Hi everyone,
I’m 6 months into a 12 month+ wait for step 4 psychological therapy for anxiety mostly. No moaning about that I just thought I’d say where I am with everything...
One key issue I find is that I get very irritable/ angry at times, usually when I’m scared/panicking/ anxious about something or if I’m woken quickly etc. I see red and find it hard to control what I say to people, especially the DCs which I know is awful.
it’s really not fair on them so I thought you lovely people might have some tips I could use to keep my mouth under control for their sake please?
Usually if I’m really struggling I would see it as a sign that things are out of hand and that I should take some time to re-group and prioritise some things I know are helpful for me - trying to sleep more, more time to just be in my safe place at home with less social/ life commitments, demanding less of myself for a while etc. This is usually helpful and I emerge recharged after a bit of respite, but life is busy at the moment and I can’t cancel anything so I just need to focus on not letting the anger get the better of me for the moment.
A particular trigger for this irritability recently has been DD (3) waking at night scared for the past couple of weeks after a poor choice of Christmas film from me (The Grinch - mega regret about choosing that as our Sunday family film - the poor thing! I assumed she’d like it as her 6 yo brother does!). I don’t sleep well at times, and am anxious about coping in the day if I sleep badly, so getting up in the night with DD has been setting this feeling off again I think.
I am just not sympathetic or nice enough most of the time when she wakes scared and it must be horrible for her. I had nightmares as a child and can remember how scary they are so I know my behaviour is wrong and it isn’t what I would like for someone to treat me like if I was scared at night... I am deeply regretful and feel very guilty upon waking properly and reflecting on everything after she’s back asleep, but when I first get woken up I’m just awful.
I have tried shouting through to her to reassure her before getting into her room hoping that it gives me a few minutes to wake up more and be more level headed, but I’ve still snapped at her once I’m in her room and it must send a very mixed message as I’m like Jeckle and Hyde - one action/ phrase will be nice and loving and soft, another will be said under my breath/ through gritted teeth or I’ll raise my voice. I feel very ashamed and just want to help DD through this.
If anyone has any suggestions I’d be really grateful, thank you. I know this is trivial really in the grand scheme of things and I should just be able to not be horrid to my poor DCs so sorry about that as well.
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Mental health
Tips to not get irritable/angry with DCs please!
4 replies
Missnearlyvintage · 13/12/2018 02:54
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