Stress- family, work & its effects

[Guest guest]

My name is Dalanne. Last time I forgot to put my name in it.

Realizing that this will look like a major whine I am listing my

major stress issues to see if anyone has any better ideas to help me

get my blood pressure down or to help me let go of some of this

stress. Here goes...

I drive a dump truck for a local township. I am really taking a

beating driving these rough country roads. At days end I feel like

somebody has taken a sledgehammer to me. I hurt so bad at night. I

have a CDL so I can't take my oxycontin 20mgs- I would be driving

illegally. I have nothing else that helps with the pain at night.

Then a friend of ours was killed in a car crash a week ago. My

husband isn't taking it well at all. They grew up next door to each

other. He has a " defect of the central nervous system " that causes

his heart to get a shot of adrenaline without warning which exhausts

him and his heart beats so so hard and irregular. Stress will trigger

it and he was home all day today with his heart acting up all day.

The jerk won't go to the Dr or the emergency room. If it is still

doing this tomorrow morning he will call our Dr. and go in there. He

isn't happy but he promised me and at least he keeps his promises...

He is sleeping and I've checked on him about every 3 hours and he's

still breathing. Gah....I dearly love the big jerk but jeez...

We have three kids that are at each other's throats- a 14 yr girl, 11

yr boy and 7 yr girl. Enough said there. :0

Two days ago my husband realized he may well face losing his job in

the next 4 months which would leave us with no health insurance, no

income, etc....

On the 19th I went for my 3rd Orencia infusion, which does seem to be

helpingt, and my few issues here minus the death had caused my blood

pressure to register at 138 over 102. I'm guessing from the nurses

reaction that it was a bit high. Now with the death added in and my

hubbys heart I hate to see what it is. My ears have probably doubled

in size.... or my head may well pop off in my sleep.

I know that all this stress is NOT helping my RA. I've been telling

myself that I can't worry about things that I have no control over.

That has helped a bit. I zone out to relax my breathing, try to get

plenty of sleep, exercise isn't helping as it makes me more tight,

I've even tried crying myself to sleep as crying sometimes lets my

tension out but it hasn't worked this time.

What else can I do? I just don't know. I started a " fun " personal

enrichment college class to escape " home stuff " - German language 1-

but my brain hurts so much that I can't concentrate. I know that

sounds dumb but it is a fog that just won't let me gather my wits to

study and remember!

I'm lost. I have no control over whether my truck or it's load is

going to cause me physical problems. The death is something that I

can only cry over. The kids are an ongoing issue but at least the

teenager is helping me with the house when she gets home from school.

That is a major blessing!

I know that so many men and women have problems that are far worse

than mine but my techniques to relieve stress/tension simply are not

working anymore. I am so overloaded mentally that I feel lost here.

I'm sorry this was such a long post but things had been going so

incredibly well before last week. My but how fortunes change.