Stress Center Peer Support

Originally posted by njfinfan:
Good morning - my name is Mary and I joined because my husband requested that I call to order the program. I can't help him anymore and I love him very much and worry about him. His anxiety has come to a head, as a result of several things. We're both unemployed - just declared bankruptcy and our house is being foreclosed upon. We were on employment, then state assistance, which both have run out. We have to leave our home in January - it's being sold at a sheriff's sale. If anyone knows any words of advice I could help him with, I would greatly appreciate it. He's so worried and anxious about being homeless and not having been able to support his family. He's been looking high and low for ANY type of employment, not just his chosen career field. I just want to help him until we receive the program - I ordered it this morning.

Thank you.

Mary

Originally posted by pecos:
Mary, I am so sorry to hear about all the unfortunate events you and your husband are going through. Nelson’s reply is so full of kindness and good advice, I cannot offer much more. I will share a story. When I was in college (over thirty years ago) I was literally one of those starving students. Many days I did not have money for food. My classes started at 7 a.m. so I would get up around 4, freshen up on my homework, study up for the day’s exams, and then head out. I was in Southern California, and there were all kinds of fruit trees along the road. I did not trespass, I just carried a sack and picked up the good stuff that had fallen on to the road. Apples, oranges, grapefruit, persimmons, pomegranates, avocados, peaches, pears, plums. It was like a fresh fruit store along the side of the road. This free fruit made up for the many days when I had no food, and this is how I managed. One morning one of the doctors who taught my pathology class drove by and saw me. He told some of the other teachers, and pretty soon I was receiving “good will” boxes left on my doorstep. Bread, peanut butter, nuts, cheese, eggs, milk. It was anonymous kindness, and it probably kept me in college, because when you are malnourished, it is hard to concentrate on classes as difficult as pathology. So what is the point of this story? I believe in the kindness of most people. If you let people know about the difficult situation you are in, help might arrive. Work might arrive. It might not be steady work, but it is like the fruit I found along the roadside: It might be just enough to get you by for a few more days. Don’t forget to find the church charities where you live. These can sometimes be enormously helpful. Don’t be too proud. When I carried my sack and searched for whatever fell off those trees, I did not worry about silly things like pride. I believe Nelson is right. These hard times are an ending, and they are also a new beginning. I wish you both the best.