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New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

What a week this has been 😞

Not sure where to start here, after being absent for a while, I checked in a month or so ago to report that everything was our version of steady. My period of not checking in was purely a lack of capacity after returning to full time employment while still in a caring role. Operating at above 100% capacity. Primarily supporting my Darling who lives with BPD, (Seeking support for my Darling is how I found the forums) , S1 with an intellectual disability, S3 with ASD and FIL.

Well, last week the status has changed again with the passing of my father-in-law,

It has occurred to me that for the past couple of years our lives have revolved around Dad,

And I am ok with that, he is totally worthy of that. He has been a significant support over many years to our family.

The point of this is that I now need to be intentional in how I fill that void, I need to stay glued for my family to function. Darling now more than ever needs my support to adjust to life without her Dad.

And my children who adored their grandad.

Thinking about some goals for self care and interested in other peoples strategies.

It has occurred to me that I perhaps have not been looking after myself as well as I should have despite convincing myself I am ok.

I have been added to a waiting list for a grief and loss course through carer gateway.
I received an email seeking expressions of interest the morning after Dad passed.

This will be a good start.

Things that I want to achieve included

- Better diet

- More consistent exercise (Cycling)

- Time out with Darling, return to our motorcycle adventures that ceased when Dad went into care.

- Complete an NDIS review for S1 to get supports for independent living so I can relinquish some micro managing to better qualified people.

- Some self paced study.

- Gardening and home maintenance. Have big plans for the garden that is in a state of disrepair.

- Generally being more chilled and present for my family.

78 replies

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In response to: New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

Re: New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

Discussion with EAP counsellor was supposed to be covering grief and loss topics in adjusting to life without Dad (in law). Covered off on some background and got tied up in that. And the advice about work was bail before I break. problem is we need to eat, and I am the only source of income other that Centrelink supplements. Cant live off that.
Flip side, I can work and feed us all if I break so it is a loose loose situation 😞
I just need to care less, but that is not in my nature

In response to: New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

Re: New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

@Determined thanks for letting me know you're safe. i can see how overwhelming this must be for you, and you deserve to feel valued and seen at your workplace. searching for other jobs seems like a great idea, hopefully some more job ads that are a closer commute pop up soon, fingers crossed!!! maybe tomorrow you can do that self-care motorcycle ride, you definitely deserve moments (even if its short) of feeling prioritised.

please do go easy on yourself, i know its hard to do with so much going on but you can take it slow, you can take this step by step. rest up and i hope you feel better in the morning, take some deep breaths (i like to do this to calm me down: 2 deep inhales from the nose, hold for 3-5 seconds and then full exhale from the mouth - repeat as needed). sitting with you 💗

In response to: Re: New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

Re: New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

New season New goals

All out the window ATM.

Treading water. No energy.

Darling on the edge of another breakdown.

Uncertainty at work is making me stressed which is sinking Darling further.

Day at a time, step at a time.

In response to: Re: New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

Re: New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

Finding myself at a crossroads at the moment. Have some appointments over the next week and feel I need to make a decision what to do about work. Leaning towards cut and run at the moment.

Stress has my chronic fatigue in overtime

This is impacting on Darlings wellbeing

In response to: Re: New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

Re: New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

Awww @Determined ,

I'm hearing you. Chronic fatigue is so unpredictable. Can you take extended time off?

Is caring for your Darling the cause of this fatigue so you can't work, or is your Darling stressed out because you may not be able to work?

I vaguely remember, you have teenage children?

In response to: Re: New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

Re: New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

@tyme

That is a chicken or the.egg scenario.

Darling is sinking and my workplace is going down the toilet at the same time.

I don't have the capacity to deal with both at the same time.

If Darling was more functional I could quit my job. This prospect is sinking her further however.

If my job was not so toxic I could maybe support my darling better.

Alternatives to my current job require a big commute.( And I would actually need to land a job first)

Now my stress is at a level that starting a new job would be a challenge. Should have left 6 weeks ago..

In response to: Re: New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

Re: New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

Currently investigating return to a carer supplement with Centrelink.

Less than desirable for me in wanting to be a provider but Darling needs additional support at the moment. Things have been delicate since loosing her Dad.

Keeping myself afloat to support my Darling is my number 1 priority at the moment.

Darling is 1 brain snap away from crossing over to risk of significant self harm.

In response to: Re: New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

Re: New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

I've had the carer allowance before... it is so minimal... like literally $50 a week or so... if we are talking about the same allowance @Determined

I really hope things work out for you and your darling.

In response to: Re: New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

Re: New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

@tyme

Carer payment

Closer to a pension

Not close to actually working but will feed us. If we can get it.

I already get the carer allowance.

In response to: Re: New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

Re: New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

Fair enough @Determined

How are you today @Determined ? I'm thinking about you and Darling.

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