What has happened to me?

[Spikedfluff]

Have been in and out of the hospital this weekend due to my DS being quite ill. After powering through since Friday, he's well on his way to recovery now but today I'm the one who has completely crashed.

I got into work and broke down in tears this morning. I'm craving sugar, I'm irritable, my skin is breaking out, I'm exhausted and am struggling to shake this feeling off. Any ideas on why I'm feeling like this and how best to snap out of it?

How old are you because it sounds like a hormonal thing the way you described it

You've spent all your reserves OP; looking out for your DS, not eating? not resting? not drinking fluids? stressing?
Now you're crashing and who could blame you.
Take care of yourself, drink fluids, make sure you eat, try to rest.
I can't say why your skin is breaking out, maybe a reaction to stress.
Hope your son continues to recover @Spikedfluff and that should help you a lot too. That's what being a devoted mum does to us sometimes!

Sounds like the stress of a terrible weekend hitting you. I think you need some time to relax and catch up on sleep, eat something comforting and reflect on whatever has happened.

Sounds like you have been running on adrenaline to get through and now your body is telling you to recover, in fact it's forcing you to.

Unfortunately it seems that's hard because you've got other responsibilities like work. Can you get anyone to help in work or at home?

As much as you can rest, sleep, eat well and do whatever works to lower your stress levels (music/yoga/running/stroking pet/bake)

High levels of cortisol. Aka, stress! Take it easy.

Stress and shock. That's it really, and no wonder. The human body is very good at instinctively keeping going on adrenalin in an emergency, and then crashing when the danger is over.

Stop trying to get on with it, take a couple of days and just say you’re exhausted. I’d have thought any parent following a weekend in and out of hospital would take a couple of days. Pointless making yourself sick. Hope your ds is recovering well.

Always get unwell myself after a bad child illness even if no hospital needed. Hospital trips are incredibly draining and stressful. Of course you need to be there but they aren’t exactly comfortable easy places to be when looking after a child. Bright, noisy, waiting, not easy to go to loo/ wash/ even have somewhere to sit sometimes! etc… Take care of yourself now, u find a cosy tv show, lots of water, vitamins and if poss an early night. I can only ever sleep properly once my kids are recovered as I get too anxious (not good!)

It's really scary when a child is ill. DS had to go to A&E a few weeks ago with breathing difficulties and it took me about a week to get over it (even though he was totally fine)