am I being unreasonable

[SadOne82]

I don’t know if I’m overreacting or not. And I need opinions from people not attached to this situation.

I am struggling. I’ve been dealing with depression and anxiety for many years. I’ve made a lot of mistakes along the way and wish I could change them but I can’t. What’s done is done.

30 years ago I pulled myself out of college and moved home to care for my ailing grandparents. I lost two of them within weeks of each other after caring for them for 5 years. Then, my mother became immobile which resulted in me caring for her for the past 14 years. Sadly, during this time my father and mother have both passed. Leaving me alone, with no help whatsoever.

I pulled myself up and did what I had to do. Taking on multiple part time jobs as it seemed no full time jobs were available. The town is small.

One of these jobs was as a substitute teacher. I done quite well. And I could get by. It was my biggest source of income. However, and here’s the dilemma, my brother in law who was a teacher at the school retired last year. He immediately applied for substitute teacher resulting in me getting booted to second place and him taking all the available assignments. This is largely due to the fact that I did not complete my college degree and of course he did. I was still eligible due to the fact I had a lot of the courses needed and had to apply under a different license.

My sister knows I’m struggling. If I don’t get work, my bills don’t get paid. She knows I’m all alone. She works full time as a nurse and he gets a pension so it’s not like they do without. While they are both excited for all this extra cash (he gets paid considerably more now than when teaching full time time) I’m here struggling and can’t help but be hurt. Am I being unreasonable in thinking that my situation and feelings should be taken in to consideration when they’d be completely fine if he didn’t get called in?

I’m feeling pretty depressed and down about it. My sister knows but only jokes about it and acts like they have all the power. I’ve lost a lot in my life and it just seems everywhere I turn there’s something new and it’s getting to the point where I just can’t handle it anymore.

[LifeAfterDiagnosis]

I'm sorry that their response is to joke about it; that's very unkind. I understand why you'd be hurt and depressed; you've dealt with a lot.

Do you have the option to move somewhere that has more job opportunities with no competition from family? I don't know if confronting them with your feelings would change things for you, or just make it worse? It would be hard to lose them, too.

Hoping there's resolution of some kind, and soon, friend!