Originally Posted by MelodyL

Hi again Jarrett and Sue:

Want to hear something interesting?? I have neve had a panic attack in my life. I watched someone have one once. Not pretty. They called an ambulance and it was an 18 year old having the attack. Someone said "don't worry, he's only having a panic attack, he gets them all th time". The ambulance came, gave him oxygen, and he was fine in no time.

Now i have no idea what precipitate this. But I witnessed it. And in others. You would think, me being a phobic, would freak out when I was going to the dentist. But no, I didn't freak out. I was just frightened to death. I finally found my phobia guy and the only time I took a xanax during the daytime was when I had a dental appointment. Took the edge off. I take one to sleep also. I sleep 8 hours straight.

Other than that, I have learned (and don't ask me how I did this, my friends can't do this, they don't understand how I do this, believe me). I have just let go of my anxiety about my son being a compulsive gambler, and his having aspergers. He lives 3000 miles away. I have absolutely no control over his behavior. He might end up in jail because he has no conscience and would commit a crime if he could get away with it. He has told me this.

I used to cry and go nuts (never had a panic attack though). I spoke to a psychiatrist (at a neuropathy meeting no less, and this was 4 years ago). He told me "you better put up those boundaries, these asperger kids are coming out of the woodwork". Now I didn't know what he meant but we talked for half an hour. Imagine getting to speak to a psychiatrist for free for 30 minutes and he was there because he had neuropathy!!!

He was the nicest doctor. He saw my bewilderment and he counseled me. I never forgot his advice. I joined asperger support groups, forums, and gamanon support groups. I even went to a Gamanon meeting.

My god, all those mothers with dead eyes, and the son still lived with them and the did not have the strength to kick the kids out. They just gave them money.

I just looked at them. I have never given my son a dime. He knew I wouldn't and that's why he moved out.

I've had a lot of adjustments to make. I feel this way, "it will either kill me or make me stronger". I just want to become stronger.

Hey, not easy. It's an every day struggle not to go crazy over our children.

But I do my thing, one step at a time.

Love you both.
Melody

Originally Posted by daniella

Your right boundaries are so important,along with using your voice,asking for help,and getting treatment. Its hard I know when in that mindset that things can be different but they can really. You have to hold onto hope and as my psych says since were quoting you have to feel it in your heart that you want more not just in your mind. If that makes sense.

Originally Posted by daniella

Thanks Jarrett I think sometimes the depression/anxiety can make one feel they want to be a homebody more then they are. I also still like the peace of being home but before the pain issue made goals to push through when feels like a chore. In the short run its hard as hell but in the long run makes life better. As for feeling it in your heart. I think that since I had done every treatment and saw every specialist and was in the best centers money could by with no change I realised it was me. I had to use the support and tools I learned. Jarrett how are you feeling now mentally? I do know that the pain issue can make life mentally horrible. So I know for me when this pain hopefully gets better I am going to remember how important health is and not to waste life. Have you or are you in therapy? I still go and support is very helpful. I hope the pc will help with this too and help with tool fr treatment of the pain. One day when more able I want to go to pain support groups. Ok enough of my ramble.
On a side note to the topic of this post has anyone who is not gluten intolerant gone on a gluten or wheat free diet and saw benefits? I always thought I had wheat issues but the tests of course said not. I have such stomach issues not diareah but constipation so that is different but bloating/pain. I often wonder too as I try to find the cause of my dizzy issues and my neck issue that comes a goes if it my have something to do with diet though all my vitamin levels are good. I don't think this issue would be though why the severe inner ankle foot pain that never goes.

Originally Posted by texasgeek

Well, to you guys who talk about not knowing how to cook (at one point or another), I thought I knew how but guess what? I don't!

I just burnt some eggs I was hard-boiling (for DH). I didn't set a timer and got distracted on this computer, ROFL! Can't even boil an egg, that's me!!

(Guess I should be happy I caught it before it got worse than scorching the pot.)