Feeling overwhelmed

  • 11 replies
  • 31 subscribers
  • 497 views

My wife is currently undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. There is just the two of us at home, with family living further away. I work full time as a teacher and am finding the juggling of work and home quite overwhelming. I am probably putting too much pressure on myself to protect her and do everything for her but I am worried in doing so, I am starting to burnout. I am terrible at asking for helping and think I can do it all. 
I am starting to feel isolated and a little trapped in this new way of living, which is quite literally work, home, hospital. 
I then feel guilty for even thinking those things because I am not the one having to experience the treatment or side effects. I felt I was in a good place 2 or 3 weeks ago when she started treatment, positive, determined and strong. I have lost that and I don’t know how to get it back. I am hoping it’s a blip because I need to be all those things for her and with 6 chemo treatments left and surgery etc, the road is far too long for me to start having weakness and wobbles. I feel teary and can only describe my body as heavy and depleted of energy, even though my diet is now better than it has been for a long time. 
I would really appreciate any advice from others who have experienced this and managed to find a way through it. Thanks x
 

  • 100%. Not being able to "fix" everything for her was really hard for me and probably a bit annoying for her to see me in that frame of mind. I've stopped that for the most part but it does feel like it's just left me with a permanent, deep sadness which I try not to let everyone else see.