What, if anything, is stressing you out at the moment?

[BryarTuck]

I feel like I'm always very worried or stressed about something in my life and even when that particular thing gets resolved I instantly start fretting about something else. I had heard a quote along the lines of "if we everyone put their problems into a common pot, most would choose to take their own home again rather than a share from it" or something like that- and in the interests of me trying to keep my situation in perspective I'm asking what it causing you stress at the moment?

(Hopefully some of you will be able to say "nothing"!)

For me it's the fact that DH went freelance about six months ago and it hadn't worked out so financially we aren't in a good position. He's now looking for a job but I'm scared of how long it would take to find employment. Our first (longed for) DC is due in January so I won't be working for a while (also self employed albeit successfully but don't get maternity pay). So we aren't going to have an income and although we have some savings I had earmarked these for my maternity leave and I'm worried about how long we can last. I'm awake each night worrying and doing sums.

Anyone else care to share?

I'm currently pregnant for the 6th time with none yet successful. I'm terrified and a constant ball of stress over it.

My partner is self employed and that is stressful too, I understand somewhat! We've had moments where it's been really worrying. Fortunately he's doing very well at the moment.

work
parents
money

other than that life is great

@SushiRolll I wish you all the luck in the world with your pregnancy. This time last year we were struggling with infertility so if would have known the situation I were to be in now then, I wouldn't have cared at all about this money situation! (Or certainly not as much.) I'm trying to count my blessings and not focus on the worries but it's hard.

Anxiety about having a baby. I'm 32 weeks, and it's my first. I mean, I'm completely over the moon and in love and excited. But bloody nervous and worried I haven't got everything ready and I don't feel mentally prepared. Is anyone ever?! People just seem to say "oh you'll be fine, it'll come naturally, everyone's different" but honestly shrugging it off isn't helping and In fact making me more worried /:

Money. My rent has gone up and I live alone so bills are ridiculous and we're about to start the month of Christmas drinks.

I’m having counselling I worry so much.

OP have you looked into Maternity Allowance? If you’re self employed and paying class 2 national insurance you probably qualify as you say you’re successful. It’s £145 a week for 39 weeks.

I have been worrying about money and jobs but I just got a job yesterday so that’s sorted for now. Now I’m worried about my part time masters as due to illness this week I’m now really behind

Money - always!

And DD1s health, she’s having lots of tests atm as there is something wrong but nobody is quite sure what
I’ve had so many sleepless nights over her recently

I think it was Karl Pilkington who came up with the worry hole theory. Your brain has a worry hole that must be full. Once you empty it then something else pops straight in.

I'm currently worrying about my toddler. She swallowed a coin on Saturday. A&E said to forget about it and it'll work its way out. I haven't seen it yet and last night she started throwing up. I'm sure she has a nursery bug rather than a bowel obstruction but my brain keeps that thought nagging away at me.

I am currently waiting to go down to theatre for my next heart Op. I am petrified. 30 years of being a pin cushion and it never get easier. Last time I had an operation it went badly.

My husbands left me and my Dad has been given 12 months to live. I can't see wood for trees I'm that stressed right now.

good luck darkriver.

My grandmother. She’s dying and I will only see her on the 10th (lives in another country). I don’t know if she can hold on for that long.

Money buy I will never have enough. Aging Parents and time management.
Try not to worry OP. It is a good time to be looking for work. Try to relax and prepare for January.

My marriage is breaking down and I’m not sure where or how my dc and I will live.

Steelsauce

Money is genuinely the only thing that I ever spend much time worrying about. I'm not financially secure at all. Don't own a home, got no pension savings and being a single mum on a low wage it's not likely to change any time soon.

But it doesn't consume me, I don't spend every moment thinking about it. I made choices that I have to deal with.

BryarTuck, thanks for this thread. It does help to write it all down!

Sushiroll - , hope all is successful this time around.

I'm stressed about:

my health, had accident just over three months ago and have recovered physically but lost confidence which of course has a knock on effect on my physicality because I don't go out or have exercise. Sometimes panic so much I think I'm dying.

