A challenging year

[MisterMimi]

Almost exactly a year ago, and a week before my 4 year wedding anniversary, I found out my husband was in love with someone else. At that time I had also embarked on a new career path, after quitting my job in the insurance industry for 15 years. The hours I was working was not enough to support myself on my own, so I started working about 70 hours a week. The company I work for then told me they had to cut back my hours to prevent burnout. I believe it was to protect themselves. I then started a second job as a personal assistant, which ended up being a temporary position as well. I couldn’t afford to continue the rent on my own at the apartment I once shared with my ex. So I moved into a small granny unit. A week after being there one of my cat’s had a horrible accident and badly broke his foot. Of course me working in the insurance industry you would think I had pet insurance. I did not… and it’s cost me upwards of $6,000 for surgery and follow up appointments. He’s had to be in a crate the last 6 weeks and wakes me up nightly with meowing. I have two cats and I love them with all my heart. They have gotten me through so much, and it wrecks me that one of my cats is going through this. In the meantime I started working privately and quit the company I worked for for the last year, so I can make enough money not only for myself, but to pay for my cats expenses, and continue to give him the best care. I’m working about 60 hours a week now. I had someone I was starting to see who then moved away, and then started seeing someone else I really liked recently, until he told me he accepted a job offer and also had to move away. That part has just felt like the icing on top of a really bad cake… I had a breakdown today and have been crying intermittently all throughout my 13 hour shift. It felt like everything from the last year was sinking in, and the weight/lonliness of my depression is making me feel like a scared kid who needs a hug. I just have so much fear and dread, and I’m so very overworked. I know this is only a season but I am having so much trouble looking past that. It just feels like this will last forever.

[Pizzacat1]

I know how important our pets are. I have two cats. At one point both were sick with different symptoms. It hurts to see them ill or restricted due to an injury.

The only thing I can say is to keep trying to find new friends. This coming from someone who has no friends. 🙄.

I hope things improve for you. We are all here for you.

[Emanname]

Thank you for sharing. I believe many of us can relate to this very real situation you are and have been experiencing.

There is no immediate fix, I won’t even bother offer the cliches of “you’ll be ok” etc.

It’s alright not to be okay. It’s not great, the pain from one day may seem terribly unbearable the next. There is no crystal ball to know when it’ll all end, all I can say is that I’m glad you’ve made yourself a priority.

Continue taking care of yourself. Leaving your ex showed that you value yourself and self worth. Taking care of your cats in turn takes care of you. Try get some sleep, or relaxation when you can. And know we (the faceless members of this group) are here for you.

Night and day