Kristine: not alone

[Carmie]

Hi Kristine, 

 

I’m sorry situational stressors have ramped up your symptoms. It’s quite a journey we are going through, just wanted to send you hugs🤗

[Rabe]

Hi Kristine...so good to hear you!!!  I find it so hard that family not only does not understand but for me does not make any attempts to understand...by reading things or listening...it would be so nice to have better support. Im sorry...I so empathize!  Continue to take good care of you!!!  You are such so very special!!💜 

[Kristine]

On 2/1/2019 at 1:08 PM, Rosetta said:

((((Kristine))). I wish I had words that could comfort you.  All my love, Rosetta

((((Rosetta))))) thank you my friend 💖

[Kristine]

On 2/1/2019 at 11:11 PM, Carmie said:

I’m sorry situational stressors have ramped up your symptoms. 

Thank you Carmie, yes it makes this so much more difficult. K xo

[Kristine]

On 2/2/2019 at 3:06 PM, Rabe said:

I find it so hard that family not only does not understand but for me does not make any attempts to understand...by reading things or listening...it would be so nice to have better support. Im sorry...I so empathize!  

Thank you Rabe, I’m sorry you also are experiencing the lack of understanding from family or even the attempt to understand. It’s awful and makes this experience so much more difficult. Validation and empathy is so important, however, so many people on this forum experience a void in this department. I’ve felt the longer I suffer the less support/empathy I am receiving from family and friends. Many relationships have evaporated. I can only assume that either people do not know what to ‘say or do’ or they believe that I should have recovered by now and because I haven’t I must be mentally ill and require psychiatric intervention. 

 

Thinking of you dear Rabe and sending you (((hugs))). K xo

[Kristine]

Dear @ChessieCat, I seem to recall at some stage you completed an online CBT course. I was wondering if you would be kind enough to share the link...I can’t find it. I’m struggling with intrusive, frequent negative thinking at the moment and really need to break this cycle with something practical. I’ve done CBT in the past but I think an online guide would be helpful. I hope this is ok. K xo

[Carmie]

3 hours ago, Kristine said:

Thank you Carmie, yes it makes this so much more difficult. K xo

 

Hi Kristine, 

 

I hope the situational stressors have subsided a bit. I’m just curious too if you ever decided to use your weighted blanket again, or  is it still making you feel claustrophobic.

 

Sending hugs🤗

[ChessieCat]

 

[Kristine]

23 minutes ago, Carmie said:

I hope the situational stressors have subsided a bit. I’m just curious too if you ever decided to use your weighted blanket again, or  is it still making you feel claustrophobic.

Hi Carmie, No the situational stressors are still ongoing but I’ve just had to make some changes to be able to cope in a more constructive manner. Also, no I haven’t used the weighted blanket again. I also have burning skin 24/7 so I feel a heavy blanket would exacerbated this symptom. K xo

[Kristine]

Thank you so much @ChessieCat! K xo

[Carmie]

15 minutes ago, Kristine said:

Hi Carmie, No the situational stressors are still ongoing but I’ve just had to make some changes to be able to cope in a more constructive manner. Also, no I haven’t used the weighted blanket again. I also have burning skin 24/7 so I feel a heavy blanket would exacerbated this symptom. K xo

 

I’m sorry to hear this Kristine, 

 

I’ve got situational stressors as well. It certainly can ramp up the withdrawals. Yes, I can imagine the blanket would be too much on your burning skin. I just ordered one, but I don’t have burning skin like you. I’m sooo very sorry you have this symptom. Have you ever tried going on a low histamine diet to see if that makes any difference? 

 

Sending hugs🤗

[Rabe]

Thank you Kristine for what you shared...it makes sense to me as far as friends and family, sad as it is.  Please take care!!💜

[Kristine]

21 hours ago, Carmie said:

Yes, I can imagine the blanket would be too much on your burning skin. I just ordered one, but I don’t have burning skin like you.

Dear Carmie, Thank you for your message. I read about your stressful time on your thread, I’m so sorry for your loss. Hopefully your weighted blanket will arrive soon and provide you with some comfort. K xo

[Rosetta]

💜

[Rabe]

Hugs and love to you Kristine!!💜

[Kristine]

Thank you Rosetta and Rabe 💖

Update: I’m going to attempt an update. Situational stressors continues and it mainly revolves around my MIL who has now been living with us for over 7months. I have been trying to care for her the best that I can but part of the problem is she is incapable of understanding what I am going through. It comes across as apathy and I feel very hurt. It has resulted in me isolating myself even further in my own home. All these stressors are amplified by the absence of my husband atm due to a prolonged work trip. It’s much more complicated but that’s the general gist. 

 

It has become obvious with the increased stress my symptoms are amplified. I’ve noticed that tremors in my hands have returned when I am very stressed. I’m trying to stay calm but there have been some events which have almost pushed me over the edge. For example, Tasmanian bush fires (all turned out ok in my area but was scary with thick smoke and flying ash), trip to the ER via ambulance at 4am for my MIL and I didn’t sleep for 48 hours. And on and on it goes. I have reached out to extended family and told them I need help because I’m not coping. 

