Reunion With Brother After Years (Severe Anxiety)

Posted by EdCork @yangedd, Dec 4, 2018

Hi guys,

Sorry I haven't been on in days, but going through quite an emotional and anxiety ridden time. As people know, my Ma (Mum) passed away in 2010 from Colon Cancer. I then left my hometown with my partner and moved to Dublin as he got a job offer with a very prestigious company, thus cutting my family out of my life during a very bad time in my life where my addiction to alcohol spiralled out of control. My nephew was born during the summer, and because of not being in contact with my brother I have never met him. Thankfully, with the help of a dear friend who kindly acted as a mediator, myself and my brother have agreed to make contact with each other after a very, very long time. My friend, Freda, sent me pictures of my nephew and I guess I am very emotional and sad, yet positive that things can work out after all these years just in time for Christmas. Because the anxiety is so bad I've been taking 50mg Lyrica x2 daily and also 40mg Propranolol x2 daily for the last three days. I didn't sleep a wink last night with everything in my head so I actually went to the pharmacy and collected one 0.25mg Halcion, which are on PRN to help me tonight. I guess with the festive season coming in I feel not so great, but am really trying to be positive and look to the future.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Depression & Anxiety Support Group.

@yangedd

Hi @lisalucier

Things did not at all go to plan. Resentment and past hurts bubbled to the surface and we didn't even come face to face.

I spent all of this Christmas alone and by myself. It was 6pm when I got out of bed on Christmas night because I couldn't face the day alone.

I've been on strong sleeping pills (Halcion 0.25mg) all through the holiday and was so bad I thought of ending it all, but thank God for my medical team who got involved and saw me through.

I'm isolated at the moment and haven't been communicating with anyone, just taking my pills and getting through each day as best I can.

Sorry for the very late reply but I just wasn't in a place to interact with anyone.

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@yangedd- hi Ed- I was so very sorry to hear that things did not turn out well. It must have been truly devastating. Please know that while you may be alone physically- here in cyberspace you are far from alone. There are so many of us who feel for you and want you to know that we are thinking of you and are hoping that you will find serenity in the days ahead. Hang in there my friend!
With all best wishes
Ainsleigh

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@ainsleigh

@yangedd- hi Ed- I was so very sorry to hear that things did not turn out well. It must have been truly devastating. Please know that while you may be alone physically- here in cyberspace you are far from alone. There are so many of us who feel for you and want you to know that we are thinking of you and are hoping that you will find serenity in the days ahead. Hang in there my friend!
With all best wishes
Ainsleigh

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Thanks @ainsleigh

I just feel so emotionally devastated. I've been so angry for the past few weeks and almost resorted to self harming again. I went and bought razor blades and sat there for a good hour wanting to do it but I didn't.

Christmas has never been a good time for me since my Ma's death and I fooled myself into thinking that this year would make up for all the ones that were terrible. Who was I kidding?

Dr. Naughton is back tomorrow so I'm going to go to her to get more sleeping pills and possibly some Diazepam to stop all the racing thoughts that going over and over in my head.

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Hello @yangedd

I too am sorry to hear that your meeting was not constructive, that is too bad. I'm glad that you found support through your medical team.

When you feel better will you post again? We will be here and ready to listen.

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@yangedd

Thanks @ainsleigh

I just feel so emotionally devastated. I've been so angry for the past few weeks and almost resorted to self harming again. I went and bought razor blades and sat there for a good hour wanting to do it but I didn't.

Christmas has never been a good time for me since my Ma's death and I fooled myself into thinking that this year would make up for all the ones that were terrible. Who was I kidding?

Dr. Naughton is back tomorrow so I'm going to go to her to get more sleeping pills and possibly some Diazepam to stop all the racing thoughts that going over and over in my head.

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Hi, @yangedd - I am so sorry to hear that things did not go to plan and that you didn't come face to face in a reunion with your brother. I can imagine that would indeed feel devastating. From what you said before it sounded like you had been filled with hope about this relationship and the reunion. It's completely okay that you were not in a place to interact with anyone before. Good to hear from you now, though.

Spending a holiday alone is really hard.

I'm glad your medical team has been with you through this and that you are going back for another visit.

Another discussion you might be interested in looking at and participating on Connect is this one on self harm https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/selfharm.

You mentioned being isolated at the moment. You'd also talked about your partner at one time, and your friend Freda. Are either of them or someone else available at this time to help you walk through this?

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@lisalucier

Hi, @yangedd - I am so sorry to hear that things did not go to plan and that you didn't come face to face in a reunion with your brother. I can imagine that would indeed feel devastating. From what you said before it sounded like you had been filled with hope about this relationship and the reunion. It's completely okay that you were not in a place to interact with anyone before. Good to hear from you now, though.

Spending a holiday alone is really hard.

I'm glad your medical team has been with you through this and that you are going back for another visit.

Another discussion you might be interested in looking at and participating on Connect is this one on self harm https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/selfharm.

