Karen
Peer Supporter
What a terrible title. If it wasn't for listening to the 'shame and guilt' video last night that Leslie posted, I would have never got the guts up to tell you more of my story. But I am so desperate for help that I'm willing to give up my pride and if someone would listen to it - maybe I can get the help that I need. I need to explain a little more of my story to see if someone on this forum can help me. I know this is a bit long (I promise to make them much shorter after I get all this junk out of me) and I thank you in advance for taking the time to read it. I hope this is not 'too much information'......
The sciatica pain is so incredible excruciating that I have been in tears for the past 2 weeks. Of course, I had to hear someone mention 'hip cancer' on the radio this morning and the fear went surging through my body. chickenbone just said on another post that if the pain is moving around, that's a good sign that it's TMS. Well it's not moving at all. It's getting worse. Am I am 'moving', walking, and trying to ignore the pain. I am reading Steve's book. I am journaling. But I'm scared this morning. The sciatica started with just an aching feeling about 2 months ago. Now, it has graduated up to excruciating pain that I can barley walk. If one of you would please take the time to read this last 5 years of my life that I want to tell you about and give me your honest opinion because I am sooooo confused this morning.
I met my husband 8 years ago when I still was taking in boarders to make it here at the old house. I told him I did not want to get married and that if he was looking for that, to go elsewhere. I wanted to be as honest with him as I could. But I also told him how I loved companionship and was ready to have a relationship with someone. He was a lovely man.
The church that I was going to at the time was Pentecostal. I had belonged to the Pentecostal church for many, many, years. So it was the perfect fundamentalist church for a 'goodest' because you are supposed to work towards being 'perfect' as god is 'perfect'. I was already leaving the church behind (In my mind) because I knew deep down inside that the doctrine was wrong. (for me anyway) But, I got him involved anyway.....They talked us into getting married because we would get more 'favor' from god......
After we were married, I finally left the church once and for all, never to go back. I am now agnostic and that is very hard, but freeing to admit. I am OK now to be a 'non-believer. Some people's faith 'grows' stronger through trials and tribulations, but my faith died completely...never to return. This issue alone, does not go over good with people. How dare I question the god of the universe?? So, I don't talk about it, nor do I push my unbelief on anyone. (and I won't here either) I keep it to myself because I know that 90% of the world believes in whatever religion and god they were brought up with. This loss of faith in god has been a huge loss for me, but I have dealt with it. I spent 2 years in therapy for this alone.
The first 2 years of our marriage ended up a disaster. Nobody knows this. I don't want to talk about it right now, but let's just say that I found out some stuff about my new husband and I wasn't happy. We have worked our way through this for the last couple of years and have decided to wipe the slate clean and start all over. But it's been hard. That's where I'm at in my relationship. I am just only now starting to even forgive him..... He is doing everything in his power to be a good support to me right now and I appreciate it.
I also have been a very burnt out hairdresser for the last 5 years (been doing it for 40 years, this year) and my dream was to get rid of allllllllllllllll the people in my life and not have to work. I have been in business for myself for many, many years and I want to get out (This is where I asked Steve on another post the other day if I could have brought on that car accident that I had 2 years ago??)
Long story shortened....I developed pain in the lower back from the accident which allowed me to get rid of half my clientele. I think I was happy about it. But, now we have brought my husbands dear mother to live here and I am more busy that ever. Part time hairdresser and part time nurse.
I now have the financial resources to quit work and look after her completely for a year until we put her in a nursing home. I think I wouldn’t mind doing this. Looking after her wouldn't be so bad...at least life would be 'quiet' for a chance. But it does drive me crazy having someone in my house 24/7. I am learning how to deal with this...I think????
Maybe I hesitate saying goodbye to my clients because that would be saying goodbye to my whole life and carreer as a hairstylist? I was once a very successful hairdresser and even won a gold medal for our province for hair cutting and styling. I want to get out now. I have the opportunity to get out and I’m all confused. Maybe, I will choose to keep a few clients on? (That’s what I’m thinking) . But I tell you in this little town, when one finds out I’m doing the other person’s hair - they confront me right in the malls and they are mad. They want to know why I let them go?!!! If I decide to keep some on, I need to find a way to explain why I have let go of some and not others. These darn woman want an explanation. Now, some of you will say that I don't owe them any explanation, but I feel as if I do. Some of these woman I have been doing their hair for well over 25 years. I have become ‘best friends’ with all my clients and this is what has created this problem. I know I have been successful in this business because of my wonderful, cursed ‘people pleasing’ abilities.
Also, the insurance company wants me to continue with all the physical therapy or I won’t get their little’ benefit’ of money. Do you see the trap I’m caught in? I have so many decisions to make and I don’t know where to start. I am supposed to return to work next week (my salon is in my home) and my husband wants me to start calling people today and telling them that I am taking off a few months. I feel like a million people have their hands around my throat and I can’t get them away from me. Hence the diagnosis of ‘Vicarious Trauma’. Deep inside me....I hate everything and can’t admit it out loud. I also lost my 2 life long best friends in the last 3 years and I can't even cry at there deaths. It's like I've stopped 'feeling'. I'm not looking for anyone to fix me...just maybe some suggestions on how to sort this all out.
I wish the world would go away and leave me alone. I’ll probably be embarrassed after I post this crazy topic this morning.
