Having a rough time lately

[NewCovenant]

Hey, everybody.

I've been having a lot of ups and downs lately. (More than my normal BP stuff, that is.) Some of it is the usual stress stuff. My daughter and her 2 babies live with me and make me crazy. She's very difficult and irresponsible, she's not doing a good job with the girls and I feel like I have to step in, and I'm not up to it.

Also, I have extraordinary financial problems. I'm on disability with a part-time job. My daughter is working, but she's not much help. We get no help from the girls' dad. I had to borrow money from my neighbor this week. (Embarrassing!)

In addition to this stuff, I've been very sick (I have some kind of bug that I can't shake, and really don't feel like working). Actually, I think it may be bronchitis. Last year at this time, I had pneumonia, so I'm panicking. I don't have health insurance, and I have about $6 in the bank, so going to the doctor is out of the question.

I have been on the same meds for about 2 or 3 years, and I've been very stable on them. I have been feeling fine. But the last 10 days, I've had a hard time sleeping, I keep waking up at night and then I can't go back to sleep, and then I get very frustrated during the night. I think it may be the cough stuff or the sinus stuff interfering with my regurlar meds, but if I don't take them, I can't breathe or stop coughing enough to sleep so I'm stuck. Either that, or the stress is waking me out of my heavy-duty, drug-induced sleep, which doesn't happen very often, and is a very bad sign.

I'm feeling physically awful, emotionally wrecked and psychologically drained. Today, I started crying for no reason and I feel a little out of control of my emotions. (Not, like, suicidal or anything, but unusual for me at this point in my recovery.)

Please, please pray for me to get it together, and to recover from this HORRIFIC LUNG DISEASE. To get my emotions and moods back under control and become stable again, as I've been for the last three years. Also, for my daughter to remember that she is BLESSED to have these beautiful babies, that SHE is not a teenager anymore, and they the kids are her first priority...

Thanks to everyone here for their love and support. You are all a blessing to me.

 

[s_gunter]

But the last 10 days, I've had a hard time sleeping, I keep waking up at night and then I can't go back to sleep, and then I get very frustrated during the night.

I have no practical advise to give you (I'm very sorry about that... ), except to see your psychiatrist as soon as you're able. This is a strong indicator that your meds aren't working for you anymore. Lack of adequate sleep is very dangerous for a person with bipolar.

 

[stanneberg]

I've been having a lot of ups and downs lately.

Also, I have extraordinary financial problems.

In addition to this stuff, I've been very sick

I'm feeling physically awful, emotionally wrecked and psychologically drained.

Please, please pray for me to get it together, and to recover from this HORRIFIC LUNG DISEASE.

Remember the time of the year. When the season's change, I find myself experiencing unusual 'brain' activity. I totally understand being sick, I haven't been able to work a full day in about 3 months. Many of the joints in my body have become so painful that I can hardly move. I remember what its like to try to comfort a crying baby. It's funny, you can take the strongest man in the world and render him totally helpless by putting a crying baby in his arms . . .

Here's what I do. When things are out of my control, I make a list. In one column, I write the things that I can control. In the other column, I write the things that are not in my control. The 'out of control' column is given over to God. The 'in control' column is what I begin to address. Remember, when things in our lives are out of control, we have to give it to the one who is in control -- otherwise, you will go crazy. No amount of Lithium can help the things beyond our reach.

Last week, my wife and I were praying about the bills. We didn't have the money, so we gave it over to God. Sunday morning, someone slipped $2000.00 under our front door with a nice note. We cried! My wife and I are learning to ask God for things. When it comes from Him, you don't want to live any other way. Read Jesus' words about 'worry' in Matthew 6. "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

When my son cries, I used to get upset. Now, I go to him and try to comfort him. When he eventually settles down, I remain in his room and pray for him. I pray for his character development, health, safety, learning skills and future spiritual life with our Father in heaven. I also pray about my role in his life -- that I would be a good father, a good example, a good teacher and friend. Praying in this manner may not stop the crying, but it does calm me down. I actually look forward to the times I'm able to sit on the edge of his bed and pray him to sleep.

Pray for your daughter. I have a 24 year old girl from a former marriage. She was taken from me at an early age, and we were separated for over 16 years. Three years ago, she found my dad on the internet, called him, then called me. I nearly fell out of my chair. When I hung up the phone after talking to her for the first time, I asked God to give me something that I can 'hang onto.' He gave me 4 things: 1) Love her. 2) Listen to her. 3) Pray for her, and 4) When she asks for it, give her advice. It has been the most wonderful relationship. I have stuck to these 4 things (sometimes biting my lip) and have watched God working in her life. I wouldn't change anything.

