In Need of Any Support Ideas

Hi A.!

Mental Illness is not who you are, but an "Illness" that should be treated as such. You definitely need some time for you, with or without your disability. Does your husband understand and help you out? Sometimes when you have so much responsiblity, it makes you feel like that's who you are, instead of what you do. Maybe you could join a women's club, or a home based business, or even volunteer a few hours a week to a women's shelter or something. Although you don't have an abundance of time on your hands, you still need to be A., and not just so and so's wife, so and so's mom, etc. You need to get back some of your sense of self, and I think you'd find it very rewarding.

If you ever want to chat, just let me know. God Bless you.

I use to be married to my daughters father. Together we had five kids and I worked full time. It was stressful and hectic at times. So I understand completely. You need to get a hobby of some kind. I use to shoot darts on a league every sunday night. It got me out of the house once a week for a few hours. And for the few hours, I didnt have to be a mom or a wife, I could just be me. It was nice and took a load off of my stress level!! Choose one day and time frame every week for yourself. Even if its just a couple of hours. Go visit a good friend, family member, or go do something that you enjoy without any kids!! And once a month, set a date for you and your hubby!! Couples need time to be husband and wife and not mom and dad all the time too!! One last thing, after the kids go to bed, run you a nice hot bath, burn some candles, shut off the light and play your favorite tunes and relax!!! Pamper yourself once in a while!! Trust me...you deserve it!! Good luck!! I hope my advice helps!!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15940563/

i ran across this tonight on msn.com
thought of you
i haven't read it all yet.. so it may not may not pertain..

You have a lot going on, you have to keep time for yourself.
it's ok,, and not to feel guilty.
maybe read a book a few minutes before you go to bed, after all the little kids are asleep. put a sign on your door for the older kids so they know you are getting your 'me' time.
explain to them if you don't take care of yourself ,you won't be good for them or take care of them very well. the better 'you' for you, then the better 'you' for them you will be. hope i'm making sense. haha..

Hi A.,
My advice would be to find a sitter for the twins ... at least once a week ... then go do YOUR favorite things ... whether it be go to a movie , out to lunch , or better yet ..go someplace quiet, like the library , or just og for a drive and listen to the radio in your car. You HAVE to MAKE time for yourself, if you don't you are not going to be aable to take care of anyone.
I hope this helps.
Take care, M.

I agree with the other posts you need to have time for yourself. All the ideas given are great!! Take one night a week for yourself, find a hobby, relax in the tub after the kids are asleep, plan a date night with your hubby. I don't know how much your Hubby helps out but let him know how you feel too. Maybe he doesn't realize how overwhelmed you are. Also i know that sometimes i don't want to go somewhere else but would like to have a romantic relaxing night in. Arrange for all the kids an activity possibly an over night thing. You can have time to just relax and enjoy quiet or do a household project you have been wanting to do but just haven't had the time. Just because you are a wife and mom does not mean you have to lose who you are, you can do all three with the smallest of planning. Don't take the planning on yourself either though, ask hubby for help too, maybe even the older chidren can help you out!

You definitly need to get away for a while, if you have to do it when your husband is home and make him take sometime with the kids. The mental illness thing is nothing to mess with, and if your on disability for it. it's definitly nothing to play with.. take some time for your self, and if you ever need to talk feel free to contact me. i'm some what in the same situation, feel free to read about me.. the only thing that my profile doesn't say is that i also deal with a mental illness, so we do have quite a bit in common. i have mine mostly undercontrol however with being pregnant back to back it tends to cause a bit of depression and anxiety. but i'm a good listener and totally believe you can never have too many friends. so send me a line and we'll talk
chris

I, too, have a mental illness and it was very hard for me to learn to take time for me. It sounds so selfish. At the same time, I know now that if I don't have some personal time, all my symptoms get worse. I go to the library just to read. Also, I write. I have a good support group that I joined at our community mental health center. My husband is very good, too. He knows when I'm stressed and will tell me to take a break. Sometimes, I still feel guilty. That's hard to overcome. Really, though, in the long run it helps both the kids and yourself to take a break. There is also a national group called AMI (Alliance for the mentally ill) they are very helpful and may know a free group for support for you to join. Good Luck and remember, taking time for yourself helps the kids too. Good Luck with your twins.