Think I'm losing it

[Crumbsnet]

Have namechanged for this (fairly regular poster.)

My Mum is Bi-Polar, I live with both my parents at the moment, her medication has recently been altered and she's in a manic phase right now. It's very difficult to watch/deal with. I have SAD which I can feel kicking in with force already. My relationship with DP is in tatters (other issues) and he says he's not sure if he's in love with me anymore. The final straw came today when my printer stopped working and I need to print documents for this afternoon. My brain just went numb and all thoughts left my head. I sat on the floor staring into space for what felt like ages. I've dragged myself up to the laptop because I thought typing it would make me feel better. It hasn't really, but don't know where else to go. Just wanted to vent. Or chat with anyone who's also having a tough time because I feel quite alone at the moment.

To help with your SAD get some lightbulbs that simulate natural daylight or get a lightbox.

Try not to fret about the printer, instead go to your local library to get your work printed out.

Finally, the old MNism, this too shall pass. :)

Thanks Nicholas, I have a lightbox so it's probably time to blow the dust off it again, I should have realised I needed it a couple of weeks ago when my sleep pattern started screwing up. The printer just seemed to be the tiny thing that finally overwhelmed me with all the other stuff going on. So I'm trying to think practically about that part and get on with my work. It may distract me for a while.

What is wrong with the printer? Can you get a friend to print out your stuff? Library? Work even? or failing that, send whatever it is by email?

Those are the practicalities then, can't do no more than that with the printer - if you have other stuff to get on with, do that, then deal wiht the printer later.

THEN go and make yourself a drink, take some time out, have a bath and relax, it just sounds like your brain went "fuck this for a lark" and forced some relaxation on you.

There's a blinky light on it that won't disappear and my laptop doesn't recognise the printer as being connected to it. The person the documents are for doesn't have email but I've decided to go into work an hour early to print it there. That sorts the practical issue but I've no idea what to do about the rest. Poor Mum is rambling nonsense and making tons of lists to get out everything in her racing mind. I want to listen to her if there's any way that would help, but I can't concentrate on anything she says because I can't stop thinking about the problems with DP. I've excused myself from the room and I don't need to be in work for a while (part time) so I think I'm going to have a lie down and a

I hope you enjoyed your tea and lie down. Wish i had some more advice about your mum and DP, is she getting help for her bi-polar? could she talk to someone else about things, its often hard to talk to someone you are too close to, it might be better for her, and definately for you!

Wrt your mum's changed meds, new ones can take a while to kick in.

I'm not surprised your SAD is returning earlier than some years given the summer we've just had.

A and a lie down sound perfect. :)

Thank you for your replies. Back from work, mild headache but feeling a lot calmer. Fixed the printer by fiddling with it for a while and re-setting things, in the nick of time, so that's no longer an issue! Mum takes meds for her bi-polar but is also in close contact with a consultant regarding the cocktail she's on at the moment. She gets lots of support from the community mental health team which is great, I just get upset when I see her fretting and un-coherent about things. The only thing I can physically do for her is listen and help her not to worry about things that aren't important. (i.e. this afternoon she got upset because she couldn't remember a sentence she'd said in its exact word order.)

With regards to DP, I still have no idea. Our issue might be something we can never resolve so I suppose I have to remain calm and let him have space until we are at a place where we be rational at least. Time for another I think.

Well done for resolving your printer issues. You're doing what you can for your mum, and she has great outside support, which is important with mental health.

As for your DP, well, it's going to go one way or t'other, and staying calm is probably the best option. Enjoy your