 

Anyway, I am now falling asleep ok but I tend to always wake at 5:30am and generally get 6-7 hours sleep. Then I will have another nap during the day. This is wonderful considering there have been extended periods of time over the past 3+ years where I was suffering from ongoing insomnia and an inability to nap at all. The following is a list of ongoing daily symptoms: Nausea has thankfully stayed away  

• Brain fog/sludge
• dull ache behind my eyes
• very dark black mood
• DP and DR
• feel like I don’t know who I am anymore
• nightmares
• clawing anxiety...mainly located in chest.
• negative thoughts
• Impaired cognitive function (eg. difficult formulating sentences whilst talking)
• memory loss
• debilitating fatigue
• muscular pain
• headaches (migraines about 2-3 times per week - always right sided) 
• weakness 
• bouts of vertigo (much better than it used to be)
• short spells of tinnitus
• Sensitivities to stimuli...most problematic is noise and bright light. 
• crying spells
• sweating hands and feet (nighttime drenched sweating has resolved)
• joint pain 
• burning skin (particularly on arms)
• flu like pain
• electrical currents running through brain and body. 

much love and hugs to you all. K xo

[Rachellynn]

Sending you so much love! Sometimes i wish we could all just cuddle and be waited on and massaged all day😂❤️ 

[wantrelief]

My dear friend - I am so sorry you are having to contend with such stress and that it has ramped up your symptoms. It must be hard enough to care for your MIL but doubly hard if she is not outwardly caring towards you. I so hope the stress levels you are experiencing decrease as you hopefully get more help from extended family. I was happy to read that you are now getting sleep and that the nausea has abated. Oh my friend, you are so very courageous and brave. I am thinking about you, as always, and sending you lots of love and hugs - WR.

[Kristine]

Thank you so much @Rachellynn and @wantrelief for your kind and encouraging messages. I’m trying to slowly work through these challenges the best that I can. I’ve been listening to Tara Brach Podcasts everynight at bedtime. I have found these helpful especially a few about fear. However, last night I was listening to one about depression and she used the term “chemical imbalance”.....helpful? Not so much 😕

Much Love. K xo

[Rachellynn]

I swear...if Dr’s tested nutritional deficiencies before putting us all on these drugs. How’s your sleep? Did you have insomnia ever? I am struggling with sleep like CRAZY. I pray it comes soon, don’t trust myself with desperation. Sending love❤️

[Kristine]

Hi @Rachellynn, I’m sorry you are suffering from insomnia. Unfortunately, it is a very common withdrawal symtom and yes I have struggled terribly with insomnia.  I found it is best to try not to fight it. Acceptance is key. Tossing and turning in bed is pointless.  I used to get up and make a pot of peppermint tea and try and enjoy the peace and quiet that comes when most of the world is asleep. I also have an essential oil diffuser and use lavender oil at night time. Also (even though it is tempting) try to stay off any electronic devices. Listen to podcasts or read a book. If you type “insomnia” into the search bar you will find many other experiencing this debilitating symptoms. Even though it may not feel like it now...it will get better. Much Love. K xo

[Rosetta]

(((Kristine))) Thinking of you.  This is such a challenge, but you are so wise.  Thank you for all your concern and care for others. - Rosetta

[Kristine]

Thank you dear ((((Rosetta)))) you are so kind xo 💖

 

Also just for the record another symptom which I forgot to mention....when I recommenced the clonazapam taper back in June 2018, I came out in a red rash all over my arms with little pin prick red marks. It got worse when I did the crossover to Valium. It is only just starting to improve. It was so bad that people would comment “that’s a bad sunburn you have”...it defiantly wasn’t sunburn but did seem to be a physical manifestation of my burning acid dipped skin feeling. Weird.

[FarmGirlWorks]

I am going back thru my thread pulling out quotes for a project and came across this lovely bit you posted for me. I thought I'd shoot it back as I love it so much. NTMF!

 

“When you come out of the grips of a depression there is an incredible relief, but not one you feel allowed to celebrate. Instead, the feeling of victory is replaced with anxiety that it will happen again, and with shame and vulnerability when you see how your illness affected your family, your work, everything left untouched while you struggled to survive. We come back to life thinner, paler, weaker … but as survivors. Survivors who don’t get pats on the back from coworkers who congratulate them on making it. Survivors who wake to more work than before because their friends and family are exhausted from helping them fight a battle they may not even understand. I hope to one day see a sea of people all wearing silver ribbons as a sign that they understand the secret battle, and as a celebration of the victories made each day as we individually pull ourselves up out of our foxholes to see our scars heal, and to remember what the sun looks like.” 
― Jenny Lawson, Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things

[Kristine]

19 hours ago, FarmGirlWorks said:

I am going back thru my thread pulling out quotes for a project and came across this lovely bit you posted for me. I thought I'd shoot it back as I love it so much. NTMF!

Dearest FGWs, Thank you for shooting the Jenny Lawson quote back to me! I definitely feel stuck in the foxhole at the moment so thank you so much for the reminder that one day my scars will heal and I will remember what the sun looks like. Thinking of you and sending you gentle hugs. K xo

[Rabe]

Please take care Kristine.  You are such a gentle kind soul with so much to give.  Think about you daily!💜

[Rabe]

And I so hope you can change the home situation.  You cannot take care of others when barely able to care for yourself!!  That is unbelievable!!!  I am hoping your husband or someone will step in and take over so that you can get back to getting well!!!!!  Makes me so angry that you are even in that position!  Take care!!!