I was mentally and physically exhausted for years working in retail. Way more physical than mental in that situation. Christmas time was the worst. I felt hit by a truck daily for weeks. My body ached, not enough sleep. Then, for a few years during that I had an illness and suffered chronic pain. I’m not talking about the aches, I mean real discomfort that truly interfered with my life. The mental stress of trying to find fixtures to help me made me incredibly anxious on a daily basis. I wasn’t suicidal, but when I became really afraid of a treatment, I would just say, “if I die I’m miserable anyway.” That’s how I got through treatments that I felt might really harm me. I was willing to risk dying to try to feel better.

More recently I’ve been mentally and physically challenged with all the stressful things my husband and I have gone through the last few years. More mental this time. I hate it so much. I’m trying not to worry so much, and just hold my nose and jump in. That means signing documents I’m unsure of, spending money I’m unsure of, all sorts of things I do that I don’t want to do. I have wondered what am I supposed to do? I just keep moving forward, trying to carve the happiest niche I can for myself with what I deal with now. I’m trying.

I had been working my ass off while my fiance changed jobs to be certain a cop. He went to the police college in a different city and took our car. I had to bike to work. He came home half way through his training to break up with me, but not until I had nursed him through one of the worst flus I’d ever seen. Then I found out it was because he was screwing another woman, a fellow cadet after he denied and denied it. He sold the house we owned together. I had to give up my dog and take a tiny room in a flat. It was horrible. This was when I ended up taken to the police station and put in an interview room where I took off all my clothes in protest. He should have been taken in, but the cops knew him. So I ended up in the back of the police car.

About 3½ years into my divorce, with no hint of any resolution anywhere on the horizon. I was bled dry from lawyer’s fees and was feeling continued emotional and verbal abuse. I was feeling so much stress, I even told my ex she was killing me. When I told her she would be penniless if I died, she eased just a bit.

Well, generally I have been most mentally and physically worn out when I have been working and doing things a lot and not getting enough rest, relaxation, and sleep.

Emotional stuff can contribute, and usually those times also had some level of stress.

But the lowest parts of my life were when my parents divorced when I was a kid, and when I became depressed. I got over the depression by doing personal work, taking the Landmark Forum, and getting out of a marriage.

Every day of the past several years. I battle with chronic pain, fatigue, mobility restriction, and bouts with fogbrain.
I was a very active person, constant vitality, awesome multitasker. My body is now my prison from which there is no escape.
The trick is finding joy in small things.

When I was locked out of my dorm room for 14 day’s in August 2000 . I waited for the maintenance man to show up. Day and night. Cold and hot.

Well, from 1992 – 1997. Couldn’t give up though. Had 4 children depending on me. Just kept putting one foot in the front of the other, working hard. Just kept on keeping on until things finally broke lose. I never lost my sense of humor though and I think that was vital.
Sometimes I think that if it hadn’t been for my kids I wouldn’t have made it.

The last time I worked for a CPA firm, which was about 8–½ years ago. The place was low-quality and badly run. I’d spent 6 years banging my head against a wall, working long, grueling hours and trying to make the firm better. Of course, that wasn’t possible. I think I had something similar to battered-wife syndrome; I didn’t have the emotional strength to leave, and I thought I had to stay there and tolerate the treatment. When I finally quit, that day was among the best of my life.

Between 2012 and 2016 after losing it all in the trickle down effect of the recession. Losing my work, eventually my home, having to live with housemates for over 3 years. Damn near sucked the life force right out of me. It’s better now but I feel like I have aged 15 years in the last 4 and I am still not operating at my former level of health and happiness.

I’m doing well enough but I will never regain the level of my former measuring stick. It is what is, adapt or die. I’ve adapted, next I’ll die. haha

^^^ We’re so glad you’re here, Laurie.

I’m there right now. I continue because I have a thirteen year old daughter who relies on me.

It’s too painful to go into, but my marriage, my family, my job, and my finances were all on the edge of destruction.
What got me through it? My faith in God, my friends, and antidepressants.

@jonsblond , I hope things go well for you. My parents went through divorce and I was continually dependent on my mother. I hope you know that your daughter really, really, appreciates and loves you

It’s amazing to hear stories like these and how you all got through them. Thanks for sharing everyone! I need this glimmer of hope nowadays, and that I am not the only one going through this,