Argh! So stressed, worried I am going to damage my DD emotionally :(

If you are a coffee drinker, get some mushroom coffee, if not, get the hot chocolate version eg. Spacegoods
It's not cheap but works out at less than £1 a day (on offer) and can help you feel both calm and focused. It really helped me when i started.a new teaching job i was terrified about. Put a relaxation podcast on or some free meditation on your phone before you go to bed to help you relax. Stick it on the credit card until the new job money comes through. You probably already know but the library is usually a pretty good place for free activities in summer holidays. Near us there is a church holiday club for a week that works out at £1 a day for 5 mornings, see if there is something like that nearby, perhaps some play dates with her old friends before you move to give you a bit more time. Maybe get her to help with some of the packing, sending her to get certain items, hopefully it will wear her out a bit quicker. Train her up to help you with some of the little things, making drinks, putting sandwiches together, she'd probably love to feel grown up by helping you and kids can be surprisingly capable when given the chance. My parents had us making coffee in the morning at that age, I wouldn't recommend anything too technical though eg. Fried breakfasts!

This time will pass, just be kind to yourselves. It will get easier.

Get yourself to the doctor. This is not sustainable.

That's good to know some boroughs/GPs can offer it so quickly. Fingers crossed yours is one of them OP.

Yes, in a very under-resourced borough where the secondary care service I work in has a 4-year wait but IAPT's is a few weeks, and some of the local surgeries have mental health practitioners as I described. I worked in an IAPT with a supportive counselling offer in another borough previously.

I agree. Best of luck OP x

Propranolol might take the edge off your anxiety , ask your doctor

Are you in the UK? Because this sounds nothing like any psychology/IAPT services I know. It would cost a lot less if it services did work like this.

Bloody hell Op, there's absolutely no surprise you are stressed, that's far too much for one person to manage, but of course you have no choice. Make a list if you haven't already and keep chipping away at it. Tell Dd you are having a special school holiday where anything goes for her, she can sleep late, watch tv, eat rubbish, anything that lets you get done what needs to be done, in the safe and sure knowledge that it's only short term and this too shall pass. Good luck and plenty of it

You are being amazing! My suggestion is lists! Write down everything you can think of that you need to do either on one list or several. Star anything that is important (redundancy claim - shocking that you have to apply for it - surely it should be done by your employer or the insolvency practitioner).
cross off anything you do, add to it as you remember more to do. Mark the jobs your daughter can help with (and let her cross them off when complete)
Definitely reach out to your daughters friends parents, one might bring her child round and help you pack as the kids play! What’s your moving date? We can be on a countdown with you x

You are doing amazingly. Definitely ring around local churches/ council run clubs etc and explain the situation- hopefully they could take her for a day or two to relieve the pressure- or check out if new school has a club that she could attend to meet some new friends. I’m sorry you’re going through so much - but all you can do is take it one day at a time. Paintbrish with water, cheap craft sets, etc might also buy you some time. Also there’s a balance between stressing your child out too much but also explaining you are human : “ I’m sorry if mummy seems a little distracted/ short tempered at the moment - but I’m trying to sort a lot of things out so we have a nice figure together”. I’m so sorry you don’t have more support around you - but you are amazingly resilient and you will look back on this with pride!!! ( from one who has been there)

Agree with this.

You are warrior op.

I also wanted to add - a few posters have suggested paying your removal men to pack. I did this and it a) definitely wasn’t worth the money and b) made the move much more stressful.

They packed random stuff together (books + kitchen stuff in one box; socks and dressing gown and more kitchen stuff in another) which made unpacking a nightmare. I couldn’t find anything. They didn’t label the boxes. They broke stuff.

I realise this won’t be everyone’s experience, but it was an absolute nightmare. I’d never pay for this again.

I’d lean on your friends more. Tell them you’re struggling. Ask if they can have your daughter for play dates when they’re at home. If I had a friend in your situation, I’d be taking your DD for a few hours, or brining mine round so I could help you pack while the kids play.

You’re doing an amazing job 💐

Surely your pay is pro rata OP so you get paid end of September to end of August? You should be able to claim for that as well as redundancy surely?

You have so much on your plate and so little support! You're doing so well. Could you have an hour where you just do something nice with DD every day? Something that you'll both enjoy and isn't too stressful. That way if you're snappy at other times you'll at least know she's getting that time where you're calm and focussed on her each day.

You are!

Wow you have a lot on.
can you message your friends for support ask if they can come over one day or weekend and help you pack? Or take your daughter out?
holiday clubs - look at council gyms they have days and local dance/theatre groups have weeks with show at end.
your daughters friends mums can they help? Just be honest there kids will be bored too an afternoon playing at their house would really help you.
i think do a small thing a day park, swimming for 2 hours will do you both good bit of excercise & fresh air. she should settle watching dvd & give you space.
up vitamins & diet you need to keep well.

You are doing the best you can in really stressful circumstances and it sounds like you are doing an awesome job. Your daughter will be fine - a few months of upheaval and then she will be settled.

I use the herb ashwagandha to keep me calmer in times of stress.

I'm a psychologist, for context. You need some space to talk about the immense pressure you are under and all the feelings you must be experiencing (panic, stress, guilt, loss, anger/frustration). It's all very valid. Find out whether there is an in-house counsellor or mental health professional at your GP surgery as they may be able to see you fairly quickly. The GP may otherwise be able to refer you to IAPT who, again, should be able to see you quickly. They may have a counsellor, which would be helpful. CBT for stress or anxiety might also be offered but to be honest, your feelings make sense and aren't pathological, you just need a safe space to vent a bit. The other option would be something like the Samaritans or Saneline if you don't have friends to talk to.

I'm sorry things are so crap. Your daughter will be okay. Try to just make repairs with her, saying you're sorry you're being snappy, it's not about her, and explaining that you feel worried and stressed and tired because of all the changes, but that it will settle soon and things will improve.

Be kind to yourself.

Honestly I can understand why you worry about it, but it sounds to me like you are being amazingly resilient and flexible, and so giving her a great model. Without hiding how much upheaval this has been, try to celebrate everything you have achieved in a short time. Draw yourself a time line even of where you came from and where you have got to get you. From the sounds of things you are more than half way - from here it gets closer to the home strait.

BS

Your daughter is six. She can help with packing too. You have handled it all very well. You're a great team. Enlist her help. Sometimes we think they're too young or should be playing but moving and changing schools is a huge deal. She will settle better for it. Time to chat while packing. And to decide what stays and what goes. It's na important part of the process. Even if she is operating the packing tape and no more! Best of luck. You are incredible:)

You don’t have to stay on medication long term, OP, but might help to take it for awhile until you get things sorted. Talk to your doctor.

You should be proud of yourself. You're doing so well.