Introduction

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone, I have been monitoring the group for some time now and it's time for me to introduce myself. I am 43 years young and have been a single mother for 15 years. My daughter is 22 and graduates from college in May with 2 degrees. She wants to go to Boston University for a Masters in Public Health. My son is 19 and has ADHD, anxiety, depressive disorder but is doing very well right now. He dropped out of high school at age 16 during a very bad depression. He got his GED when he turned 18 and indicates he is going to college next fall. 18 months ago, I was hospitalized in critical condition. I was diagnosed with BOOP which has the same symptoms as pneumonia but is really inflammation in the lungs. BOOP almost killed me. I was on prednisone for a year. I also have been diagnosed with arthritis (still

undetermined type but believed to be related to BOOP), post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorder, depression, and degenerative disc disease. *sigh* The mental health problems surfaced as a result of my medical problems - without the medical problems, I would be better able to deal with my mental health issues. I also have low income insurance, waiting for disability, trying not to lose my house. my medical insurance pays for me to talk to a counselor once a week so i have someone to talk to. family is very very supportive - i feel extremely fortunate. my best friend is my legal medical agent and graduates this year with a masters in social work. i can't work anymore due to my ever changing physical condition and my post traumatic stress disorder - i have panic attacks because physically i am very weak and fear that someone (especially my abusive x-husband) will hurt me. also, my brain does not process information very

quickly so i have lots of fear about leaving the house, driving, being in crowds, etc. i am now taking etodolac for arthritis, zoloft for depression, clonazepam for anxiety and vicodin for pain. i have sold all of my major assets to pay my mortgage for the last year - my daughter's college vehicle, my sailboat, several household items. a friend of mine works for legal aid and is helping me try to keep my home. i spend my days taking care of 2 precious persian kittens that i just acquired to help my depression. i also just started making jewelry. i don't expect it will support me but it keeps me busy and i love all the sparkly things that i make. i have a website at http://www.simplycrystaljewelry.com i built the website myself as this is what i used to do for work. i feel fortunate to be alive. no matter what happens to me in the future, i am

happy that i didn't die in that hospital room. i try to remember this every day to keep depression from taking over. i love to see and hear the birds. i love the water and i hope to be able to sail again next summer. i kayak and maybe someday will be able to hike again. hope everyone has a good evening, donna

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