Christmas Eve and I'm Crashing! Help!

[weegiemum]

I have long term depression, which was doing OK until recently when my meds were changed. Sadly the changeover went poorly and I ended up back on antipsychotics as well for a couple of weeks, which I have phased out over the last month.

I didn't sleep at all last night, panicking about Christmas being OK. Have had to take the antipsychotics as well yesterday and today as I was having intrusive thoughts, negative thoughts, desire to harm myself.

So I'm drugged up, tired, sleepy, feel like I am moving through sand. I still have to wrap all the kids pressies (was supposed to do it last night, but they kept getting up and I was struggling), prepare everything for tomorrow's lunch (apart from Soup and Turkey which I have done), put all the laundry away, clear out the dining room so we can eat in there tomorrow, and keep on entertaining 3 children (9, 7, 6) who are going mental!

I just want to go to bed and wake up on 2nd january.

Encourage me and be nice to me please!!!!

Dh won't be home till 7 as he is a GP and rushed off his feet getting things sorted for being closed for 4 days - but when he does he will be home till next Wed - hooray!

Can yo just try and get through hour by hour until he gets home?I have been in that situation just willing dp home when I have been ill had to find tiny things to do to pass the time.let the kids run riot tire themselves out Hope you have a great xmas regardless you will at least feel supported through the chaos once dh gets home

in your shoes, i would actually just get a curry in or something.

its not really worth it

I apologise for not knowing but are you a single parent? Can anybody help with the cooking/wrapping side of things?

Are you a fan of lists so you can see what needs to be done and tick it off as you go. Are the children able to help with the clearing/carrying laundry because Father Christmas is watching and they will want to help...

I think getting outside might help you. Can you wrap up warm for an hour and all go out for a walk? It'll help you regroup.

You must make sure you sleep well tonight too as that will help with your positivity. Do not get bogged down in detail and everything being just so. Food prepped and presents wrapped as priority and if laundry has to be piled up in the corner of the bedroom and done after Christmas then it does not matter.

Weegiemum, I also suffer with depression and have done pretty much since puberty. Half the battle is knowing what's happening to you. Meds can be a nightmare, I know. I would just try and tackle one thing at a time, and not allow myself to think further ahead than the next task. Stick the kids in front of the telly, then put the laundry away. Then do the dining room etc. You can do it

X-posts.

Wear the children out.

To bed early and even if they're not sleeping they can read/watch films/jump up and down out of the way.

Presents wrapped with dh later.

Get out of the house if you can for a short while.

I think I just need a place to vent tbh. I resent being ill - its not fair!

Next thing is to do the dishes!!

Luckily CBBC is doing back to back Sarah Jane Adventures!!

A very very good friend is coming for Christmas and she will help when she arrives about 6ish.

I am going to do one job at a time and have a sit down in between.

Kids are happy, warm, fed, relaxed.

They will help with the dining room - we can put on loud CHristmas music and make it a game.

I can wrap while they are watching Shrek 2 at 5pm!

It will be OK!

Hey well done for taking time out and writing this down. You have a lot to do but there is no point doing any of it if you won't be there tomorrow. So whereas maybe going to bed until 2 January is not too helpful slowing down maybe an idea, take some expectations off yourself. The fact that you needed anti psychotics means you need to take yourself seriously. Christmas dinner can be eaten from laps, conversely bored 9 year olds are old enough to take things out of the dining room and carry them somewhere else. Laundry will survive not being put away. I am sure your dh can find some time tonight to help you wrap the pressies and the potatoes will get peeled.

Switch on the tv/dvd for the kids or give them jobs to do or kick them into the garden. Think about how you are going to get through today.

Hugs and positive thoughts!

Throw the laudry in a cupboard and clear the dining room by putting everything in a box, and stashing it somewhere, DH or you can sort it in a few days.. Sit down on the sofa with the DCs and watch TV/rest, Narnia is on soon, BBC1.

Sorry you are feeling bad, my DD is suffering from anxiety and intrusive thoughts so I know how hard it must be for you.

I've haven't got any advice regarding your meds etc, but to occupy the children: Get the children to put away the laundry, then get them peeling potatoes/carrots etc for tomorrow. ANd get them to help clear the dining room, they are old enough, and if they don't want to help, tell them Christmas is cancelled!

Blimey I'm a slow typer!

well hoho I thought I was a fast typer - just mn at its best

Well in 20 mins me and the kids have cleared the dining room table of accumulated crap and we now have somewhere to eat Christmas dinner.

Now they are going to watch Narnia while I do some food prep.

Then we will hoover!

I will be ok ... I will be ok ... I will be ok ...

We are going to have a great Christmas as they are getting a Wii and they have NO IDEA!

You are amazing!!

Carols from Kings on the radio later too ... that will help!

You are doing brilliantly. Give yourself credit for the things that you are getting done, weeg

Good for you. The Wii is fabulous they'll love it!

You guys have made me see I CAN do it. I can.

I am not going to ruin Christmas for everyone else!

No advice but just wanted to wish you luck and hope you feel ok tomorrow.

If you don;t min me saying, it ounds like you're doing an amazing job! Bet most people are feeling like nothing is done etc and hey don;t have to cope with meds. Did you say your meds had just changed? Thats bloody awful, poor you.

May I suggest a few ideas for lunch that my Grandma suggested for us to have a lolwer stress dinner?

Cook spuds with skins on - delicious and crispy... and just shove in with turkey.

Don;t cross sprouts just chuck em in etc.

A wii???? Well, the next 4 days definietely sorted!!!! Will you be able to rest when DH is home?

Sending you hugs and hop you have a better 4 days

P.S. I have long term anxiety, thought I was fine but was up all last night worrying about school...... Tis the season I guess!

I'm so tired, but am going to go peel some veggies etc - I'm even going to do it sitting down at the (newly clear) dining room table!

With new meds, can't even have a glass of wine to make me feel more festive!

I have ptsd and get tired/frazzled/anxious and find it helps to do things in short bursts. Prep dinner for tonight, facebook/mn for half an hour etc. It gets things done.

Oh and chucking taters in raw and unpeeled definitely - busy vicars wife - do it every sunday before church...

Have been out to the neighbours for well-mulled wine and mince pies! Kids got to play on their playstation.

The hoovering is done (courtesy of dd2, age 6). I have washed the dishes. Putting away shopping.

Dd1 and ds are being exceptionally grumpy and I lost the rag briefly with them but there's nothing like a bit of a shout to get them to behave (though I feel a bit shaky).

So have put kids into their rooms and they are playing quietly while I MN for a few mins and then get going with dinner.

Dh will be home a little after 6 - he got away early!!