Signed off with stress: how do you juggle everything?

[ludolooby]

After weeks of going to the doctor with endless health issues, he has said that my symptoms are somewhat 'eratic' after completing blood tests. He now says that he believes my symptoms are down to 'severe stress' and has given me a sicknote.
I have a toddler and I'm a part-time teacher; we have been having issues lately with a parent who has been causing us a lot of stress, which has put pressure on our relationship and we are currently trying to do some work on our house to make it saleable.
Thing is, I know plenty of women that get by whilst being busy who work full-time and have more DCS; why am I not coping?
I take on a lot more responsibility than DH in terms of planning and organising things: Getting workmen in, making phone calls, organising trips, nights away for us when work is being completed and I'm wondering if this is the problem? That I have no head space and I'm buckling under the amount I have to think about?
Weekends are spent cleaning, food shopping, seeing family members, going on family trips to different places, but isn't everyone as busy as this?
I guess I'm asking how other women juggle everything and if there's a way to make things a little easier on myself? Does DH need to take on more responsibility? After talking to my sister about my 'stress' yesterday, she asked "what do you do for fun?" I couldn't answer the question. DH still has his fun as he has a few hobbies, he would never stop me having mine but it seems theres never time and when there is, I feel too mentally frazzled to do anything. Any positive advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Oh and gentle exercise, evetyday if you can. Yoga or pilates. I always found zumbe to be a good stress buster.

You have an awful lot going on op. I'm a full time teacher and some days I despair. I was part time when dcs were little too (3-4 days a week) but I only just managed and my exh left us just as I went back full time.

How I get by now is no school work on a Sunday. At all. I do work on a Saturday but don't pick up school bag again until Monday morning. I had a meltdown at Christmas which is when I had to start that and that has helped.

Also get things to look forward to planned on calendar. Big or small. One your own, as couple or family outings. Need a mixture.

Just direct DH to the housework that needs doing. I find men don't see it themselves but will happily be directed.

Don't be so hard on yourself it's bloody hard work having a toddler. Enjoy DC whilst little. Housework can weight.

Batch cook food so can freeze some so not having to cook so much from scratch. DH can then be responsible in those night for in essence re heating and maybe making the pasta/potatoes to go with it.

Exercise is great. Daily walk or pilates.

God, but he's an utter cock.

That is all.

I haven't read all of this thread so sorry if I'm duplicating
OP you need to take your stress levels VERY seriously or your mental health might escalate & you'll feel like utter shite.
I'm a single parent with a 25 hrs PW stressful job. I have learned the hard way from trying to do so much. Now I shop online for big things & buy in bulk (tins, lol rolls, etc)
I have one day PW of down time -just me & my daughter. Stay in pjs til late morn, do art & puzzles & head to the park/go for a picnic, I occasionally take a couple of massive bags of washing & get a service wash, & I exercise as often as I can cos that bashes out the stress levels
What 'you' time are you getting?

Part of the problem (well apart from the core issue is that he should be doing his share automatically) is that you are not willing to let him take full responsibility.

OK so you are not prepared to even risk him learning how to cook and take over shopping, meal plans & cooking. Start with meal planning and shopping on line together so he just has to cook and he will have no excuse because you know the ingrediants are there?

Sorry OP for not replying. It has been easier since leaving DH because I no longer have the mental strain and angst eating away at me as to how difficult he was. I'm much happier which makes work more manageable. I do spend my early mornings and after school running round like a loon but it's been worth it.

I had a lot of sympathy with your DH. I had to learn the hard way that my standards of cleaning and what constituted healthy eating etc were not necessarily right and DP's wrong. I learned this the hard way by my high standards leading to exhaustion, stress and ultimately ill health. Also, I don't know about you, but I have a process by which the harder life gets, the harder I try. It was a revelation to me to learn that other people actually cut themselves some slack.

Anyway, I had a lot of sympathy for your DH until I read, he then started to hum over me incessantly until I walked out.