I too struggle with being a stay at home mom. I LOVE my kids and I LOVE my job but I get tired of the same mundane things...day in and day out. I have a 3 1/2 little girl and a 2 year old little girl. They are such a joy. I don't understand why I feel the way I feel...I just do. I wish there was more we could do around the house to keep things from being so mundane. We go swimming in our 3 ft pool but that's about all the "fun" we do. The girls don't seem to mind...they just go in their rooms and play and have a good ol time. But I just get tired of cleaning, taking care of them, and cleaning some more. I can't wait until it gets a little cooler so that we can go to the park and do more things outside. The triple digit temps just don't make it easy to do things...

Mindi

My kids like to help cooking- stirring bascially. Sometimes we make a blank page for all grandparents, uncles, etc and color and do stickers. We practice songs with the little one with hand motions and teach her animal noises, like meow and ruff.Plus we have some flowers and veges planted they help water. If I can think of any more "fun" stuff- I'll let you know. I too get tired of the day in, day out routine. It's hard to always think of new things to do.

I totally understand. I think being a stay at home mom has also triggered some of my anxiety as I am always by myself with little adult interaction and some days are just plain old boring.

I love being able to stay home but also feel like a slave to my child. I try to get out and do activities as much as I can with him to help the day pass. I find I always feel better on the weekends when my husband is home and I get more help.

I also make time for myslef during the day. I have found this to help alot, I also have found enjoyment in reading books to pass some of the time.

I'm too a stay at home mom with a 5 year old and 2 year old. I am so stressed right now on top of my depression i seriously feel like im going crazy. Im so scared that one day i wont be able to take it anymore i might take it out on the kids. I love my kids so much and they are my pride and joy but when im depressed i just want to be alone and curled up into a ball. I know what im going thru is affecting my kids and its hurting me so much. Right now im agoraphobic and never went farther then 4 minutes away from home since March. It hurts me so much that i cant enjoy the out doors with my kids. If they want to go somewhere i let my boyfriend take them out. and i seriously wish i can go but just the body symtoms hold me back. SO far now i feel like i dont know what to do anymore. I have so much dreams in my life like getting better and living a life i did before but then i feel like it wont ever get better and be what it was. Its so heart breaken.

Shelly,

Oh how I can empathize with you in regards to the depression!! As far as the agoraphobia I can not personally understand but I know there are many on here who can. What session are you on in the program? One of the things that I have learned so far is that it's just anxeity. I know that the physical effects feel like it's so much more but in reality it's just anexity. Something that I learned in session 2 was to tell yourself that when you are going through the panic attack or anxiety attack. Do you carry your cards along with you? The cards REALLY helped me get through some of my social issues I was having. Maybe you can take your 5 year old for a walk around the block or something while your boyfriend watches your other one. As your walking tell yourself "It's just anxiety" and carry on a conversation about the things you see with your child. Once you get accustomed to that venture out and go a little bit further. Continue to carry on the conversation so that you have something distracting all those thoughts that haunt you. You WILL get better!! This program WORKS!! Sure you will have some bad days...and that's just fine...it's normal! But, the longer you do this program the easier life will become. Just keep telling yourself...it's just anexity. Something that Dr Fisher said in the seesion on Panic attacks was that nobody has ever died from a panic attack. And isn't that reassuring?? Take it slow and I PROMISE you WILL get through this!! I'm here for you and I know everyone else on here is here for you too!!

I can relate to ALL of you! I have four beautiful boys, ages 3, 5, 6, & 8. Next week starts school and I have mixed feelings actually. 3 will be in school and my 3 yr old will be in preschool 3 days a week. I should be excited, but I have mixed feelings about the yougest being gone. Kris10, what you wrote partciularly hit a nerve with me. I feel the same exact way as you (even the irritating IBS thing!} Another stress for me lately is that a few days ago I felt a lump in my breast and I have an apt. tomorrow, but I'm so worried I'll have a panic attack at the dr's, or have an IBS moment. Anyone have any words of encouragement???? I'm in week 3 of the tapes.

4boysmom
I will keep you in prayer and remember what you have learned from the program so far.Please keep us updated.

