Bobby,
I'm feeling ok at the moment. But I slept a lot today and then saw a friend this evening.

I remember talking for my brother who is is about 17 month younger than me. So maybe I was counting wrong. It was more like he was walking and I was talking for him. That would mean that I was more likely 2.5+ years old. I used to follow him around the house and make sure he was safe. I also used to let my mother know when he needed something (I don't know how I knew what he needed. ) This is the same brother (I have two) who called me about drinking recently. I guess he and I are used to knowing too much about each other. The call was unusual because most of the time, he does not want to hear what I think about his situation. . . and who can blame him really.

Probably I handled that phone call all wrong and should have just told him to go find a psychiatrist and a mental health-type support group or therapist and to leave me out of it.

I do have dreams but I have learned to forget them by the time I get out of bed. Before I was medicated, the dreams were disturbing.

A big part of my teaching involves caretaking, as you say. But I have learned to set boundaries and to work with the students in ways that are healthy -- more or less.
So this is hard to explain. But I have been thinking about it since you posted it. I think that the teaching is good for me -- it involves other people and I work with them and help them. Most of the time, I keep things businesslike.
This is good for me -- to work with people without becoming involved in their stuff.


RE Sleep:
The current tdoc did help me figure out that at least part of the sleep issue is related to nurturing others more than myself.
Also, she said that I do feel the need to be alert and to protect myself.
She gave me a few little tools to use.
I suppose she and I have a long way to go but I only see her in the summers and twice around Christmas / New Years.
She is expensive at 100.00 a visit out of pocket. And hubby thinks insurance pays.

Mari