Pet dog, gardening/yard work, walking, drinking lots water, sleep, breathing. I do bits of all of the above - never takes
any meds for my chronic anxiety. It’s all part of life - adjust to
survive. Pills NOT the answer.

I had a parent die October, kid got cold, then flu, then Covid in November and missed 3 weeks of school, and in November I got booster shot that gave me near daily migraines ever since. I am in very bad physical shape and very depressed. I cry, talk to therapist

In 2030 got so bad that I lost vision in my left eye and lost muscle tone in my arms.

Meds helped tremendously. Doubled and tripled my Celexa. Napped every day. At first it was depression naps and then I was just carving out time to rest without my phone.

My vision and arm tone came back within about a month

I promise it gets better. One step in from the other. You were doing exactly what you need to do by carving out next week. Don’t think too far ahead. And I thought too far ahead I was getting really dark place.

Death of father, then started marital dissolution 6 months after (there was violence, and I finally woke up to how awful everything was). At the same time I started working again after SAHM-hood. Ex was in denial for 3 years. Outwardly I appeared patient as I guided him towards acceptance of reality but inside - well, let's say I had diarrhea everyday for 6 months of that first year. I ended up losing a lot of weight. I moved my workouts to the mornings before getting the kids ready for school and going to work.
And I ran A LOT and ran hard.
This, and a friend's matrimonial attorney father who was giving me fatherly advice every few months (coz my dad had passed away!) really helped keep me sane.

Ended a LT relationship, took a new job and moved across the country within a four-month time span. My therapist at the time suggested I do things I love so I took dance classes, went for walks around the block (neighborhood wasn't that great) and would drive to scenic parks and walk for hours. Got my mojo back after a while. I started practicing bikram yoga which helps keep my anxiety at bay.

Anonymous wrote:My son was diagnosed with schizophrenia and I was very overwhelmed. There wasn’t much I could do about it. I only told my mom because he didn’t want others knowing. I’m the only parent as his dad isn’t involved. It was a lot. I got through it and now that he is medicated he is doing better. Time helps.

Good job, Mom! So glad to hear he is doing better. He is so lucky to have you. May his life continue to move in a healthy direction.

Child spending 6 months in NICU followed by dealing with apneas, tracheostomy, feeding pumps, failure to thrive etc.

I found alcohol to be a big help during that period. Obviously when I was not on night duty.