Hello All, 

Quick backstory, I have GAD and PTSD that I manage wit therapy and a care plan. I’ve been managing it pretty well as compared to the past when I would just shut down, but today I’m having a rough day and I just need to get it out. 

My partner has been having a difficult time for the past 6-8 weeks. We found out that one of their parents has cancer while the other is having health issues that may be cancer related.  While that is rough enough, my partner has has been facing their own health issues.  I’m extremely proud of my partner, but being their support has been hard at times, especially since I’m the one that gets the emotional ups and downs from them.  

On top of that, I’ve had my own family issues with my maternal grandmother in the hospital (early stages of dementia) and a mom that’s dumping her emotions and anxiety onto her only kid...me.  I’ve gotten to a point where I can only do 10 mins or l start to shake. 

I’m dealing with a partner and a mom that are very heightened in their own issues and they both “dump” onto the person that is closest to them....me. 

This has been like this for about 2 weeks, and now I’m starting to feel burnt out and want to shut down. 

Last night after a intense call with my mom regarding my grandmother and already having had a long day because my partner was having a bad day, I was exhausted and I cried briefly in front of my partner. I explained was I was crying (my exhausting call with my mom) and my partner got mad and said that I always do this before bedtime (this was the first I heard of it). I was calm and said that was not fair (I didn’t go into detail, just said my grandma was diagnosed with dementia) and my partner’s response 

“Well having (partner’s health issues)isn’t fair either” 

That comment pushed me into a area where shutting down would be easy, but I have been working very hard not to, but it’s hard. I’m finding I can’t focus on things and I feel just disconnected today.  I’m avoiding my moms calls today and I didn’t even want to talk to my partner. I’m working, but I’m struggling and the only way I can is by just disconnecting from myself, which with GAD and PTSD isn’t a healthy thing to do. 

I know things will pass, but please tell me there are others that struggle with disconnecting.