Friends that depress you!

I am not sure about not missing my hormones. On one level life is easier, but on the other they do seem to oil a lot of wheels like glossy hair and strong bones and help with other stuff in your body like heart etc. so on balance I miss them.

I have more confidence since I have had less oestrogen.

I don't miss my hormones....lifes got better since they went. Getting pregnant easily and menopause pregnancies run in my family. My grandma was 52 when she had my dad. It was my recurring nightmare but now I don't have to worry anymore.

Crimson - me too

I miss my hormones .....

If he does, he will probably dismiss us all as menopausal old biddies - despite most of us having passed that "certain age" by twenty years or so.

Well, he has found the right people to do it, Crimson . Surely he won't throw in the towel without a fight?

I've always found that 50 is the age at which most men, not women, go emotionally bonkers. I think any man doing the 'there, there dear it's just your hormones' needs sorting out, big time.

johanna that's not the most compassionate post. Poor Daman is obviously male and of a generation that either doesn't understand how 21st century women think or perhaps he was just trying to be funny. He is obviously in need of educating on these finer points. If he is man enough to come back to GN then I'm sure it will be the making of him.
What say you Damon?

gillybob try to hang on in there. I know what total despair feels like, as do other GNetters I'm sure. I won't trivialise how you feel now by saying it will get better any time soon. It is often the case that it's the strong ones who try to carry on and on, and often find it hardest to just say 'I've had enough' and give themselves permission to have a break. You have a lot of emotional support here and I too send you a big ({[hug]})

Daman
Hello and goodbye.

gillybob sending you a huge {{{hug}} everyone else has covered everything I would say, but please take care of yourself.

Let me know if you want to go off somewhere for a coffee.

And here's one from me too, gillybob. xx

gillybob; Was not being able to go to the get together 'the straw that broke the camels back', I wonder..the realisation that anything that was to do with your happiness was not as necessary as other peoples'? You so need some 'me time' by the sound of it. I hereby [with a hug] give you permission to put yourself first sometimes.

We were hoping to see you at Gally's yesterday, Gillybob. I wish you'd been able to come, but try and plan to make the next one? I'd like another one tomorrow, actually.....
On a more serous note though, I can't presume to imagine how you might be feeling just now. Don't feel as if you're on your own with this, Gillybob? We might be scattered about all over the place, but you can rely on us to be supportive. I don't know where I'd have been without my Gransnet pals sometimes. Try not to spread yourself too thinly. There's only one of you. Are you able to say 'No' sometimes, perhaps?

Gillybob, the last thing you are is selfish! Your entire life is given over to caring for other people - of course you get tired and dispirited sometimes. You are being pulled in many different directions and I don't suppose any of the people you are caring for have any idea of how much pressure you are under. Would it be possible to have a family sit-down discussion and tell them you are feeling a bit snowed under at the moment, and see if any of them can take on a bit of your work? They might surprise you - families can be very unaware of all that mothers do for them and sometimes when they are actually told about it, they feel quite guilty.
I don't think this is typical of your personality - you are just reacting normally to difficult circumstances and you are probably quite tired too. If you can't give yourself a break physically, at least stop criticising yourself for being a human being and not supermum (who doesn't exist).

gillybob it's horrible feeling down. I really do sympathise. Ignore that man!
I'm sure you'll rally and go back to being your usual strong self when the present problems resolve!

gillybob, what are we here for? I think we are here to share each others' happiness and sadness. There are times when everything that can go wrong does go wrong - I'm sure we've, most of us, been there. You are in a deep trough at the moment - let's hope that the only way is up. Meanwhile, let us, metaphorically, hold your hand. ((((hugs))))

I think, when you reach the fight or flight choice, gillybob – which you may have reached unawares – then running away, albeit temporarily, is the right thing to do. I hope things improve for you soon .

How sad that in this age of multi-cars, you are the only hospital taxi.

Daman Sadly my "sad things" will not clarify in a few minutes and I am definatley not "emotionally bonkers" thanks.

Greatnan Thankyou for the kind (and very wise) words as usual. It is so hard not to always look at the black side of everything. At them moment I use it as a defence mechanism and figure that if i think the worst and the worst happens then i am not disappointed. I feel that I am trying so hard to be everything to everyone and probably being nothing to anyone.

I have always been a very strong person who would fight anyones corner but never seem get any help when I need it. I have a zero social life as work, children, grandchildren,parents all take priority. Money is extremely tight too so getting away is impossible. Anything I set out to do seems to go haywire. I joined a Pilates class about 6 weeks ago and have managed 1 session as mum is in hospital and I am the only person who can ferry the visitors there and back.

I was really looking forward to joining everyone on the Edinburgh trip but that too went pear shaped. Sometimes I feel like running away from it all but then feel selfish for even thinking such a thing.

Oh there I go depressing everyone.

I think the 'reaching a certain age' comment was a give away. Hi Daman

Daman is a man all right - no doubt about that and it is on his profile.

Please can we give &Daman a chance? He/she may not have meant it to come out the way it did and if they have only just joined GN surely we can all be a bit compassionate and give them a chance to get to know us?

Gosh Daman if that is compassionate I wonder what you are like when you are being flippant.
Gillybob - feel free to have a moan or just to share any time you like. Most of us will know where you are coming from

Gillybob I want to send you lots of hugs. You have so much to put up with and have to be strong for everyone and there is no easy answer. Perhaps there is no answer at all but do try to find just a little time for yourself in between all you do for others.