I've been enjoying this thread. Thank you all so much! I haven't been on in a while, but whenever I'm here I feel a lot less alone.
Some stuff I need to say because there's no one else to say it to:
My husband is so deep in his pain right now. He had a panic attack getting ready for work again. Telling him it's ok to use a sick day to recover (thats what they're for!) makes him feel weak and judged. Telling him I believe in him and he can do it makes him feel like I don't understand his pain. There is no right thing to do or say. He hears loving words as hateful. He feels like no one cares about him. It breaks my heart. It pushes me away again and again.
I'm so scared for him at work and ashamed to say that at the same time a weight is lifted when he's not here. I'm anxious that I'm going to have to take him to the hospital (and the sheer pain of that for him and the confusion and concern that would cause our young children.) I think I would also feel relieved that he was safe and that someone besides me could see how much he needs help. We're months out from our earliest therapy appointment. He won't go to outpatient treatment. He keeps crying, "Why aren't you helping me?" I can't do this alone! We can't do this alone!
The kids are waking up. They're planning a Valentines day party for tomorrow to meet new friends in our new town/state. They're so excited. I'm scared I'm going to have to cancel at the last minute. I dread that look of resignation in their sweet faces.
Thanks for listening! I'm trying to keep the faith that things will get better! I'm trying to see the beauty and blessings all around me!!
My heart goes out to you & him. While it may not solve everything, one thing you mentioned was negative self talk and anxious future forecasting. These are self inflicted secondary wounds that take uncomfortable moments into painful experiences & add only needless suffering.
Have you or he looked into affirmations? It might sound silly, and many people are skeptical of their impact because it seems too simplistic. However, if you imagine what would be the impact if growing up every day someone or a handful of people gave you positive or negative comment each day, year in & year out. Don't you think you would have a very different perception or perspective of yourself and your place in the world if they were all positive / affirming vs degrading / negative? Even about what was acceptable or we could allow for ourselves?
Same concept. . .
I even tested it myself in a practical manner. I know that when I start feeling depression coming on, one of the effects is my lack of energy and initiative to clean up and organize around the house.
A while back, I was struggling, and decided to test playing positive affirmations that reinforced my wish and desire to clean and be tidy.
I would play the clip I found on YouTube that's set to music 3 to 5 times a day for at least 14 to 21 days. Sometimes just for 5-10 minutes through headphones, and if possible 20-30 minutes at least once a day.
About 10 days into listening I suddenly started feeling a positive urge to clean and be proactive. Feeling better about my accomplishing things that weighed on me negatively helped improve my mood, and stopped the depression spiral from going deeper and actually pulled me out of a depression episode that usually would have lasted at least 3 or 4 months.
identify the negative thoughts or preoccupations and find affirmations to counter the negative with positives to replace them.
I'd also recommend Rick Hansen's book, Buddha's Brain: the neuroscience behind love, happiness, and wisdom.
It helps train the mind to rewire our thinking about our reactions. It may not be able to stop times we get triggered, but it can help it from the triggers piling up and making it worse and worse.
If you have any questions, I'm happy to answer, and I hope things improve, because everyone deserves peace, and it helps to have as many tools to create a peaceful state as possible. When the storm hits, a compass to lead you back to light can save us from a lot of unnecessary added suffering in addition to the initial pain.