Hang in there, everyone.
Yes, please! Be kind to yourselves.
I'm dealing with much more mundane issues like the fact that I have a research paper due in two days and my brain literally will NOT write it. I've got 6 pages of total garbage so far and every time I sit down to make it better I just have NOTHING to say. Blech.
I'm also struggling to find my 11 year-old something to wear for her upcoming school band concert. The teacher sent home a flyer with dress code info on it, and I just...this kid lives in leggings and hoodies 100% of the time. She does NOT dress up. And I honestly don't need her to - it's a 5th grade school concert, not tea with the queen. So I just need to come up with an outfit that's dressy enough to pass muster and I'm discovering that the market for gender-neutral dressed-up-but-not-formal tween clothes is WIDE open. If anyone wants to start a clothing business, there's your niche. Nobody else is doing it. (We will probably end up with black leggings and whatever long-sleeved solid color shirt she has that fits, and if the band teacher has a problem she can talk to me.)
The charge nurse from my dad's hospital floor called me this morning and told me that he got increasingly agitated and combative overnight and actually punched 2 nurses, so they had to put him in 3-point soft restraints and give him more Ativan. I have NO idea what in the hell is going on, but I hope they can figure it out soon. He should be having an MRI of his head today to see if there's any physical brain disease. I'm going to go over later in the day, maybe after 5, because I assume he's going to have a lot going on today.
Still planning on going on vacation, but feeling increasingly guilty about it.
Oh dear, Tep. I still don't think the guilt is warranted, fwtw.
It's just that every time he's in the hospital, I rush to his side, and that's been a pattern for literally 30 years. So not doing it now -- in fact, not just not rushing to his side but instead going to the beach -- feels incredibly neglectful.
So not doing it now -- in fact, not just not rushing to his side but instead going to the beach -- feels incredibly neglectful.
It's actually the opposite. It's emotionally healthy, and setting proper boundaries. It's not like you left him in a Walmart parking lot. He's receiving professional care. And also I don't want him punching you.
The 30 years you were constantly running to his bedside is a pattern you needed to break.
It is absolutely what you should be doing, though! Not rushing to his side, I mean. You don't need that, he doesn't need that (even if he expects it), it's no good for anyone.
^^ What t and David said.
Seriously, they are right. You can't do anything for him right now -- the right people are there to do what he needs! -- so it is right to do something for yourself.
Teppy, if you left him at home alone with these symptoms that would be neglect. But leaving the hospital you number while you’re away and checking in on the tests results is not neglect.
I just had a meeting with a new subscriber for psych meds because my previous one retired, and he seems to not actually believe in ADHD meds and was kind of an asshat in general. I so did not need that this week.
