Haven't floated away...
 

Hello all,

I am on still on land here in my hilly neighborhood in Austin unlike many who got hit with flooding.

Just saying hello. I have been occupied with my sister and working with her a lot during a crisis so haven't been posting any. My apologies, there are responses I would've liked to make and a welcome here and there. Gosh, I gotta get back on routine! I have been thinking of everyone and pray always for our well-being, peace and healing.

Sending loads of hugs, :hug::hug::hug:

Thanks for letting us know you are safe. Stay dry!

((((( Littlepaw and Sis )))))
 

Hi Littlepaw,

I am sorry there's been a family crisis; yet, so glad you and your sister are there for one another. :)

Happy to hear all else is well.

You are missed when you are away, of course.
Yet, life's demands often require some time away from the computer. ;)

You cross my mind whether you (or I) are here or not.

Love and Light,
DejaVu

How are you doing now?
 

So glad to hear YOU did not flood. Sounds like your sister was not so lucky?

How are things now?

Thanks for the concern. We are always okay where we are, everything just runs off down into these canyons. And I try not be going anywhere when we get torrential storms.

The situation with my sister (who is out of state) is really difficult and imminently dire. Flooding would be easier! She has severe mental illness and is going through a highly stressful time and just not functioning on any level. I am quite worried about her and was looking at airfare to go help her in person twice this past week. My husband and son really don't want me to go. They think it would be too hard on me and they are probably right.

So it has been a lot of calls and emails and faxing, with her and agencies trying to get her set up so basic needs are met. Like meds, food and shelter... This is really difficult when someone isn't functioning and has no follow through. Ugh, no wonder I am tired! She has burned a lot of people out so help is limited. I have maintained the most neutral relationship with her over the years and try to be loving and supportive but with good boundaries. Often a challenge.

It's just a terrible, tragic situation. I know I can't save her. But I have to do what I am able to that might help in hopes she will get stabilized and more likely to succeed.

The hardest thing for me is that it just so very, very sad to watch someone you love implode....

Thanks everyone for listening. Prayers for her would be deeply appreciated.

Dear Littlepaw,

I did not mean to pry when I thought your sister lived nearby and maybe had been in the flood area. My mistake and a big one.

I am so sorry to learn of your situation with your sister. That must be awfully hard on you and a very difficult situation. Yes, prayers will be said for your sister and for you as well.

You will definitely be in my thoughts and prayers as will your sister. Oops, already said that but I guess that means I will double up on the talks with GOD.

((((( Littlepaw and Sis )))))
 

Dearest Littlepaw,

I am sorry your sister is suffering.
I am glad you are trying to be there for her.
I know this all takes a toll; yet, you have to do whatever you feel you must do.
Only you know what you need to do in your relationship with your sister.

I have a similar situation with a close friend. She had impulsively relocated while in crisis and having done so has placed her in more severe crisis. She has stopped her meds. She is drinking and smoking marijuana, which usually gets her into a lot of additional trouble. She had been on the wagon for years and was more stabilized then. She had been calling me 24/7. I cannot reason with her on the phone. She is in and out of psychosis on the phone. I cannot do much from here. I cannot take a flight out to find her, either. She seems to be out on the streets, which I have never known her to do before. I am very concerned; yet, there is little I can do. It's a sad and a frustrating situation, for sure. :(

Your sister's present situation is a heart-wrenching situation, Littlepaw.
I do know you care deeply. I hope your sister is in a place where she feels your concern and your love.

I am so glad you have asked for support in this situation.
I am happy to offer prayer and supportive, healing Love to you and to your sister.

You are both in my thoughts and prayers.
:hug:

DejaVu

Thanks Hope,

I didn't take it as prying. The flood assumption is an easy one to make with 14 inches of rain in two days!

I wouldn't have shared if I hadn't felt safe to do so. Sometimes it is helpful just to let people know you have an unseen burden. My sister has been ill for many years and had numerous episodes. Fortunately she is fairly stable in between so the burden isn't constant, but this is the worst episode she has had.

Thanks for the support. I appreciate double prayers!
:hug:

DejaVu,

Thank you so for your kind words. You have a real gift with those you know.

I am sorry to hear of your friend. It is heartbreaking isn't it? And there is only so much one can do. Even if you flew out could you ever find them? And if you did then what? It sounds like there are many, many similarities between your friend and my sister, though thankfully my sister isn't using. But she has been off her meds and would be homeless now if I had not intervened last week. Can't keep that up forever...

I know a time may come that I have to let go. Isn't that awful to consider? But I can't imperil my own health and even with a lot of help my sister may fail. Ultimately I feel my responsibility is to myself, my child and my spouse.
But for now I will do what I can and hope she can fly again on her own.

