So much uncertainty...

[Blue_Roses]

between worrying about jobs, bills, kids, life...I feel so overwhelmed recently. My stomach has been so upset the past few days. I thought I had a stomach virus, but it subsided yesterday, only to return this morning with an unexpected bill. Bills seem to dominant so much of our lives (some others have expressed this to me as well).

I know why writers like to go and hide in a cabin in the mountains or a beach house with NO television, radio or contact with the outside world. The "traffic" of our lives gets so cluttered and stiffles what could be awesome creativity. I think I would like to live as a hermit for awhile.

[OneGrassRoot]

1. I agree wholeheartedly.....

My daughter is away at a camp her father paid to send her to (no way on earth I could have provided this), so the constant running around for her is providing a little more breathing room in my daily life this week.

But the bills, family illnesses, work, blah, blah, blah.....it IS overwhelming.

I send you huge hugs, Blue_Roses, and hope the heaviness of life so many of us are experiencing eases up soon.

Joy, Light, and Wellness.... Joy, Light, and Wellness....Joy, Light and Wellness....manifesting with Grace and Ease, Grace and Ease, Grace and Ease.

:)

:hug: :hug: :hug:

[Blue_Roses]

13. yes, the kids and constant running around or

the "I'm bored" every two minutes...:eyes: I was single a long time before getting married and having kids, so I still yearn for those solitude times.:D

but I wouldn't give anything for my kids either...

I guess it's just a balancing act and when things get out of balance, then here come the blues...

Thanks for the kind words:hug:

[latebloomer]

24. Nice affirmation!

I like it- "Joy, Light and Wellness", "Grace and Ease"- really captures the mind in an effortless way!

[crikkett]

2. .

:hug:

everything will work out, everything's gonna be OK.

(my break's over, time for me to go back to begging my CD burner to work correctly)

[Blue_Roses]

14. ...

thank-you:hug:

[Oak2004]

3. I know it's hard with kids, but maybe you could "hermit" in place

Sometimes I need to turn off the tube, not touch radio, keep my eyes off newspapers, and stay away from "Latest Breaking News" (in case you're wondering what part of DU I "come" from, that, and occasional forays into "Editorials & Other Articles", used to be my DU stomping grounds... but I needed to get away from there).

It's possible to jettison a whole lot of other needless complications from one's life, too, without needing to find a cave in the desert (or leave an urban area). At my peak of hermitting in place, I even simplified my clothing (black chinos and a black polo shirt, every day, black arrived at by trial and error because it's the easiest color to launder) -- it's a relief, actually, to banish fashion from one's life -- but circumstances forced me to give that up (at least for now).

Kids however complicate things. They're much less likely to appreciate why mommy or daddy put the TV set in the attic.

[Blue_Roses]

16. my favorite place to "hermit" is in the bathroom

especially when I take a nice hot bath:D I lock the door and bar anyone short of a catastrophe from bothering me.:D

[Fire Walk With Me]

4. In this new energy, it is more important than ever before to stay in a positive space.

You create what you seek/give out. Pray and surrender; watch comedies and be with what gives you joy. You will increase the good part of life in spite of any surroundings (and magnetize more good stuff to you).

Peace..and try staring at the photo below, which is a water crystal formed from water blessed by a monk. Whatever you turn your attention to...especially if you have access to your third eye/mental screen.

[northernlights]

5. I'm certainly feeling it today

After several good days, I woke up at 2am with waves of rage (masking fear) passing through me. Also, enormous pressure on my sinuses, reminiscent of when Karen Bishop was talking about that being a symptom.

It was surprising because the 5+ weeks of nonstop rain had not created this kind of sinus pressure, nor the 2 days of unexpected sun and hi pressure. Now it's back to a low, and suddenly it was just terrible pressure.

I relieved the rage by breathing deep and thinking 'love' after I *finally remembered to about halfway through the day. And found myself wondering about what NJCher had posted about a possible solar event today. Don Miguel Ruiz says that we get our messages from the sun, so maybe solar activity would be an indicator.

Anyway, the pressure has finally subsided, but anxiety is gnawing at me this afternoon. I finally sat down and figured out my expenses for the next year, in preparation for applying for private student loans. I feel this horrible fear that I'll go through all this...and still won't get hired. :(

[Blue_Roses]

17. I hope things are better for you today...

I hate that feeling when I wake up in the middle of the night with worries rushing over me. It's unnerving and starts my day off unsettled. Hope thins are better for you...:hug:

[northernlights]

22. Thank you, Blue Roses

I'm feeling much, much better today. 3 days of sunshine, after 6 weeks of near nonstop rain, have really helped.

I'm working at embracing my student loans. Gratitude that I can take out the loans. I'm trying not to worry about the future (non)retirement and just focus on the present.

