Hi I suffer with fibromyalgia osteoarthritis and unfortunately bipolar disorder...
I know many people suffer a lot more than myself but I was wondering are there many of you out there that are feeling as concerned as myself, I am in total lockdown on my doctor's orders and a letter from the government due to the medication I take for the arthritis giving me an autoimmune issue...
My question is are there any others out there who are actually living alone as I am myself I am 59 years old and I'm really struggling with my mental health and only discovered this site in the early hours of this morning.
I would much appreciate some advice on how people are coping to stay safe and yet continue to to have the struggle of looking after ourselves when no one is able to come in and help..
Written by
Judyteen13
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We are a friendly bunch and try to help each other.
I am not living alone but still find things a bit difficult because my husband is older than me and himself quite unwell.
We muddle along between us.
Do you feel totally overwhelmed by this situation ? Do you have any friends or neighbours who can drop shopping and medication for the?
As you have a suppressed immune system you should be shielding and should get a call from the newly set up helpline to ask what help you need.
These calls are backlogged but gradually coming through. Had mine this evening actually and now have a contact number for volunteers to drop shopping to me and also have arranged for prescription delivery.
There are so many sub groups on HU it might help you to have another look as there is most likely one where people with experience of bipolar chat.
Oh Judith, sorry things are so hard for you right now. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be getting through this by yourself.
Do you have a telephone befriending service locally? We have one advertised in our parish magazine. Might be worth a look...just for someone sympathetic to talk to.
Please don’t feel bad about crying - I’m frequently in tears! Especially when I get to the point of posting on this forum as I normally soldier on until it’s so bad I reach breaking point.
You have said here exactly how I feel about posting a reply...I'm lost as to what I'm supposed to say in return. I'm sooo very sorry. Its emotionally draining for such kindness shown to me by complete strangers..follow suffers, I'm overwhelmed with self loathing and self pity, I think I'm going to take a while to come to fully accept this wonderful site and all the love I feel from you all, but at the moment it just makes me angry that I only get compassion, understanding ,and empathy from strangers. It just makes me angry and hurt that my own family cant and don not care at all
Must go now, I am sorry for venting, as I keep it buried and resurfacing it hurts more than all my physical problems and mental health issues combined. Thank you all, sending you lots of cwtches from this sad , silly Welsh woman ❤💙💙❤
As Loti says, never apologise for venting. And don't feel you have to retreat when you get emotional. We all totally understand! Come on here for a chat anytime.
My boyfriend is Welsh, by the way. His name is Sion - and can you imagine how many people pronounce that incorrectly here in England? Either they say Sian or Psion. Or they think he is called Simon and missed a letter out
Hi i am 39 i live with my little dog. I have fibro osteathritis and Emotionally Stable Personality disorder and curvasure of the spine. Its tough being alone but one thing that keeps me sane and gives me peace is my faith. I understand how you feel do you get phone calls from family and friends?
No I'm afraid not...they have a pull yourself together attitude both with my physical condition and my mental health issues. I would not wish this I'll will upon another living soul, but wish that my 3 sons, all married with children, could walk in my shoes for an hour, not even on a bad day. Unless I contact them I never have a call or text to ask if I'm alive , let alone how I'm feeling. I don't know where I went wrong as I cared, and saw my mother every day, and called inbetweeners, asked what she needed, and they , all 3 saw how good and naturally caring a child should treat a parent. I do get tevmxt messages, to ask if I can babysit, and regardless of how I'm feeling, always try my very best to comply, this has no impact , no matter what I may say , or do, I never ask for a thing...as just asking if I could please have bread and milk dropped off on Mothers day, was thrown in my face.
Ok enough self pity from me, I cannot change the adults they have become, nothing like the loving kind children I raised. I accept that as far as my friends and family are concerned, I am a non entity, so I live my life as best I can. Hour to hour can change how I am feeling. So best say nothing at all. I only stumbled upon this site during the early hours of this morning and feel more validated as a human than I have in years. I thank God for this, but I do not practice.
Love and hugs, please stay safe and accept my sincere appreciation for contacting me. What a wonderful world it can be if we look in the right place ❤💙❤
I have no children but i talk to my mum everyday and visit as often as i can because she lives in a different country. I cant imagine doing what your kids do to my mother my heart really breaks for you. Like i said for me having Jesus as my Lord has helped me so much but its obviously a personal choice so i wont preach to you but i surely pray for your circumstances to change particularly you childrens' attitude towards you. Take care and God bless you and keep you.
That’s what we are here for!!! I get so angry when a family member or friend gives me attitude about my condition. They don’t know my pain or how much I am suffering at any given moment. I’ve gone from being an active, healthy person to someone who suffers in pain so much that just getting up from a chair and walking into the kitchen to make a meal takes a mountain of effort. I’ve also noticed lately that due to my pain and such, that wearing a mask 😷 is extremely difficult when I go to the grocery store. It’s hard enough to shop with fibro, much less to add a mask onto my face that makes it harder to breathe and move even more!! I almost passed out while getting groceries this week while I was walking around the store. I’ve been hurting a lot more lately due to the stress of everything I would assume, and then I go to the grocery while wearing a mask and all of a sudden I feel like I’m walking with weights attached to my body - my chest starts hurting like hell from trying to breathe through fabric, I get so hot that I started sweating all over — what a horrible experience!! Shopping was bad enough before, but damn!! And I have to wear a mask, gloves and goggles because me, like you, has a compromised immune system. I have no one to do my grocery shopping for or with me, so I’m “pushing” through. I live in a rather small town so having groceries delivered hasn’t been an option, but I’m checking in with the few stores we have to see if that has changed. But part of me gets really really angry about it - that I’m stuck in a position where my entire body is screaming, I have to wear a mask and push a cart around a store and I’m angry that it takes such a toll on my body. What should and used to be such an easy thing to do is now hard as hell! I hate having this disease!!! I absolutely hate the pain and I hate what it has done to my life!!! Thanks to anyone who has listened - and bless you to everyone who understands!!!
