Monday, March 16, 2009

Overworried (once again)



Here's Max, resting peacefully after he got the pre-Botox anesthesia, probably dreaming about Cars and chocolate pudding. Everything went fine. Max cried at the hospital, they knocked him out, the injections took all of five minutes, he woke up groggy but perked up almost immediately when he saw that Mickey Mouse Clubhouse was on the TV, and then he was home again.

As usual, I worried and worried and where did it get me? Nowhere. I've gotten a lot less anxious about Max over the years, but still, I wish I was better able to keep the worry monster away.

Is there anything that helps relax you when you've got a major worry on your mind? I'd really love to know.
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25 comments:

  1. MelanieMarch 16, 2009 at 10:24 PM

    Heck I'm going to follow too to see what everyone says. I am the BIGGEST worry-wart!! I stress about the littlest things. I know in my head its silly but I still can't get it out of my head~

    Glad everything went well today!!

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  2. AnonymousMarch 16, 2009 at 10:39 PM

    I just got back from the pharmacy getting my ULCER MEDICATION refilled. *wink* I have no idea how to not worry. Is that even possible?

    I'm so glad that Max's procedure went well. I was thinking of you a lot today and sending tons of positive thoughts. Great news!

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  3. LisaMarch 16, 2009 at 11:28 PM

    I don't think I'm a big worrier most of the time, but today I'm an emotional wreck. A belief in God helps me, but the worry monster still gets in my head and tries to eat away at my brain. Worry monsters are kind of like zombies in that regard.

    Glad everything went well today and congrats to Max on all those A's. Fantastic!

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  4. TorinaMarch 16, 2009 at 11:41 PM

    I blog my worries. Once I write about them and get some support from others in similar situations, it makes it easier to get through the days :) I am glad Max's treatment went well!!

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  5. KieraMarch 17, 2009 at 12:06 AM

    I am so glad that it went well today. I know what you mean about worries :) You will have to keep us posted on results also. We are teetering on the edge of potentially doing botox sometime in the next couple of years. I have been reading people's post about their experiences to get a feel for what it might be like.

    Thanks for keeping us updated.

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  6. Awesome MomMarch 17, 2009 at 1:14 AM

    I am glad that everything went well. When I have to go through things like that I knit. Knitting really helps me keep my mind off the worst.

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  7. JessMarch 17, 2009 at 2:07 AM

    I'm so happy everything went well!

    I have several strategies for managing worry. The first one is exercise. Running burns off the stress and takes my mind off whatever the problem is. Not that I get much of a chance to use that one now, but oh well. I do yoga in front of the TV and that helps too.

    If neither of those work, a massage is a GREAT way to relieve stress and worry.

    Also you can never go wrong with a book and a good cup of tea. Preferably somewhere sans children.

    That's my list!

    ~Jess

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  8. PrayforNathan.orgMarch 17, 2009 at 2:14 AM

    I'm so glad the procedure was quick and painless! Nathan and Max must be from the same planet - he also dreams of Cars and chocolate pudding :-)

    As for worrying - meditation is the only thing that helps me deal with the monster in the closet.

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  9. AnonymousMarch 17, 2009 at 3:23 AM

    Prayers, cuddling an animal (or child!), reading

    I hope you find your de-stresser!

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  10. Kristen@nosmallthingMarch 17, 2009 at 5:20 AM

    I will echo the sentiments of the other commenters...prayer helps. But the biggest thing that helps me is reinforcing to myself that if something were to go wrong, then I would deal with it. If something bad happens, yes, it's going to be terrible. But I will get through it, and I will handle it. I can do it.

    So glad things went well for Max. What a relief. Cars and chocolate pudding...that is super cute!

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  11. S HMarch 17, 2009 at 6:37 AM

    So glad things went well!

    As for worrying...I worry like there is no tomorrow. But I try to remind myself regularly that I don't have control. I am not a prayer or believer, I just know that whatever is going to happen will happen, and that I did my best to do the right thing.

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  12. AnonymousMarch 17, 2009 at 7:10 AM

    Yay! Great that it all went well.

    Love the pic too. Perfect!

    As for the worrying, I don't have any answers. I worry far too much as well. I do find however that talking things over with my best friend always helps. She's got a real knack of putting things in perspective for me and helping me relax.

