Not Feeling Myself

First of all, T., you are a good mom. Good moms go through rough times and sometimes they don't handle them well because they don't know how to handle them at all. Sometimes good moms have so much on their plate that they just throw the plate and say the hell with it. The difference between good moms and bad moms is that good moms clean up the mess and go get a new plate. You care. You are a good mom.

You sound stressed and overwhelmed. I would be if I were you. Some suggestions:

Paper plates, plastic cups, plastic cutlery. Who cares about class. This is survival, baby, and about half of the dishes.

Have one cooking day a week and do make ahead meals. If you want to PM me I can give you some ideas. If you spend a few hours on Saturday or Sunday, you can have meals for the week. Then there is no huge cookoff every evening.

Do two loads of laundry every evening. Fold one of them and leave the other in the dryer for the next eveings folding. You will end up folding two loads a night. Fold at the table while you help the kids with school work. Then they can help put clean clothes away when they are finished with their school work.

Make one night a week where you do nothing. Sit with your kids and watch a tv show or play a game. I promise all of those other chores are going nowhere. They will wait for you.

Save any major cleaning for the weekend and clean with anything that comes in wipe form. For instance Clorox wipes (my personal Godsend), Windex wipes, Pledge wipes. Invest in a wetjet. Acutally the clorox brand comes with bottles that are refillable so you can make your own solution with a cleaner of your choice, and my friend just attatches a washrag to the bottom when she runs out of pads.

Talk to your doctor about you anxiety and stress level and see what he/she offers. I am in total support of meds that help us cope during extremely difficult times.

Most importantly, be kind to you. The more we are kind to ourselves the better we are able to be kind to our family. Take some time out to do for yourself every week. Take an hour or two on Saturday or Sunday to do something you really enjoy.

If you need to talk or just vent feel free to pm me anytime. I have been through a similar situation while my mom was dying will be a listening ear if you need it.

I think it would be in your best interest to seek the advice of a doctor. I have a freind that lives right next door that is just like you Her mind is always wondering and she has bipolar. Which can be brought on by many different things from work to the way some one spoke to you. Then the next thing your angry and really have no clue why. It could also be a form of anxity. I think it would be best for every one if you make a doctors appionment ASAP! We can just give advice on things where your doctor can help. Also keep a journal and write down what happened when you suffer a mood swing. Good Luck!

It really does sound like stress. Everyone has a breaking point and it seems like you have more than enough on your plate right now and have for sometime now. It has nothing to do with being mad at your husband or anyone else, but the truth of that matter is, that because of his injury you are picking up a lot of slack. When things like that happen it's ok in teh begining, you were worried and happy to step up and take care and jsut wanted to make sure Dh was ok, but time ahs past and while he's still working towards being the partner that he was you are STILL bearing the burden of it all. You're a mom you worry, and it seems like at this point in time you not only have to worry about your husband but money and work and the house and the girls, it's a LOT, don't ever think for a moment that it isn't, and the fact that you care enough to try says you are a wonderful person and a wonderful mother. But the time has come for you to get a break and take some time for you. We all get like this, it isn't you, but even if its just a bubble bath and a book after the kdis go to sleep or asking your girls for a little extra help, they can do dishes and laundry, really. my kids put wet clothes inteh dryer and dry clothes in baskets , sort the wash before it goes in, load their own dishes in the dishwasher, dust their own rooms, run the sweeper in their rooms and are totally responsible for celanig up after themselves, and it really makes my life a lot simpler and they like to help out. mind you about twice a month i have to resweep but at least the high points get done every couple of days. you could also take a serious step back and learn to let it go, if your like most women i know your house is clean, just not to you, if you do one load of wash a day sure you'll always have laundry to do but you'll also always have clean clothes, you don't have to do it all, no one is going to notice or say you are a bad mother if your house is dusty or there are toys on the floor or dishes in the sink they really aren't. You are doing a GREAT job, so sit back and relax for a few minutes every day so that instead of worring about all teh stuff not getting done you can appreciate all the wondeful things you have in your life. best of luck.

I couldn't agree any more with the other women that responded. There are several things you can do. Contact your primary physician and let him/her know exactly what is going on. If it weren't for medication, I wouldn't know what to do. I too get stressed over everything and anything. The whole breathing and relaxing thing works for me sometimes. Feel free to private message me if you need to vent. I have a great ear.

Hi T. -
I know exactly how you are feeling. I was the same way about 2 months ago. I was moody, on edge, my mind would just race and I would be so overwhelmed, constantly tense.
I wasn't myself and so I went to my doctor. He prescribed a low dosage of Lexapro. He said it is meant to "take the edge off". WOW what a difference. I feel like the old me again. Not moody, not tense, not depressed. I still have a ton on my plate, but it doesn't get to me like it used to. I am not sure if you are open to taking medication, but in my case I am so glad I chose to seek help from my doctor.

It very well could be stress related. It could also be something more. My husband is rapid cycle bipolar. Before he was diagnosed he could go from frenzied to bawling in a heartbeat...and he couldn't explain his feelings. But whether it is stress or some depression or something else, I would mention it to a doctor just to be sure.