You mentioned being isolated at the moment. You'd also talked about your partner at one time, and your friend Freda. Are either of them or someone else available at this time to help you walk through this?

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Hi @lisalucier and thanks for the reply.

I'm afraid that myself and Freda are no longer friends as I lashed out dramatically and the friendship ended in a highly charged confrontation.

The few people that I have had contact with I seemed to lash out at in anger at. I was furious with everyone for the past two weeks.

I have decided that I no longer want any contact with anyone from my hometown and have deleted Facebook and Messenger from my phone as not to communicate with them.

I got into an argument with a few of them and in my anger delivered a lot of home truths to them, none of which I am sorry about in fact because I feel that the hypocrisy among all of those people is rife.

I want to live my life alone from now on because I absolutely refuse to let anyone hurt me ever again. I'm going to shield myself from all the hurt and pain that people can inflict on me.

I'm even thinking of going very, very far away from Ireland and forgetting all about the so called family and friends that I no longer want to know.

I did keep in contact with my MHT yes, but only because they would have been breathing down my neck otherwise.

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@yangedd

Hi @lisalucier

Things did not at all go to plan. Resentment and past hurts bubbled to the surface and we didn't even come face to face.

I spent all of this Christmas alone and by myself. It was 6pm when I got out of bed on Christmas night because I couldn't face the day alone.

I've been on strong sleeping pills (Halcion 0.25mg) all through the holiday and was so bad I thought of ending it all, but thank God for my medical team who got involved and saw me through.

I'm isolated at the moment and haven't been communicating with anyone, just taking my pills and getting through each day as best I can.

Sorry for the very late reply but I just wasn't in a place to interact with anyone.

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@yangedd Like the others, I am saddened to here your anticipated reunion did not happen. Remember that the both of you had expectations, and emotions, and the trauma of a long silence. It sounds like it may not have been all on you, so I hope you can be gentle on yourself. Very glad you reached out and sought help. If you are wanting to reestablish communication with some of those you lashed out at, perhaps a sincere explanation from you will pave the way? We are here for you.
Ginger

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@gingerw

@yangedd Like the others, I am saddened to here your anticipated reunion did not happen. Remember that the both of you had expectations, and emotions, and the trauma of a long silence. It sounds like it may not have been all on you, so I hope you can be gentle on yourself. Very glad you reached out and sought help. If you are wanting to reestablish communication with some of those you lashed out at, perhaps a sincere explanation from you will pave the way? We are here for you.
Ginger

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Hi @gingerw I do not want any kind of contact with any of them ever again.

I know I can slowly recover from this alone and intend to do that.

Thank you for the reply.

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@yangedd

Hi @gingerw I do not want any kind of contact with any of them ever again.

I know I can slowly recover from this alone and intend to do that.

Thank you for the reply.

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@yangedd For me to say you are not alone in how you feel sounds shallow and trite. I will say it still. Sorry for the disappointment. Your cyber care and support is still here. I am disappointed this did not play out for you.

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@yangedd

Hi @lisalucier and thanks for the reply.

I'm afraid that myself and Freda are no longer friends as I lashed out dramatically and the friendship ended in a highly charged confrontation.

The few people that I have had contact with I seemed to lash out at in anger at. I was furious with everyone for the past two weeks.

I have decided that I no longer want any contact with anyone from my hometown and have deleted Facebook and Messenger from my phone as not to communicate with them.

I got into an argument with a few of them and in my anger delivered a lot of home truths to them, none of which I am sorry about in fact because I feel that the hypocrisy among all of those people is rife.

I want to live my life alone from now on because I absolutely refuse to let anyone hurt me ever again. I'm going to shield myself from all the hurt and pain that people can inflict on me.

I'm even thinking of going very, very far away from Ireland and forgetting all about the so called family and friends that I no longer want to know.

I did keep in contact with my MHT yes, but only because they would have been breathing down my neck otherwise.

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@yangedd I have been thinking the same things myself. I could easily say the same things. Hurt and anger are uncomfortable and painful. All of this inside and nothing to do with it. Try not to make decisions in the state. If reading those words is irksome I can understand as there have been times those very words further infuriated me. My concern is for only you. Keep sharing.

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@yangedd

Thanks @ainsleigh

I just feel so emotionally devastated. I've been so angry for the past few weeks and almost resorted to self harming again. I went and bought razor blades and sat there for a good hour wanting to do it but I didn't.

Christmas has never been a good time for me since my Ma's death and I fooled myself into thinking that this year would make up for all the ones that were terrible. Who was I kidding?

Dr. Naughton is back tomorrow so I'm going to go to her to get more sleeping pills and possibly some Diazepam to stop all the racing thoughts that going over and over in my head.

Jump to this post

@yangedd Those racing thoughts are awful. Just want them to stop and cannot seem to get them to stop. No rest or sleep in this state. Try not to punish yourself and hope the doctor can help. Racing thoughts are dreadfully painful.

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