Stress Center Peer Support

Hi, I'm new to this group. I live in a personal care home right now since I had a breakdown in late 2006. I was taking care of my mother who had alzheimer's disease and I got so stressed out that I couldn't take care of her the way I should have anymore. My father also had this condition 12 years ago. My brother, who lives in MO, had to help with my mother. My mother passed away in May 2008. She was also my best friend. I've had OCD for 30 years. Sometimes it is better than other times. Since my mother's illness, I had to go on disability from the company I worked at for 30 years. We also had to sell our home because I couldn't take care of it anymore. My mother was the one I could count on when I was going through hard times such as worrying about poisoning someone or hitting someone when I'm driving. My brother tells me to get over it because I'm 51 years old. He says the family thinks I'm lazy and "looney", and not trying hard enough. I'm having a hard time getting back into the work force, and the stress and lonliness have been overwhelming this past year since my mother's death, because I don't have anyone, except my therapist, to talk to when I have these feelings. I feel like I have to check if I really did the things I worry about because they seem so real at the time. I'm so lonely, never been married, and worried since I have no family members who live near to me. I worry that I'll never get over this rough time in my life, and I'll end up in the hospital again, or one the streets. My therapist says she has confidence in me that I will get better, but I have these thoughts everyday and it interfears with my life. Does anyone else have similar feelings of extreme lonliness and worry. I tried to get in contact with some of my old friends from "better" days, but they have mostly deserted me. Thanks for listening.

.hi there first i want to say sorry about your mom, that is hard and stressful to deal with but death is something we can never run away from , it all will pass us . your thoughts are taking controll of your life you need to replace them with HAPPY one , i know its hard at first but trust me it gets easier after a while ..your therapist is right you will get better have faith in yourself.. you can do it . stop beating yourself up.. one way to start is change your title from always worried to going to be very happy with myself ... things like that .. and i promise you will start to feel better.. dont dwell on what your family says to you they dont know what it feel like to have your sysmtons.. only you ... but remember you have the power with in you to change them ... be strong and positve walk with your head up ... all the best you can beat it

i am 51 as well. I have been a worrier all of my life. I am on week 8 of the program and get help from tape 3 and 8. They teach us how to talk to ourselves and slow down the worry. I suggest the relaxation tape everyday as many times as you need it and the breathing , along with tapes 3 and 8. Hope this helps even a little , hang in there and god bless.