What is your biggest stressor in life right now?

[Anonymous]

Being able to afford everything. My kid’s college tuition keeps going up and last year, I had very little left each month. He took out a subsidized loan this year but the tuition keeps going up. Holding my breath until next June because other parents said how their kid’s grants were cut their senior year. I can’t wait for it to be over so I can breathe again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Figuring who to lay off at my company and how many will be enough. Knowing that the layoffs will impact our ability to earn the revenue we need to survive this mess and potentially lead to more lay offs and a death spiral. Also knowing that we’re going to be leaving a mom with an ill spouse and special needs kid who has worked here for more than a decade without good job prospects or health insurance (though we’re working to make sure she gets generous cobra). I feel awful - and know it’s unlikely things will get any easier in my sector in the next 3 years.

As a recently laid off poster can you do anything to save her? I’m in my 30s without kids (read here bc we want kids)…I would gladly take a layoff for someone in that position. Is there anyone you can sacrifice like me with a healthy spouse and no kids?

[Anonymous]

1. Personal: School is going to start soon and I don't want to go back (teacher here). I just don't feel psychologically or physically strong enough to endure another year.

2. Weltschmerz level: Dumpf and my city under martial law.

[Anonymous]

Money. My kid’s mental health care costs a fortune each month.

[Anonymous]

My health. Have a test tomorrow to see if I need a biopsy, etc.

I know I need to lose weight but it has been so hard.

[Anonymous]

Not enough sleep caused by my kids not going to sleep early enough for some big routine changes in our lives.

Ages 8-14. The 14yo is actually fine. It’s the 8yo who is the worst. 10 is ‘ok.’

I need more sleep. Everything would be better. 8yo can’t stop needing something every 3 minutes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That my soon to be ex husband got a really bad DUI and finds out tomorrow if he loses his license. Not sure which I want- him to endure the consequences or me to be responsible for all drop offs, pick ups, shutting kids etc

If you have posted about this before I remember you. Either way, do you want him driving your kids? Does he have an interlock device?

[Anonymous]

Laid off at 48 and can’t find another job. Struggling with having to redefine myself yet again. I just feel kind of useless and so angry about everything that led to this.

[Anonymous]

While work is stressful, my biggest stress is watching what's happening to our country under this administration and feeling helpless. I see women's rights being stripped away one at a time, our president openly taking bribes, alienating our allies, targeting those with the political party that does not align with his views, and treating immigrants as if they are all criminals and dehumanizing them,and worst of all, people still support him. I don't know what stresses me out more. Him or those that support him and allowed this to happen to our country and seem gleeful about it. I'm 61, I don't recognize our country anymore. I see job of prospects are horrible for my children, companies are laying off rather than hiring. I can go on and on. I feel like I'm watching a train wreck and I can't stop it.

[Anonymous]

My husband lost his job. Just cashed the last paycheck, so stressful.

As for what I'll do about it, I got a new job and switched over the family to my benefits. The salary will not cover our expenses but it helps. I will continue to hope that my husband finds a good job quickly.

[Anonymous]

I'm annoyed at my husband's travel schedule between work (think conferences, not real work), golf, and family.

I am going to start traveling for fun and “work” at the same rate and just live my best parallel life. What other options do we have? Living in resentment sucks. I'm just accepting the invite and living for myself again. What's good for the goose is good for the gander?

[Anonymous]

I’m recovering from a stroke at 48. It’s changed my outlook on life. Luckily I have good support (family, social, medical) and I am improving.

[Anonymous]

I’m a scientist and multiple times this year projects came unraveled. I am helping to develop new drugs and some weeks things look up but I have to employ people and the crazy revocations of finding aren’t making that possible. Collaborators are moving to Europe and that is probably the way if I want to see my work end in helping humanity. But DH won’t move, which is understandable for him and our family and it wouldn’t work for our kids, one of who has major SN. So I slowly dismantle the work that could have saved so many lives and do random crap for military contractors instead. I am sad.

[Anonymous]

I sent blessings into the Universe for you all. In times like this, people must lean on each other.

[Anonymous]

DH just got a major promotion and has a crazy schedule of travel every week until infinity. DH had promised to WFH so DD and I could go on a last-minute trip but he decided he has to go see clients instead. I had to cancel the trip with because all the dogsitter and dog boarding spots are booked by us. We have been flexing around his intense work schedule for months/years so DD was really excited to do something spontaneous.

But that’s minor compared to the fact that DH announced that he’s going to probably get an apartment close to work this fall and “needs some space”.

Because of his erratic and frequent work travel I haven’t been working. I’m very clear on what this means for me, my future, and my finances. Dog is a German Shepherd and therefore a restricted breed, I am quietly trying to find a rental to no avail, and it’s clear that I won’t qualify for a mortgage for a while if ever and I definitely can’t assume the mortgage on our current house.

How convenient that this is all happening just as DH enters a very different level of compensation!