My husband, lovely man, overweight, diabetic but still gorgeous. I don't give him the support or show love that he needs and he is often not well. He had time off with my accident but still works far too hard. Due to retire at Christmas but what sort of a life will we have, with me and him both so feeble?

My bipolar son who manages wonderfully without much in the way of meds, has successful career but occasionally has a meltdown & I feel I am not a lot of use. He's an adult with own home.

Expecting an inheritance but one of the beneficiaries has raised a query. I don't know what the query is or by whom or why but it's holding everything up and I was hopeful about having the money which will help us. My husband 'phoned the solicitor on Monday because I am so stressed about it and she told him she hopes to have it all sorted by Christmas. I sincerely hope so too. Keep telling myself I am no worse off without it but, having received papers telling me I'm getting something, can't stop worrying.

Phew! Sorry if I've gone on a bit much. As I said at the beginning, it really does help to 'write' it all down. I'm hoping for a sleep now.

Sympathy with all of you.

I am sofa-surfing in my 50s in a minimum wage job.

My father has metastatic cancer and Alzheimer’s.

I am currently working 10 hour shifts 4am-2pm and driving 200 miles to see Dad.

I am beyond exhausted and have a streaming cold.

My husband is having scans and tests due to worrying symptoms. They have said they are trying to rule out cancer but can’t at the moment. He’s only 33.

oh my goodness to everyone

I'm very worried about my 7 year old. Daily stomach ache and sickness for 9 months last year - finally diagnosed with abdominal migraines, which is now ordinary migraines too (i.e. his head as well as stomach). He gets at least one a month and they last at least 48 hours - so since September he's missed 3 days of school because of them.

Add to that he has had a permanent bad head cold / throat infection / ear infection, so had another 4 days off school.

Behaviour wise we are struggling with him too - he gets very angry and explodes frequently.

Spoke to his teacher (school is very strict, tonnes of pressure and homework - French school) and it turns out that she finds him very difficult and insolent at school but after sharing my various concerns she thinks it's more than just him being rude and he actually has education/development problems, can't express himself etc.

It's such a struggle getting him into school everyday and now I feel like the teacher doesn't want him there either. And DH think he just needs to pull himself together

Money/Christmas
Promoting myself due to a horrid impostor syndrome type thing going on and not believing I'm actually capable of doing a job I'm actually quite good at 😳 and being embarrassed of appearing to blow my own trumpet by putting myself out there.

Worrying more about money due to the above not promoting myself issue and if I can't make money I can't afford rent for the children and I.

Arrghhhhhhhh!

So many people going through so much, thinking of you all.

Family drama
Sibling mental health issues
Inconsistency at work (me not employer sadly).

Bloody Sky, amongst other things. We "upgraded" our £25 package to £35 to include sky cinema, everything else kept the same. They have taken OFF half our channels and are now charging £76 a month! I have phoned them over and over. They promise to sort it, usually try to sell me something else, and nothing changes. 40 minute queues sometimes then they cut you off. So I've tried to cancel and to complain but they don't answer those. Bank said just cancel the direct debit and let them come to you.

Cinema cards. I've been paying unlimited cinema for years for whole family but can't afford it any more. Trying to cancel is a nightmare. They keep saying I can't cancel for the rest of my family even though I took out the initial thing and I am the one paying. They too, delay answering cancellations as much as possible.
AND they've stopped our cinema cards even though we've paid for the month already.

How do companies get away with this stuff?

Honestly, I can see how people get into terrible debt without meaning to. Companies seem to be able to take any random amount out of your bank and won't let you cancel even when you're in your rights to. I am so stressed over it.

My FIL being such an ignorant bigot! Every time we see him he has to have a rant about this or that and it's making me stressed and tired! Always gives me a headache and I've already said that I don't want to hear it anymore because he needs to get used to piping down before our bub arrives! Grrrrr!!

Daughter had an operation on Tuesday ... she's in so much pain and I'm just hoping she'll eventually be ok