STRESS CHALLENGE

Have joined the Sparkpeople Stress Challenge. Life has been pretty tough the last couple of months: (slightly) reduced financial circumstances, multiplying health issues, and dealing with my 2 'babies', who are now grown men.

Part of the challenge is to write of the top 3 stressors. Those would have to be my husband and 3 adults sons, both of whom live with us. Ed (hubby) torn his meniscus in January, lifting a box of chicken at work. The company doctor told him it was just a tweaked muscle, prescribed physical therapy and a knee brace. I have had knee issues 3x in the last 4 years, so I knew it was more than just a tweak. It took the doctor 6 weeks to agree that her diagnosis was wrong, and she finally ordered an MRI. Well, I was correct, it was a meniscus problem. So now he is looking at surgeons to correct the problem. This, plus that fact that he is working reduced hours, thus the slightly reduced finances, has been a major source of stress; I look up to him to take care of me, not the other way around.

Son#1, almost 23, decided that I insulted his girlfriend one day, and hasn't spoken to me AT ALL in 5 weeks. I'm not sure what to do about this situation. I don't want to force him to find another place to live, yet I can't continue with this rudeness for too much longer.

Son#2, 18 and still in high school, seems to have no ambition at all. He may not graduate from high school this June, as his grades are very poor, even though he is a smart kid. His emotions run hot and cold all the time, and I never know what to expect from one day to the next. When he gets upset at something I won't let him do, it usually come out as anger, with door slamming, stomping around the house, etc. This is something I can usually ignore, at least until he calms down and we can talk like adults, but with the other issues going on right now, I have a lot less patience for childish tantrums.

So these are the reasons my sleeping has been spotty, my eating habits have slumped towards their pre-Sparkpeople ara, and I'm tired and cranky all the time. And this is the reason I have joined this challenge.

Becca315