I think I'm becoming a miserable person...help!

[bicentennial_baby]

Ok, my Mom is dying. Slowly, but, yeah.

My Dad is dying, much more slowly, his illness is a chronic long term thing, not like Mom's, which is just fatal.

I'm completely overwhelmed, and I have apparently lost my sense of humor. I can't laugh at anything, and take everything way too seriously.

Suggestions welcome now!! :bounce:

:hi:

[XemaSab]

1. It sucks that your parents are going through this

but as someone with long term depression, you HAVE to take joy in the small things. Your husband, your cats, happy things at school, funny things you see during the day.

PS I am probably not the best person to take advice from.

[bicentennial_baby]

2. No, you are correct..it's just that

I'm having trouble finding the joy in those things. People are amazed by my ability to cope, but it's all just a mask. I'm like an automaton, going through the happy smiley motions. Inside, I'm a walking disaster. I wear it well though. :D

[XemaSab]

3. I have been there

:pals:

[SeattleGirl]

4. babykins, do you have access to a counselor through school?

Or does sniffa have insurance you could use?

You have a lot going on in your life, and it can get to be too much for anyone, even you, the Super Woman that you are.

It might help to talk to someone who isn't personally involved in your life.

Hell, it could help just to talk to someone.

Think about it. :loveya: :hug:

[Tektonik]

5. Miserable things are happening to you, you're allowed to be miserable

Hopefully you won't feel miserably in the end, but you still have other people you love and love you that exist.

[billyskank]

6. You'll come back to us. We'll wait for you.

:hug:

Anybody who doesn't have the patience isn't really your friend anyway.

:loveya:

[elleng]

7. Wish I could help.

I just returned 'home' from a relatively short-term situation, somewhat like yours; been away since April caring for my folks. My mother passed on, and Dad is not ill but 95 and sad.

I'm trying to adjust to being home, which is a relatively new home for me, and don't know exactly where I am! Maybe its just getting used to change in weather, Florida to DC area!

Mother was in nursing home, as she required too much medical attention for her to stay with Dad, so we didn't have constant burden of care, but Dad spent 7 hours/day with her at the nursing home, not a 'fun' place. I was there for shorter periods, seeing after the practical things.

I feel calm inside, but given the wrong mood it might be described as 'down,' or 'flat,' or 'depressed.' But not overwhelmed.

So, bi_baby, I'm thinking of you.

[EFerrari]

8. Some things are not funny. And just because you're going through a tunnel

that doesn't mean you are turning into a tunnel person. That means you're a person going through a tunnel.

:shrug:

:hug: