Okay, this is such an insane way to live! i feel invisible and isolated trying to "break through" but i can't ever seem to catch my breath...life feels so out of control...it's been over a year now and My doctor just wants to prescribe meds for my depression, but it is so much more than that....I can't see the light at the end of the tunnel. My poor dear parents, sob sob...what a heartbreak.
Steve
I have text to all my siblings that my therapist said if I continue the way I am, I will kill myself from exhaustion or land in the hospital. I asked for help .... Nothing! So, I have compared my posting of last year to this year. What I see are new symptoms ...I'm blacking out, dizziness now daytime and not just at nights, chest pains, shoulder pains more frequent.
How do I cope? I can't wait to get up in the morning to go to work!! Work is my sanity from this house. I have had people re-affirm to me that I'm pretty or smart or have a great smile, or friendly, etc... Compliments from people who are NOT family sure hits the heart and my self-esteem!
P.S.. A few years ago, after I came back from my week vacation (spent at home), my boss had a talk with me. He said that whenever I take leave from work, I came back worse than when I left. He suggested that when I take my next leave, to pretend as if I’m still going to work, and then spend the days on my own. If family calls me at work, he will say that I’m out on the road and to call my cell phone….I’ve been doing this ever since. It sure helps A LOT with de-stressing!
I am very Catholic. My relationship with God is my complete strength. My church does not help me--respite care or cleaning--honestly I have not called and asked. But there are people who know what I am going through.
My few tricks along the way:
-choose the battles to fight
-call your Alliance for Aging NOW, there might be a waiting list, but maybe not, my mom is on the medicaid waiver and it has been a life saver
-if your parents have a particular ailment, sometimes contacting those organizations are helpful--they have insider information, for example: alzheimer's association or cancer association
-ask their doctors about Hospice care, if you are over 90, they will give to you, but even your parents are not 90 they still can have hospice care, the trick is to find a doctor that knows how to do it-- they can go in and out of hospice I think every 30 days? through medicare-- you get a break to actually create a better plan to take care of them--since it is both of them they can be in the same room.. HOspice call also be done at home.
May God Bless you and keep you.
What can we do? I hope that you keep your faith in the living GOd. Get the right help you need and protect yourself financially.