Stress Center Peer Support

Does anyone have any good advice on how to get our family members to understand and cope with us. I have a wonderfully boyfriend and he's behind me 100% but I can tell he gets really frustrated.

Any words of wisdom?

My husband was and is supportive, but yet gets frustrated because I'm not the same person I use to be. I'm more reactive and frankly, angry. It has been hard to talk with him calmly w/o him taking offense or shutting down.

I'm not going to be the same person I use to be when I was on Wellbutrin and Cymbalta. There has been too many changes happening to me ie: Menopause and losses of loved ones, and a beloved pet dog. My children are grown up and I'm pretty much have lost my main job around here. My job as a Mother and Homemaker, etc.

My past Psychologist was suppose to help, but he opened up a can of worms, and my new one is very helpful and has explained to DH that I have G.A.D. General Anxiety Disorder and explained what it is and its symptoms, etc. He had been very helpful, in the 2 times my husband has been in with me.

We (doc and I)determined that I need a LOT of help and DH is going to have to come in to be a part of it. I see the $ signs going up!

I think if you show them some of the videos that show people with anxiety, that might help your family. Or it might give them a whole different picture that is really not you and they might label you.

I know this probably is not too positive, but that is my experience so far. And if my family were all that nice and sweet, I probably wouldn't be having this problem. They all are on edge too so communicating is difficult.
I hope I didn't repeat myself there. Hang in there, you are at the right place. Paislee

Sometimes we must make changes we do not agree or even see.
Holding the anger only causes it to fester.
If we focas on what we think we can not do then we will never try and see that we can.
Beating ourselves and wishing it was'nt so helps no one.

#1 Foregive and return or learn to love yourself. Even on the bad days.
Anger will bury us if kept inside.
Try writeing letters if verbal communication is not working. Remember we are responsible for ourselves, and as we loose all the crutches that make us feel worthy grow and fly away it uncovers our own identies that maybe we have kept hidden. Grow with this new you and learn a new path.

First, I want to say that I've been at this rather intensively the past 3 years and less intensively much of my life. Meaning: patience, patience, patience. We must be patient with ourself and others. Exploring and learning and change take time.

Second, it is about us first and foremost, not others, so I think. Believe the program here states that too: we can only change ourself. How we go about doing that may vary from person to person. I did a great deal of reading, thinking, and writing. My goal was always to learn what made me the way I am, how to be strong in myself, and be in the position of giving to others instead of expecting from others or asking of others.

Gradually, I came to see a tree as a metaphor. The strong, sturdy trunk is me, or what I aspire to be me. The branches are what emanates from me, parts of me. The pretty leaves are what I try to give to others. Or.....something like that. It's a work in progress as most of us are. It is always ongoing work, at least for me.