Feeling really low ... need some support

[manicmama]

I feel really low at the moment - I keep feeling tearful and just want to curl up in a ball and disappear.

It is probably all down to circumstances but knowing that is not helping me to feel better.

I have recently moved house, started a full-time on the job teacher training course (which involves an hour commute each way) and I have three kids doing three different things and a husband who has just started a new job.

I don't have any friends around here and don't have time to make any because of my long work hours. My husband is preoccupied with his job and isn't back until late so I am often on my own in the evenings.

I am also stressed because I have had to miss 4 days due to the snow. I can't get the car out of the lane, the nanny can't get in and I have to look after the kids because my husband is the main breadwinner. This is not going down well with my colleagues and I feel really guilty.

The only options at the moment seem to be to soldier on and hope that this is a temporary blip or quit the teacher training.

I have tried to talk to family about this but they don't really listen

Help!

Are you normally OK, mental health wise?

A lot of this does sound like it's because of what's going on, and some things like the weather will be very temporary. Thousands of people have missed work because of the snow - your colleagues can't really expect otherwise. Moving house and not having a social network is massively stressful too.

However even if it is caused by circumstances, you could see a GP and see if counselling or ADs might help. Other things that can help are exercise and sunlight (or artificial replacement for it). Re the teaching, is there ay way you could change it to be nearer? Could your DH commit to one night a week in at home so you can start some kind of hobby group or class etc. to meet people?

If you can hang in there, I think all this will all feel a lot better in a couple of months when it's spring, you can get out and meet people,etc.

Sorry, can't be much help but didn't want to read and run when you sound so down

fwiw I think you are bound to be stressed and knackered atm given everything you have going on. Is teaching a long term/important ambition for you? If so I would personally try to stick with it if possible as it is for a finite perod and will hopefully lead to work and on to friends/social life etc in future.

Bound to feel worse at the moment with being housebound as well, so maybe give yourself a bit of time before making any irreversible decisions. How long is the course?

Hi there,
It does sound as though most of this is circumstantial, and usually you can deal with job/husband/kids/house if situation normal. Is this right?

Are you usually OK mentally?

It's a really really bad time of year (for me personally), I have feeling of DOOM with all the snow that's about, worried that I won't make it to work tomorrow due to the snow (haven't been in for almost a month, due to part time and snow) and I'm going a leetle bit mad!

Make yourself get out somehow, is there any way your husband can have an early finish once or twice a week so you cna get out and do something else?

Thanks for your messages.

You're right - the snow is driving me berserk and I will not do anything drastic until that has disappeared.

Unfortunately, dh can't get home early so going out isn't on. However, I have an old friend coming to see me in ten days so that should pick me up.

I am prone to anxiety/depression so that is probably why I am not coping so well.

What I find hard is that people see me as someone who can deal with anything and so I find it difficult to explain that I need support and tlc too!