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  13. AnonymousMarch 17, 2009 at 8:27 AM

    I'm glad to hear that everything went well yesterday!
    Unfortunately, I think worrying comes with the territory. Putting on my iPod and running on the treadmill helps to relax me, but I think I'll worry about Daniel for the rest of my life. Isn't that a mother's job, after all?
    I will confess, though, that I still tear up at all of the "big" appointments, especially when Daniel starts crying. I've gotten quite good at hiding it by giving him a big hug and singing to him as I let the tears flow. That way, Daniel doesn't see me getting upset.

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  14. mommytoalotMarch 17, 2009 at 9:10 AM

    I used to worry a lot. But with experience I am pretty calm now.
    Glad to hear Max's procedure went well.
    He sure is a cutie

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  15. Julia O'CMarch 17, 2009 at 9:35 AM

    I just remind myself to keep breathing. For some reason, when I'm worried or panicked, I hold my breath.

    That picture of Max in the bed..he looks so small! I'm happy to hear that it all went well.

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  16. ColleenMarch 17, 2009 at 9:57 AM

    Glad everything went fine!

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  17. MayMarch 17, 2009 at 11:16 AM

    this is slightly off-topic, but I think it's great they let you stay with Max to take that picture. When my son had to have ear canals put in, they wheeled him out of sight when he was groggy but not unconscious and I think he must have been very scared. Well, I was.

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  18. KaraMarch 17, 2009 at 12:26 PM

    So glad to hear it went well. I doubt you'll ever be able to keep that worry monster away permanently though - it's all part of being a mom and loving your kids like crazy, the way you do.

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  19. BarbaraMarch 17, 2009 at 1:30 PM

    I too am glad to hear that things went well. As for the worry monster, I have no answers for you. I'm very guilty of worrying about everything. The only thing that helps is reminding myself to deal with the moment. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

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  20. AnonymousMarch 17, 2009 at 2:05 PM

    I've done so much worrying over the past ten years that I've just decided that I wasn't gonna do it anymore, and I don't.

    I just tell myself "The only thing to it is to do it" and get on with it, no matter what "it" might be.

    I find that plowing ahead doggedly, head down and attitude up, is the way I cope best.

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  21. UnknownMarch 17, 2009 at 9:44 PM

    Glad you're past that. Max does better with anesthesia than some kids I know, cough cough.

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  22. Ellen SeidmanMarch 17, 2009 at 10:56 PM

    Thanks again for all the well wishes, everyone—and the good ideas here. Gack, Kate, an ulcer?!! You need to read these suggestions as much as I do! I definitely need more exercise in my life. Wish I could meditate, my mind is just too restless. Which, I fully realize, is the PURPOSE of meditating. Julia, I do the stop-breathing thing, too--a good reminder to be more conscientious about that! Like some of you here, I also do the "catastrophizing" thing, a genuine technique whereby you imagine the worst and then accept it. I just can't do that technique with Max, because imagining the worst with him is something I've done, and someplace I can't ever go again.

    And, yes, Torina, blogging is excellent therapy. ;)

    Max was his usual happy camper self today. He ended up only getting Botox in his right hand, which is his more challenged one (the stroke—a bilateral kind—was stronger on the left side of his brain, so his right side is more affected). Waiting to see if it loosens up.

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  23. AnonymousMarch 17, 2009 at 11:34 PM

    I'm glad everything went well. We didn't have to put Alex under for his botox, but it was quite a traumatic event for everyone involved (xs 4 - the number of times he's gotten them).

    Anyway, to relax, I like to watch or read something about nothing or that makes me think in a different way? For instance, shows or books that aren't based on reality but not so completely OUT there or make me put together the pieces of a puzzle in my mind. You can't worry and be a detective at the same time1

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  24. AnonymousMarch 18, 2009 at 9:21 AM

    So glad that everything went well! Now it's just wait and see with the Botox, right? I wish there was a way to stop worrying, but I haven't found it yet (as you know from Alice's recent ear infection). The only thing I do try to tell myself over and over again like a mantra is: Worrying will not change anything.
    So glad all went well, putting them under is such a scary thing!

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  25. ShannonMarch 18, 2009 at 2:58 PM

    Jeff is the worrier in our family. I'm the "you can't change it so just go with the flow" person in our household. I don't have any advice, I just realized that in circumstances that I can't change or alter, it's just best to go with it and accept where it takes you. I know it is hard with our kids, though.

    Let us know when you start to see any changes. Darsie took about three days. GOOD LUCK!

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Thanks for sharing!