away from drink my life could get back on track (and maybe I woulden't post drunkin bitter posts *coughs*)
Anyway I hope things get easier for you. Make it a priority that you get that hour or so each day to meditate or whatever helps you relax, you owe it to yourself.
Take care. xxx
Posted by Racer on May 31, 2004, at 9:27:51
In reply to Re: Overwhelmed -- great timing » Racer, posted by Impermanence on May 30, 2004, at 22:37:27
Posted by AuntieMel on June 1, 2004, at 17:31:16
In reply to Re: Overwhelmed -- great timing, posted by Racer on May 30, 2004, at 9:52:14
Wow, I am jealous.
I have a firm belief that the number of b*tts in a house will increase until the kitchen is filled.
I am cursed with a larger kitchen. I've just gone from an 'empty nest with no syndrome' to a house full. The youngest was home from college. The next oldest (by 10 years) is having troubles with his wife, so he has moved in for the summer, my mum is in town for medical procedurs - one more in the house plus extra driving - and to top it all off, my sister called last week to say she's flying in for a long weekend on 6/9.
Total meltdown last week. I can't imagine what it would have been like without medical help. I called my shrink on Thusday, a quivering mass. He fit me in on Friday and told me to try exercise and meditation.
Posted by AuntieMel on June 2, 2004, at 10:15:28
In reply to Re: Overwhelmed -- great timing » Racer, posted by AuntieMel on June 1, 2004, at 17:31:16
I just reread what I wrote yesterday and it seemed to me that it probably sounded like I was trying to one-up you. I know you are in a bad place right now, and wanted you to know that wasn't my intention.
I have a way of using flippance to mask real feelings. Yesterday when I read about the crowded house it hit home to me. So, in my own flip kinda way, I was just venting about my own crowded place.
Apologies again.
Mel
This is the end of the thread.
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