Stress Center Peer Support

I know these are tough financial times for everyone. But it is adding to my stress, anxiety and depression ten-fold.

It's depressing not to have the available money we once did. It's depressing to have to work extra jobs just to make ends meet. We used to be so active with our kids, going places, experiencing new things.

We knew this would be a tight summer. We have a new home, stay home, play in the yard, go for walks, ride bikes, etc... (Thankfully, we cut our monthly expenses with the move.)

We are starting to go stir crazy!!

Not to mention the neighbors, what if we want some quiet time alone in the backyard. Just because we're outside, it isn't an invitation to sit and stay for hours. Personal space, PLEASE!! We stay in to avoid them.

I feel anxious about the bills and how to balance all of it. I feel anxious about doing anything, because it's spending precious money. Is this being irresponsible? I don't want to do any extra driving because of the cost of gas. Filling up the gas tank can cause such anxiety. What happened to the days when $15 filled it up?

Finances are such a prevalent issue in our lives. It affects so many aspects: marriage, time, plans, family relationships, friends etc...

How can we overcome our fears when others are stacking up? How do we learn to live in society "normally" (whatever that is) if we can't afford to partake in public life?

I have, for years, put together a calendar of all the free and inexpensive things to do in our community. I know there are lots of things to do that cost very little, if any money at all, so you would think. But what about the extra gas cost? What about packing that picnic? What about forgetting the bug spray and having to pick up some, that costs a fortune, at the closest gas station? What about drinking all the water you bring and buying something more at the zoo, because it is so terribly hot?

What about the desire for a better, happier life, and not knowing how to provide it?

Finance issues are just as bad over here in Ireland although it is believed to all stem from the US sub prime problem. Lucinda says in one of the CD's about worry, Can you change the situation? No, But you can change how you chose to react to it and that is all you can do really.

Money itself does not make you happy, you are choosing to reactly happily to money, the same way when someone dies we choose to link sadness to that situation. It all down to you at the end of the day.

finances are horrible for us as well....I get that knot in my stomach whenever I have to pay bills....With the houseing market so bad our mortgage has almost doubled and we can not refinance due to the poorly appraising homes.....its so frustrating.

I have had a shroud of anxiety over me for months all the old feelings I felt keep wanting to creep back and take over....since going through the program and having chat I have been much better at "trying" to control it all. But still it knaws at me.

It cost me 52$ to fill my gas tank last week and I was still at a 1/4 tank its so upsetting. Ive had the same 10$ in my pocket cuz I dont want to use it for fear I wont have another for a while. My credit cards are nearly maxed and we budget as best we can....no vacations, I even have put off my eye exam cuz I know its gonna cost a pretty penny.

I had a garage sale this spring to make some extra money but that only goes so far it was only a couple hundred dollars....hubby works all the time and when hes not working we are "guilted" into being places we dont want or have the time to be.

My MOther in law was diagosed with Pancreatic cancer this april and I feel badly for her its a constant struggle but we are expected to be there whenever we have a free moment cuz we hear the your mother is sick speech.....its so overwhelming. Of course we love her and want to be there but they live 2 hours away one way it kinda eats ups the entire day and not to mention the expense of the travel now.

Needless to say Im toasted...I feel myself fighting my nerves and anxeity more frequently. Its hard. I know we cant change the situations but its really hard to put that happy face on when everywhere you turn its another slap in it.

Alls I can say is this online forum/chat is very helpfull to me....I have a place to come to that understnads me. I relisten to lessons often ( I just did 10 this morning) as little reminders, and I do the best I can to make it through day by day.

I have two small kids so its important to keep the summer happy and we like you lisa have a great neighborhood lots of freinds which is nice but also can be exhausting.....everytime we set out to do something in the yard we either have 6 more kids with us or ours are off and running. I like being liked but I would like a little peace. I guess all this financial hardship has brought me a terrible case of the complainers and its hard for me to stop it.

I pray for all of us that things get easier and we all feel the releif we have worked so hard to achieve.....

Good luck to all of us. Things will get better.
They always do.