hi OP,
Don't feel bad about it. I am a single mom of twin boys, and one is soooo active. Difficult to stay calm sometimes. Of course, I feel bad when I yell at them, but it can be too much...I am also supposed to be working from home. I am not on meds, but have been having trouble falling asleep at night.

OP--also can you explore whether your health plan allows virtual counseling? sounds like you need professional help and would be worth exploring that along with meds.

I think we all normally rely on support systems that we just can't access now. I also find that just talking to another adult -- in person, not on the phone or through a screen - makes a huge huge difference to me. So I make it a point, and have one or two friends who are single and live alone who help with this, to stop by and have a chat with a neighbor or friend with us standing outside, at least 10 feet apart. We just keep it short but I have found it is a lifesaver.

Also if there is any chance that you can get up early and get out the door for a 10 minute walk before dh has to leave for work, do it. I find starting the day with that outside walk--which I used to get on my way to the metro--restores a sense of normalcy. If you need to, throw the youngest in the stroller to do it.

I have three 6 and under and I’m pregnant so wine is out! My husband is an essential so he goes to work. I pray for decent weather so they can play outside but when they are inside I’ve given up on screen time control as there is only so much time we can do arts and crafts. I’m actually making a tiny bit of progress on house projects to keep me sane. What keeps me going is that we are healthy, my husband is employed and we are better off than so many others. At the end of the day just cuddling with my husband in bed really helps and feeling my soon to be baby kicking reminds me what I’m here for.

I went back on my Zoloft, OP. And Klonopin til the Zoloft kicks in. Had to. And I never heard of not being able to take cough meds on it.

People in working class neighborhood have to do this all the time and don't have the luxury of drugging themselves out or complaining about it.

They're your kids. Just enjoy your time with them.

Absolutely do a telemedicine call with your doctor to discuss getting back on medication. If you're anxious about going out to get a prescription in a store, CVS will deliver to your home for free regardless of your insurance (I've just used this service). So as long as the medicine isn't restricted (Xanax is, but not SSRIs), you wouldn't even have to leave your house to get it.

I'm currently on 20 mg Prozac and Xanax (prior to COVID) for anxiety, but I've definitely felt my anxiety increasing further during this time. I'm thankful I was already dealing with the anxiety beforehand.

I've also found that after I've been with the kids all morning I have a hand-off time to my husband when I get a break (late-afternoon), and I go take a hot bath EVERY single day. It physically calms me down and helps me process what's going on in the day/world.

Another thing that has helped me tremendously with anxiety is this book. It has excellent techniques for managing anxious thoughts: https://www.amazon.com/When-Panic-Attacks-Drug-Free-Anxiety/dp/076792083X

Take your meds please! This is an extremely stressful time!

Anonymous wrote:I have a 1 and a 3 yo and during this time have often regretted having them. I am not up for this. It is too hard. I can’t do it.

I feel you OP.

You can do it! We can do hard things!!!