I appreciate your support and pray for you as well. I hope you are healing a little each day. :hug:

Littlepaw,

I am glad your sister is receptive to housing and glad you have been able to help her with housing. :)

My friend says she wants to be homeless. :confused:

It's tough to realize we may have to let go... and hope for the best.

I feel I have no way to help, in that my friend seems to be moving around and isn't interested in housing or a stable address at this time. It's difficult to get services for someone who does not want help/services. Our conversations seem pointless, as she has been delusional for quite some time. I cannot gain any cooperation from her, as far as securing any assistance for her. I suppose she feels a connection if she is calling, even if she is delusional. Yet, I have had to shut my phone off, as she kept calling in the middle of the night and was awakening people in the household. She has not been able to respond to boundary setting on calls in the middle of the night. Knowing the severity of her mental illness right now has made it very difficult to shut off my phone. Yet, we all need some sleep.

I, too, feel my biggest responsibility is to my household. I also need to be careful and be sure I am doing all I can in order to heal.

It's all very painful and nobody else can tell us if/when we need to let go.
It's a very individualized decision.

((((( Littlepaw )))))
((((( Littlepaw's Sister )))))

May you both feel surrounded by, uplifted by, Pure Love.

:hug:
DejaVu

Littlepaw and DejaVu,

Mental illness is difficult to deal with, I have been on both sides with self destructive tendencies earlier in my life, then with my Mum's mind being destroyed by Alzheimer's but trying to keep her independent in her own home. The strain on the supporter is always almost too much to endure.

Prayers for protection to both you and your Charges.

Dave.

I took a "First Responder" course several years ago and the first thing they told us was that we had to take care of ourselves FIRST, because we would NOT be able to help anyone else if WE were not OK.

It is very admirable to want to help family and others but you DO need to take care of and protect your own household members, too.

I don't have the gift of words as some here do, but I wanted to say that you can only do so much before you have to safeguard yourself.

So often, we do not realize just how blessed we are until we learn the plight of others. Not just those that have problems but also the caregivers plight as well. It is a difficult position on both sides of the coin.

Oh, I hope this comes out the way I mean it, from the heart and caring. I just don't express myself very well sometimes and things come out all wrong. My fingers type without the aid from brain activity sometimes and what is in my heart doesn't translate well onto paper.

Dave did it much better
 

There you go. Dave said what I wanted to say. He is so good at that. Guess you can tell I was not an English major in college. I am a numbers person, not a word person. :D

Thanks DejaVu, Dave and Hope!

Dave, as usual you are a font of understanding. Experiencing the challenges from both sides must be part of where you get the empathy that we all appreciate so.

Hope, Your care and concern come shining through! You are right that self-care is an absolute must with so many different things. We really need to take notice and respond to our physical and emotional needs. That was part of why I stayed home and helped from here. I have had to be firm about boundaries concerning late phone calls and short of one night she has honored that. Because What can I possibly do in the middle of the night except get alienated from helping?

DejaVu, Yes, I too am grateful my sister is open to housing. It was partly the impending loss of it that threw her into a tailspin. I just found out last night that she is getting into a more 'permanent' short term solution we had been exploring.

She sounded brighter and more rational on the phone yesterday. Yeah!

Thanks all. I am glad I let you guys know it's not always rainbows and bonbons here in Littlepaw world. ;)
:hug::hug::hug:

Prayers coming......
 

Dear Littlepaw,
Many prayers and positive energy being sent your way to you and your sister.
It is a heartbreaking situation and can be so exasperating because all the support and effort in the world(on your part) won't help if meds are not taken and treatments not followed by your sister.

Listen to your loving family, do what you feel comfortable doing and then try to let it go. I know that is easier said than done though. It is so tough when someone you love is going through this, especially when they are not nearby.

Wishing you strength to get through this.
Again, prayers being sent for you both,
Diandra
:circlelove:

How is everything going?
 

Hi Littlepaw,
Thinking of you and how you are doing with your sister's issues.
Just wanted you to know that you, your family and sister are being thought of and prayed for.
My best, D.
:)

Thanks Diandra for checking in! And thanks to everyone for prayers and concern.

My sister is still having difficulty but doing a bit better. I am getting back to routine which is great. I was losing sleep being worried and that's just no bueno.

We are working on her taking her meds and She seems to be understanding that it really is a matter of life or death. Before, it was just me saying so. Now, she is realizing how much trouble she gets in without that support. If she gets to consistency with this I know it will help with so many different things. She is getting into a short term lease this weekend (yeah!) and we really want her stable enough to keep that going forward!

appreciative always for all the caring souls here, :hug:

Yes!
 

Hi Littlepaw,

Great news! :D
So glad things are working out well!
What a relief for you and for your sister, too.

Love and Prayers,

:hug:

DejaVu