I'm so much better off than so many. If I don't sell my home this year, then it means I can enjoy it this year. Just sitting in my back yard, listening to the wind in the trees, watching my horses graze with my dogs by my side. I have no desire to go anywhere or do anything different :)

I hope you're feeling better too. I had started getting terrible acid reflux back in my 40s. I remember waking up in the middle of one night, bolting upright with reflux blowing out my nose. My nasal passages were burning for days after that.

Then when I was first laid off, my inner voice said to eat broccoli, cauliflower and brussels sprouts. I started eating them 3 times/day. A plate full, literally. An entire head of steamed broccoli in a day. It took a couple months, but my stomach healed.

About 6 months later, I read that researchers had found a chemical in cruciferous veggies that helped prevent stomach cancer. I think it makes the gut inhospitable to whatever bug it is that causes reflux...

I haven't had reflux since. :hug:

[Blue_Roses]

26. wow, I'm gonna try that...

that's pretty interesting...

[MorningGlow]

6. Aw.

:hug:

Sounds like you're getting acid reflux or some other gastrointestinal thingie from stress. (When I get stressed, my gall bladder acts up--ouchie--so I know how you feel.)

It IS very difficult to remain at peace when all kinds of crazy things are happening in our personal lives and "out in the world". Don't try to bury what you're feeling--it's important to look at it, turn it over, examine it, and understand it before you let it go. Sometimes it's easier to do this if you imagine you're an alien looking at the trappings of a different civilization--one that doesn't affect you. That way you can feel compassion for the "real you", which will help you deal with stressors. (At the very least, it's a fun exercise, to pretend you're an alien.)

And if you have trouble getting away from life physically, there's always the option of going to your "happy place" in your head. I'm a big proponent of that. It's not a delusion; it's a coping mechanism.
:rofl:

[Blue_Roses]

18. it looks that

reflux could be a lot of the problem. I had my gall bladder taken out a few years ago and these problems stopped, but lately it seems to be coming back. I am taking Prilosec for it and that helps.

I have to find a way to not internalize everything. For some reason, I have always been empathetic, but to a fault almost. It's like I can literally feel or sense things that normally others wouldn't give a second thought. I remember it first starting as a child when my neighbors house caught fire and they lost everything. Their small children lost all their toys--but ironically, they started it playing with matches. The aura was so weird and I can remember it so clearly just sitting here writing about it. That was the first feeling of something hitting me with such force.

[rosesaylavee]

7. I have had that too these last couple weeks ...

I find that playing a lot of soothing music (Carlos Nakai on Pandora) and burning incense helps. The bills, the economy, the events in the world, my family stuff, my lack of adequate/meaningful employment, and and and... not sleeping, etc.

B vitamins, lots of water, omega 3s if you have 'em.

:hug:

[I Have A Dream]

8. Soothing music works for me as well.

For me, it's been Loreena McKennitt. Unbelievably, until a few weeks ago, I was totally unfamiliar with her music. (How did that happen?!! Sometimes I think that I live under a rock. :eyes:)

I'm going to go check out Carlos Nakai...

:)

[rosesaylavee]

15. Haha - I have never heard of Loreena either!

Don't think I have ever seen that name before... So my rock is pretty isolated too. :)
I will look her up on Pandora too.

:hi:

[I Have A Dream]

20. Oh, her music is absolutely wonderful, rosie. (At least in my opinion...)

Please let me know if you like her stuff. I have an entire playlist on youtube. It feels as though my soul is being healed when I listen to her music.

Again, I really have to wonder how I missed such wonderful music for so long. :crazy: :wow:

:hi:

[northernlights]

21. omg, I have tapes and tapes of McKinnett

I love her music. Have listened to it for many years now!

About time you found it, you two :rofl:

[I Have A Dream]

25. I know! Unbelievable, isn't it?!!

:rofl:

I hope that rosie enjoys discovering McKennitt as much as I have. Hours and hours of amazing stuff.

I really don't know how I missed this wonderful artist for so long. :wow:

[northernlights]

27. maybe something inside you changed

so she came into your consciousness.

I think I found her through the group I belonged to at Digital. Either that or heard her at a new age store I used to frequent up in Rockport, Mass. I've had her music pretty much since she first started recording (late 80s? early 90s? I forget...).

Lucky me! :D

[I Have A Dream]

30. It was only after I posted this earlier in this group...

that I realized that I needed to check her out:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=245&topic_id=94717&mesg_id=94717

Thanks to why syzygy for making it clear who was singing it.


In the past, I had a manager who really loved Loreena McKennitt, and I really tended to like the same music that he did. Given that, I really should have checked her out long before now.

Yes, lucky you! Also, lucky rosie and me who now get to go through the fun of discovering her. :D

[lildreamer316]

31. You know how I discovered her?

my dj used to play it for several of us dancers on stage - a remix of one of her songs, but not one that obscured the original.
Funny, yes? LOL.

[kentauros]

9. I have a friend that's a writer

and is lucky enough to have a fully supportive family, willing to financially support him while he develops his craft. They also have a workshop of his grandfather's that has been converted into a room of isolation for him to use once a week in his writing. He's said it really helps as there is nothing else there, so no distractions of any kind.