Somebody, please help...I don’t know if I should even mention this sciatica problem when I do see my doctors’ next week?
For the first time in my life - I am facing the fact that I am 'not well' right now......
Oh god.. I am a mess.....Has anyone got any thoughts on all of this?
Thanks , Karen
The sciatica pain is so incredible excruciating that I have been in tears for the past 2 weeks. Of course, I had to hear someone mention 'hip cancer' on the radio this morning and the fear went surging through my body. chickenbone just said on another post that if the pain is moving around, that's a good sign that it's TMS. Well it's not moving at all. It's getting worse. Am I am 'moving', walking, and trying to ignore the pain. I am reading Steve's book. I am journaling. But I'm scared this morning. The sciatica started with just an aching feeling about 2 months ago. Now, it has graduated up to excruciating pain that I can barley walk. If one of you would please take the time to read this last 5 years of my life that I want to tell you about and give me your honest opinion because I am sooooo confused this morning.
I met my husband 8 years ago when I still was taking in boarders to make it here at the old house. I told him I did not want to get married and that if he was looking for that, to go elsewhere. I wanted to be as honest with him as I could. But I also told him how I loved companionship and was ready to have a relationship with someone. He was a lovely man.
The church that I was going to at the time was Pentecostal. I had belonged to the Pentecostal church for many, many, years. So it was the perfect fundamentalist church for a 'goodest' because you are supposed to work towards being 'perfect' as god is 'perfect'. I was already leaving the church behind (In my mind) because I knew deep down inside that the doctrine was wrong. (for me anyway) But, I got him involved anyway.....They talked us into getting married because we would get more 'favor' from god......
After we were married, I finally left the church once and for all, never to go back. I am now agnostic and that is very hard, but freeing to admit. I am OK now to be a 'non-believer. Some people's faith 'grows' stronger through trials and tribulations, but my faith died completely...never to return. This issue alone, does not go over good with people. How dare I question the god of the universe?? So, I don't talk about it, nor do I push my unbelief on anyone. (and I won't here either) I keep it to myself because I know that 90% of the world believes in whatever religion and god they were brought up with. This loss of faith in god has been a huge loss for me, but I have dealt with it. I spent 2 years in therapy for this alone.
The first 2 years of our marriage ended up a disaster. Nobody knows this. I don't want to talk about it right now, but let's just say that I found out some stuff about my new husband and I wasn't happy. We have worked our way through this for the last couple of years and have decided to wipe the slate clean and start all over. But it's been hard. That's where I'm at in my relationship. I am just only now starting to even forgive him..... He is doing everything in his power to be a good support to me right now and I appreciate it.
I also have been a very burnt out hairdresser for the last 5 years (been doing it for 40 years, this year) and my dream was to get rid of allllllllllllllll the people in my life and not have to work. I have been in business for myself for many, many years and I want to get out (This is where I asked Steve on another post the other day if I could have brought on that car accident that I had 2 years ago??)
Long story shortened....I developed pain in the lower back from the accident which allowed me to get rid of half my clientele. I think I was happy about it. But, now we have brought my husbands dear mother to live here and I am more busy that ever. Part time hairdresser and part time nurse.
I now have the financial resources to quit work and look after her completely for a year until we put her in a nursing home. I think I wouldn’t mind doing this. Looking after her wouldn't be so bad...at least life would be 'quiet' for a chance. But it does drive me crazy having someone in my house 24/7. I am learning how to deal with this...I think????
Maybe I hesitate saying goodbye to my clients because that would be saying goodbye to my whole life and carreer as a hairstylist? I was once a very successful hairdresser and even won a gold medal for our province for hair cutting and styling. I want to get out now. I have the opportunity to get out and I’m all confused. Maybe, I will choose to keep a few clients on? (That’s what I’m thinking) . But I tell you in this little town, when one finds out I’m doing the other person’s hair - they confront me right in the malls and they are mad. They want to know why I let them go?!!! If I decide to keep some on, I need to find a way to explain why I have let go of some and not others. These darn woman want an explanation. Now, some of you will say that I don't owe them any explanation, but I feel as if I do. Some of these woman I have been doing their hair for well over 25 years. I have become ‘best friends’ with all my clients and this is what has created this problem. I know I have been successful in this business because of my wonderful, cursed ‘people pleasing’ abilities.
Also, the insurance company wants me to continue with all the physical therapy or I won’t get their little’ benefit’ of money. Do you see the trap I’m caught in? I have so many decisions to make and I don’t know where to start. I am supposed to return to work next week (my salon is in my home) and my husband wants me to start calling people today and telling them that I am taking off a few months. I feel like a million people have their hands around my throat and I can’t get them away from me. Hence the diagnosis of ‘Vicarious Trauma’. Deep inside me....I hate everything and can’t admit it out loud. I also lost my 2 life long best friends in the last 3 years and I can't even cry at there deaths. It's like I've stopped 'feeling'. I'm not looking for anyone to fix me...just maybe some suggestions on how to sort this all out.
I wish the world would go away and leave me alone. I’ll probably be embarrassed after I post this crazy topic this morning.
Somebody, please help...I don’t know if I should even mention this sciatica problem when I do see my doctors’ next week?
For the first time in my life - I am facing the fact that I am 'not well' right now......
Oh god.. I am a mess.....Has anyone got any thoughts on all of this?
Thanks , Karen