Please help me to snap out of this!

[BrutusMcDogface]

I’m on sertraline and have been for years, and I definitely don’t want to up my dose.

I just can’t carry on with my life. It’s relentless; working, kids etc. I know I’m not alone but I really, really need a break. I’m volatile and offending people and shouting at my kids and making stupid mistakes. The thought of going into work on Monday keeps making me tear up and I’ve just had a sobbing breakdown in the car.

Please help me to feel less hopeless. Please give me some strategies. Thank you

Hey Brutus. I am also on Sertraline and have been for years. While the tablets help, I too have days like yours. It sounds to me like you are doing a great job of keeping everything afloat and it's leaving you frazzled. That's a perfectly normal way to feel. Being pulled in numerous directions is exhausting. Don't beat yourself up but do try and take some control of the situation. Find the time and space to concentrate on yourself, however briefly. Think of all you have achieved today however bad you felt. You made it out of bed, dealt with your family, got to work. No mean feat.

Thank you so much. I think I might have a hot bath when I get home If I could take leave from work I would, but I’m a teacher. Half term means 4 kids at home and while I absolutely adore them, there’s no resting going on!!

Contact your GP. It isn’t necessarily that you need a higher dose but you do need something.

Honestly, I think any teacher at this stage in the school year with four kids at home would feel like you. Right now your life is a relentless cycle of demands from home and work. It's no wonder you are short tempered and emotional. I find that when I am particularly stressed or low I have such a low opinion of myself that it just adds to my feeling of hopelessness and self-hatred iykwim. The key is so break that cycle. What would you think of and say to a friend in your position? I bet you would be far more sympathetic than you are to yourself.
Is there anyone that can help you out next week? Have you got stuff planned? How old are your kids? I find having activities makes things easier for me but you may feel differently.

Thank you, @Ihatenicknames.

I feel like I just need to lock myself away so I stop offending people.

@Wolfiefan- what though? Counselling I suppose? I was given the details of italk but never been brave enough! 🙄

I've no experience in mental health but have started some training to help youngsters as part of pastoral care so forgive me if I cause any offense or you feel like I'm saying what's obvious but one of the first things I covered in training is to refocus the mind to think of just a few positive things in your life.
So with youngsters we try to focus on finding 1 positive that you can do, 1 that you have in the way of food, clothing, warm home and 1 positive characteristic that describes you.
They write each one down and build on the list every day.
I don't know if this will help but just wanted to share

I tried different meds. I did CBT too. There are lots of things that can help.

Thanks again for your replies

How are you volatile and how do you offend people? It's worrying that you are shouting at your kids. Are you literally unable to help yourself or is there an element of self sabotage going on?

Is there anyone who can help take the pressure off you in real life. The worse you behave towards the kids the worse you are going to feel and the cycle is just going to continue. I understand it's not fault you are behaving like this but having an angry shouty mum is obviously really bad for kids.
It's good that you have acknowledged what you are doing. Hopefully you will be able to get help.
Good luck

Hi brutus I am also a teacher with small dc at the end of my tether. Is half term this week for you or next?
Our half term is in a week so I’m taking this coming week off sick with stress to try and recover a bit before half term with the dc. That way we might actually be able to have fun over the dc week off.
You have my sympathy.
I have no advice because I don’t even know how to cope myself but you are not alone xx

God that was like reading a post I'd written. I came off sertraline over the Christmas holidays as an experiment. So far I feel exactly the same. I'm knackered. It's half term here now, DH works shifts so I'm on my own with the kids. Like Groundhog Day sometimes. Nothing constructive for you but some sympathy at least

Thank you. How do you take the week off with stress? Have you seen a doc or self-certifying?

Funnygoingson- I’m being snappy and horrible to everyone, including the kids

@BrutusMcDogface new rules regarding self certification mean you can now take up to 28 days off work with no certificate from Gp,so you can call in sick on Monday and take this week to recoup and regroup.
A trip/call to the gp might help as it sounds like you have burn out.
Sending you much sympathy.

Does your school offer an employee assistance programme? The one I work at does and you can call up any time just to talk to someone.

Do you have family that could have the kids? How old are they? Do you have a partner?

No they don’t, giraffe.

I’m worried about calling in sick to be honest😢. I’ll see how I feel in the morning.

Poor you :( I really feel your pain. I'd be asking for help from the gp - see if they can sign you off just for a bit of a firebreak almost.

Thank you, I appreciate the support so much.