I felt a little bit of this when I went to NZ back in April. The resort we stayed in were little, isolated bungalows and just sitting down to record all the flight headaches I had getting there was easy, thanks to the view and no more technology than my portable wordprocessor. I'd love to go somewhere to do that kind of isolated writing again :)

[Lindsey]

10. I'm in the same space you are. I don't , repeat don't, believe

in suicide but I just don't want to be on this planet anymore. Suicide is absolutely not an option for me so I'm looking at what I can do to completely change my life. I HATE my job which is where I spend almost all of my time because my workload is overwhelming beyond belief. So this weekend, I'm not going into the office and going to figure out what to do. I'm getting together with some close friends tomorrow night for a game night and I know they will have some pretty good ideas. I'm very lucky in the sense that it's just me and my kitty so I'm not "trapped" with a family. I am, however, trapped with bills. I also have Fibromyalgia (a disease involving my muscles that's very painful) and stress make it incredibly worse. I'm trying all kinds of medications and feel like I'm practically a drug addict. Part of this is good because as the saying goes "I'm mad as Hell (with my work) and I'm not going to take it anymore."

My thoughts are with you. I really hope that you can figure out what will work for you.

Take care.....

[I Have A Dream]

11. I'm sorry that you're going through this, Lindsey.

I've been in very similar situations at times in my life, and if you can't see an end in sight, that type of work situation can pull you into absolute despair. I haven't been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia (I've never talked to a doctor about it), but I think that I also have it. (My body aches all the time.) I completely understand what you're saying about stress making it worse.

I hope that you're able to find a way out of your situation. Nobody should have to live in a situation where their work controls their life. I'm sending light and love your way and am asking for the Universe to help you to quickly and easily find your way into a new work situation that feeds your soul as well as your stomach and also allows you to have a fulfilling happy life outside of work. (This or something better for the highest good of all involved.)

Please don't give up. :hug:

[LiberalEsto]

29. Hi Lindsey

So sorry to hear that you're struggling with fibromyalgia. It's such a pain in the neck (and elsewhere). I've got it too, and stress definitely makes it act up. I think there's far too much stress flying around these days.

Someone on DU recently posted about an amino acid called n-acetylcysteine that may help a number of physical conditions including manic-depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and even chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. I started taking it last week because I've been badly depressed for many weeks. It might be helping a bit. I'm going to continue it and will let you know if it has any effect on the fibro.

You might also consider Thich Nhat Hanh's breathing meditations, which I mentioned in my post to Blue Roses. Good luck!

[I Have A Dream]

12. I'm sorry that you're feeling so overwhelmed, Blue_Roses.

I hope that you can find things that allow you to feel alive and free, even if for a few minutes a few times a day. I hope that you can do small things to take care of yourself and that allow you to reconnect to your higher self, which will allow you to feel more balanced and stable as you make your way in the world.

:hug:

[Blue_Roses]

19. thank-you

getting back to nature gives me solice and lately I haven't been doing it enough. Time to take a trip...:hug:

[Lindsey]

23. Thank you so much "I have a Dream" for your kind words...

I won't give up because I don't even know how I would be able to....I'll hang in there because there's nothing else I can do....Thank you again:hug: You're a very sweet person....

[LiberalEsto]

28. You need some hugs!

:hug: :hug: :hug:

Raising kids is one hell of a hard job. It can be overwhelming. I agree with the poster who said it's sometimes a good thing to take a long bathroom break. When mine were going through their teen and pre-teen crazies, I retreated into the bathroom with a book, just to get 15-20 minutes of peace.

Lately I've been reading "The Miracle of Mindfulness" by Thich Nhat Hanh. It is very easy reading, and contains some wonderful, short breathing exercises that I've found extremely calming. Another of his books, "Peace is Every Step", has this beautiful breath meditation:

"Breathing in, I calm my body
Breathing out, I smile
Dwelling in the present moment,
I know this is a wonderful moment."

Even if you can't escape to the mountains, you might find a bit of peace with a meditation like the one above.

Good luck,
LibE

[Blue_Roses]

32. I like that...

and I'm doing it now...breathe in...breathe out...:)
I need to put this on my mirror to remind me to breathe!

[Lindsey]

33. Thank you also, Liberalesto, for your thoughts and suggestion

about the amino acid. I really hope it helps you. I'm open to trying about anything at this point. I guess something is really going on in The Universe (is sounds so cliche) but I know so many people that are going through so much. It's just too weird to be an accident.....

[Fire Walk With Me]

34. Ah, a modification of the Anapanasati Sutra

which he exands upon at great length in "The Path Of Emancipation". He's wonderful, isn't he? I'm glad that it's been useful to you; the majority of my prayer is breath-driven these days, and can be done while...doing anything!

Glad you're feeling better!

:hi: :hug: