Taking care of me...

As many of you know, life has been throwing me quite a few curve balls and while I'm doing my best to juggle all of the balls and keep them all in the air, I'm not doing as good a job of it as I'd like. One of the areas I've been faltering has been taking care of me. I'm struggling emotionally. Those who have known me for a while know that I suffer from severe clinical depression and anxiety, so the turmoil associated with my FIL's illness and death, my MIL's care and my mother's illness and pending death, along with Ben's extended unemployment and being so far from friends has been trying.

I've been leveraging the counseling services through the hospice I used for my FIL. My mother just entered hospice so the counselor I was seeing will not be seeing me after today so that there will not be a conflict of interest as she is aware of the difficulties I've been having with that situation. I contacted Jewish Family Services and went for a counseling session with them yesterday. Yesterday was really just an administrative, information gathering session, but I hope that I'll get some support there. I'm also working on finding some respite support that will allow me to exercise the ability to see my mother. This is not an easy task since I need to find someone to care for my MIL so that I can go see my mother and I need a minimum of 2 hours because of travel time. That said, I'm pleased that I have this 'problem' and look forward to seeing my mother several times a week if possible. 

I just took my vitamins. I know that sounds like a little thing, but it's not. It's big thing for me. I'm so good about making sure that my MIL is dosed on her meds, but not very good about making sure that I'm taking my meds and supplements. I'm really working on it though. 

I've also gotten my weight to stabilize... meaning it's not dropping anymore. Honestly, I'd think that I'd be gaining with all of the 'junk' I've been eating, but it's holding at about 139 now. I've been making sure that there are plenty of good things to eat in the house, but I am really drawn and succumb to indulging in simple carbs. I don't know if I can find the bandwidth to log everything I put in my mouth. I do find that when I do that, I tend to make better decisions.

You are in my thoughts and prayers...

Sometimes we have so much on pur plates, we forget about ourselves...sounds like you are addressing that issue and know what you need to do for yourself.
That is the first step...recognizing a need and then making plans...

Bless you!

Shelia