My situation these days...

[Lillycat]

kirsten.....just thinking on the mono.....if you have had that, i belive it is viral.....remaining in your body and it can return every now and then......might want to check on that also when you visit the doctor and i really think you need to visit the doctor as a "starting point" in all this.....good thoughts going out to you....take care

[slick]

Kirsten, forgive me for not replying until now. I was trying to find the right words. Stress can do major damage to the body and mind and it can manifest itself in other ways.

I've been where you are and I know how it feels. My job, for the most part, is very stressful and very busy, but I do manage to take little breaks now and then, mainly to check on Pet Talk. There was a time that I worked 10 hours a day and got home exhausted. Then, on the weekends I would have to squeeze in volunteer work, housework, taking Mom shopping, hospital visits, catsitting, etc. etc. This year, I finally said "self, enough is enough" so I cut way back on volunteering. I only do two events per year now and I'm happy with that. As well, I decided that I would try to free up more time for friends whom I have not seen in a long time. It's worked out well.

What I'm trying to say is that YOU are the most important thing you should be thinking about and you need to stay healthy, at whatever cost. Talk to your boss, your doctor, your friends and try to find balance in your life. Do it for YOU, do it for the kitties.

big {{{HUGS}}} to you Kirsten and please keep us posted.
love
slick xoxoxoxoxo

[Kirsten]

What can I say? I'm so glad to have you all! (((HUGS))) Makes me feel much better to read all your posts, and it's so sweet that you even write in German!

I'm already doing some of the things suggested here, like taking mini breaks by looking out of the window, or eating vitamines. And those who have suggested some exercises are so right, even though my lack of discipline in that regard still has the upper hand, but I know that I need to change that...

It's encouraging to read that some of you have been through the same and found a way out of the misery.

Lillycat, that's a most interesting point about the mono. Yes, it's caused by a virus (Epstein-Barr as far as I know), but I didn't know it remains in the system and may act up from time to time. I will definitely ask my doctor about it! Thinking back, there were times in my life when I felt the same way (as I'm feeling now), but I never thought of the mononucleosis I had back in 1984!

Guess what? I talked to my boss today! The reason was that I had a conversation with the intern earlier this afternoon. She's thinking about prolonging her time with us, and she asked me what I'm thinking about that, and wanted to know if she's supporting me well. Well, I had no other choice but to reply honestly, so I told her if she wants to be a support, she has to work much quicker. She started using excuses that she's still a newbie (she started in early February), but I told her that when I started working for my old company (the one this one has splitted off from), I already had to train new co-workers after 5 or 6 weeks. The intern was teary-eyed in the end and I felt bad because maybe I was too harsh, but the fact is that everything I said is the truth.

Later I spoke to my boss on the phone about that incident, and about the entire situation also. He said we would have a meeting tomorrow, and that this was only a temporary solution, that he's in the process to find out how much staff we need. Well, I hope I didn't make a mistake by telling him all this, and that he doesn't think I'm not able to work under pressure.

Anyway, the funny thing is that I'm not that tired tonight, even though I lay awake from 4 am on, because I was thinking about the office situation all the time. I hope I'll sleep better tonight!

(((HUGS))) to you all and thank you so much for listening!!!

Kirsten