Shelly9,Hello!I just want you to know that I know how you feel.I was in the same boat as you are now not even a year ago.I have 4 kids.Three of them live with me.My older son is 19 so he doesn't live with us anymore.I used to have agoraphobia so bad that I would be the one too just sitting home while my husband took the kids places.I would cry because this agoraphobia had such a hold on me and it was robbing me of not only being able to have fun but also of making any good memories with my family.At one point I could not even leave my front porch!I know that the symptoms are intense.You have to push through and trough baby steps start taking your life back.I say this because it really is the only way to overcome it.I'm now able to leave my house and go into public places that at one time I literally felt like I had to hang on to things(shelves in stores or carts)to even be able to make it through the stores!NO!You don't have to live like that!When I really started to realize this I was on my way to recovery.It's not easy at first but it's definately true that the more you push yourself to face the fear and feelings the easier it does get.I'm not over this completely but I have made tremendous progress!Pray and give all your fears to God and then trust that He will take care of you!I can help you and be good support when you decide that it's time to stop letting all those feelings control you.I could use support too.If you want PM me.Take care and take that one more step further than the 4 minutes.You will begin to see how we do this to ourselves and it will all start to make sense.

Thank you Shimdam, I needed that. The dr. couldnt feel anything abnormal so I need to go for a sonogram but I feel much better, thank you. Definately needed 1/2 a zanax to get thru it though. I so badly want to just read and watch all the videos and workbook without stopping to learn everthing as fast as possible! Just want to feel like a copetant mom, school is starting next week and am so nervous about having to drive everyday!!! I barenly went anywhere this summer since I just started the program at the beginning of this month. It's definately helping so far.

I'd like to jump in on this conversation about stay at home moms and anxiety. I lost my job a couple of months ago and now I'm at home with my two sons and it is a LOT harder for me as far as anxiety. I think my job helped me distract myself so well that my anxiety was pretty minimal. Now I feel bored and my sense of self-worth has gone down - but that's only because I've told myself negative things like "I'm not doing important work any more"... well, of course thoughts like that will make me feel bad. I know raising my kids is important but for some reason I attach my self esteem to my work outside the home. I wish I could change this! Any advice out there? (Also, my anxiety has gotten worse now that they went back to school and I worry I will "go crazy" from panic being home alone).

My path to peace,
We've had that same conversation here a dozen times. I loved working, but suspect it was a way to hide from my disorder.
Since I stay at home now, we are working on balance- me time, adult time, home time, volunteer time, etc. It has helped a bunch to get involved.
P.S. Mine is almost 2 and I already dread being here alone when she starts school. I'm going to go with her I think. I'm sure they can always use teacher's aides and substitutes.

i too stay at home...it's a struggle..my son' has down's syndrome and is not into doing much social stuff at all..he is a home body besides when he goes to school. we raely go out and do anything as a family anymore..my son is just not into very crowed places...and it's very hard for me to get out and do anything with him by myself...he can be stubborn sometimes..and weighs more then i do..so i always have to have someone with me when going out or just stay home.my oldest son who is 18 now was my help that gave me and my husband abreak is nolonger in the home with us so we r usually home 24/7 me anyways..my husband works thru the wk..but me i'm here so much i think maybe that's y i have so much aniexty..never get a break any more it seems....school starts back soon and my son will start to school..now i have the fear of trying to drive him there and back..and the being by myself..my hubby can't stay home with me forever..we have bills that gotta be paid u know...i just pray and ask God to help me thru this everyday

How do I not get so angry with the kids? I have four: 9, 6, 3 and 5 mos. They just don't listen to me. The two in the middle are my hardest ones. They are boys and full of pi** and vinegar. I feel my anxiety really makes me have a short fuse. I get to stay home but suffer from almost total isolation. I call my husband when things get stressful, but how much does he understand when he deals with adults all day. I hate the kind of mother I am being to my kids. That is my motivation for committing to the program. I am barely through my first week. It ws great to read all of the posts before mine from other mothers. There are very loving times each day, but the initial getting home from school and having snacks and dinner just takes me 0 to 60.I am aware of it and trying to plan ahead to make it an easier transition. Thanks for listening.