Yesterday, I was in so much pain I couldn't hardly put on my own shirt! A friend of mine anointed me with oil and prayed for me. After that, I visited another friend who is a Pastor. He and his associate anointed me with oil and prayed for me again. If you knew me, you'd understand that I shy away from this type of spiritual theater. I have charisma, but am not very charasmatic. This morning, I'm not in pain . . .

I'm telling you, watching God do his work in your own life and in the lives of those around you is the most incredible way to live. Thanks for sharing. I like having someone to pray for.

Stephen Tanneberg

 

[Alive again]

Praying for you!!! I recently have had the stomach flu and a cold and am amazed at how a simple illnesss has effected my stablized meds. I am seeing my doc next week and am glad for that. I am also under some recent marriage related stress and doc had already uped my mood stabilizer. THis whole illness stuff took me by surprise tho!

I do use melatonin and have s sleeping med if I get desperate enough. But one of my favorite tricks is to listen to my Bible verse tapes (mine have soft relaxing music with them). This allows me to fall asleep to the truth of God's word and helps me to remember who is in control. iT CAN OFTEN HELP ME TO REST/RELAX/PRAY and leave things with God so I can sleep. It also seems to help me be more grounded the next day. Hope this helps and I am praying!

 

[justafayes]

Remember the time of the year. When the season's change, I find myself experiencing unusual 'brain' activity. I totally understand being sick, I haven't been able to work a full day in about 3 months. Many of the joints in my body have become so painful that I can hardly move. I remember what its like to try to comfort a crying baby. It's funny, you can take the strongest man in the world and render him totally helpless by putting a crying baby in his arms . . .

Here's what I do. When things are out of my control, I make a list. In one column, I write the things that I can control. In the other column, I write the things that are not in my control. The 'out of control' column is given over to God. The 'in control' column is what I begin to address. Remember, when things in our lives are out of control, we have to give it to the one who is in control -- otherwise, you will go crazy. No amount of Lithium can help the things beyond our reach.

Last week, my wife and I were praying about the bills. We didn't have the money, so we gave it over to God. Sunday morning, someone slipped $2000.00 under our front door with a nice note. We cried! My wife and I are learning to ask God for things. When it comes from Him, you don't want to live any other way. Read Jesus' words about 'worry' in Matthew 6. "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

When my son cries, I used to get upset. Now, I go to him and try to comfort him. When he eventually settles down, I remain in his room and pray for him. I pray for his character development, health, safety, learning skills and future spiritual life with our Father in heaven. I also pray about my role in his life -- that I would be a good father, a good example, a good teacher and friend. Praying in this manner may not stop the crying, but it does calm me down. I actually look forward to the times I'm able to sit on the edge of his bed and pray him to sleep.

Pray for your daughter. I have a 24 year old girl from a former marriage. She was taken from me at an early age, and we were separated for over 16 years. Three years ago, she found my dad on the internet, called him, then called me. I nearly fell out of my chair. When I hung up the phone after talking to her for the first time, I asked God to give me something that I can 'hang onto.' He gave me 4 things: 1) Love her. 2) Listen to her. 3) Pray for her, and 4) When she asks for it, give her advice. It has been the most wonderful relationship. I have stuck to these 4 things (sometimes biting my lip) and have watched God working in her life. I wouldn't change anything.

Yesterday, I was in so much pain I couldn't hardly put on my own shirt! A friend of mine anointed me with oil and prayed for me. After that, I visited another friend who is a Pastor. He and his associate anointed me with oil and prayed for me again. If you knew me, you'd understand that I shy away from this type of spiritual theater. I have charisma, but am not very charasmatic. This morning, I'm not in pain . . .

I'm telling you, watching God do his work in your own life and in the lives of those around you is the most incredible way to live. Thanks for sharing. I like having someone to pray for.

Stephen Tanneberg

yes,, I agree.. God bless you all..

 

[Called2Grace]

This has all been exactly what I need to hear at the moment, even though I am not the OP, I am having a tough time at the moment. I probably wound't be so bad if I would just take my meds....but I have also been neglecting prayer and reading the bible, so that also isn't helping.