Stress Center Peer Support

This christmas seems more stressful and hard than usual. I lost my special cat, had 4 people that I knew at Wal-Mart die, then had to have another cat put to sleep. I'm trying to get the gifts for the kids, my husband refused to do christmas club last year, so it is really stressful to find the money.

I was getting a special cat from Texas and that turned into two cats, which increases our number. I talked to a friend and she said that we keep our house clean, the litter boxes nice, and most people don't realize how many cats we have in our huge house.

I'm just really stressing out, I can't wait to go back to working nights and being able to have a clean house. I'm going to be working to death until christmas.

Sometimes I'm not sure why I want to keep going, why I get out of bed for the same old day of working and come home see the kids, go to bed and then start over again. It's worse at night.

Maybe I need to go back onto antidepressants.

Jenn

I think this Christmas is especially hard for a lot of people with the way the economy is. I've had a tough time this year with family problems. My oldest daughter who has a 1 and 3 year old is getting a divorce and my other daughter was fired a couple of months ago and is still searching for a job. Between worrying about them and me having to go back to work is what brought on my anxiety and depression. After finally getting on the right medication, seeing a therapist and doing the program I am finally starting to feel better. We need to think of positive things. We think we're in a bad spot, but there's always someone worse off than we are and we should be thankful for what we have. I'm sorry you're having such a hard time, but keep up with the program and maybe going back on your antidepressant might help.

Hope you see some improvement soon.

Babbers

Hi Jenn,
I hope you are getting a chance to go through the program. It will probably really help you to prioritize and maybe the relaxation tape will help, too. It sounds like you are being really hard on yourself.
You may also want to try a thanksgiving journal. (Perhaps list 3-5 things a day that you are thankful for.) This is a tool that can help us focus on what we do have. Sometimes, working in retail--as you and I do, surrounded by all the consumerism. . . it is difficult to remember how much you already have to be grateful for. . . . Feel better soon!

Christmas time is one of the most stressful times of the year. It was never intended to be this way. I wonder what Jesus thinks about what we turned his birthday into? Good luck to you!