I can understand the challenges of a body constantly aching. I can usually start shopping okay but by the time I'm halfway through my list, I start aching so bad it's hard to bend over or reach for anything. Even with my medications I hurt in many different ways. Right now I have burning sensations near my shoulders and upper arms. My hips are in agony (sitting up to "work" today). My legs have a dull pain to them. And my feet and hands are tingling. (And I can't leave out back pain and this headache I've had for weeks.) Basically, I feel I have been hit by a semi-truck (lorry in UK) and splattered on the highway. Then I'm asked to keep going on like nothing happened.
The folks who can't see your pain have no idea what you are going through. Well, to be honest, there are a few who have family members with Fibro, and they might know. If we could put 30=50 pounds of extra weight on someone and tell them to go shopping, they might experience some of our pain eventually.
Do you have a neighbor who might shop for you? If I felt better, I would offer assistance to a neighbor if they needed it. Any local police or official who might have a list of options available to help you?
I hope that all sufferers will find relief in some way. At least until there is a cure.
I also have help for you - my doctor sent me a link to a Lifeline for Loneliness which has been setup for people who live alone and are over age 55. I don’t know where you live, but if you are in the US, to get support call 800-282-7035. Totally confidential and they won’t call you back or bother you unless you want them to. I am 57, living alone with my furball dog and I have fibro and various other health issues, all of which have gone nuts since my access to what makes me feel better has been shuttered. I have been texting and talking with some family, but the people on this Lifeline have helped me. I’ll be happy to chat with you about fibro and stuff all you want as well!!
I am 48 and have several problems that make me more susceptible to the virus. I live with my 26 year old daughter. She and I both have fibromyalgia, depression, anxiety and chronic fatigue. (Not listing everything I have because it takes a lot of time.) We respect each other's space and get plenty of time apart (about 30 feet away from each other.). When we need to talk or need cheering up, maybe a special treat like chocolate, we both seem to understand when we need a boost.
My daughter wants me to stay home completely but I hate being cooped up. I still go out to buy a few things or drive around. I'm working from home, doing crafts and sleeping as much as I can. I'm not as productive as I would be at the office. But it feels like it takes 4 times as much effort to do a form for work as it would have taken at the office. Crafts keep drawing me away from my work but I have learned how to crochet a granny square. And the television is on most of the time also a distraction though I do turn if off sometimes.
Do you have any family or friends who might talk with you via Skype, Portal or FaceTime? That would bring some "visitors" to your place for a chat. Maybe you have a neighbor you talk to? You could drop a note in their mailbox asking if they would like to talk with you. You could go to your lawn or garden with your phones, hopefully you can see them in their yard. Then you can have a face-to-face talk over the phone. Or you can hang a picture on your wall of a friend or family member and look at it when you talk on the phone. Have several pictures up so you have a variety of friends available.
There are lots of downfalls if you have depression or bipolar disorder. I know I have the first but vigorously deny that I am bipolar. Well, to be honest, I know I am bipolar and probably have dissociative identity disorder. I do get lonely even while sharing an apartment with my daughter? I booted my husband out almost 5 years ago. Most of my family have passed away and I have been disowned by both of my sisters. My daughter's friends are great but there is a 22 year age difference between myself and them. I really need my own friends but find it extremely hard to maintain that friendship. Then I just decide to not talk to them.
This site has helped me a lot. I can get replies from folks who know what it is like to have health problems. From medical issues, mental issues, drug dependency, insomnia, bereavement and loss, even hearing loss. There is probably something on this site that would help everyone in some way. It has been a great resource for me.
Take a deep breath, do something fun, walk around your place or even outside. Go for a drive. Just keep your distance from the younger people who might be sick. There is hope that things will ease up sometime soon.
Hi mate your not alone at all I am 42 and stuck in a bottom floor flat watching the world past by my window I want to say something postive and pick you up but finding it hard to do so my sister was told she had bipolar as well and I expect if thay tested me I would probley hit on the radar I have real highs and real lows a lot more lows than highs and think the fibo plays a big part of that I would like to learn more about what your going thru so send me a privat message so the world dose not have to see I will always respond but might take me a few days because don't go on here to much what I can do is send you a big hug the 1 thing we all need but can't have and if I can help you in any way for sure I will maybe we can help each other because I feel a bit lost my self and can see I am starting to go down hill so I need to find away to to turn this around like you said there are so many people in so much worse state than what we are and I feel for every 1 of them but we all need a bit of help and well done you for reaching out a bit sometime talking is are only way forward anyway take care all the best and your more than welcome to contact me and if you don't I totally understand x
Aww, bless you for your kindness and I would be more than happy to chat with you especially when you have concerns about Bipolar...I don't come here every day, but force myself to try and break down the emotional wall I took years to build.. i am a techno dinosaur however and have no clue how to message you privately , so I'd need instructions lol ❤
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