[Chris]

Hey there, Elise.

I'm really sorry to hear about your current living situation. I can't imagine how things are in your household, however from what you described they seem to be very hectic and unhealthy. You know, we can't help but wonder "what if". It's a natural thing to do, and sometimes we over do it. But what we need to stop (as humans), is letting "what if" situations control our lives.

What I mean by that is you can't assume (or predict) what is going to happen; and unfortunately you can't really control what is going to happen. Understand that things will eventually need to change (for the better or for the worse), and the only time you can successfully deal with them is once they are present. My point is, you're currently putting so much stress and anxiety on yourself right now, that you're most likely worsening the health issues that you have, and doubling the chance of adopting more.

"What if I come home and my mom isn't here?", "What if my dad stops taking his medicine IF [or when] my mother tells him she wants a divorce?", "What if we lose our house?", "What if my dad quits his job?", "What if my mother takes a turn for the worse?", "Why didn't they divorce years ago so things could be different?", "What if things just take a turn for the worse?".

Thinking about, and holding onto these questions can cause some pretty nasty things to happen to your health (both physical, emotional). While some of these questions may be more serious than others (and some might even happen eventually), the best way to handle these situations is if you distance yourself away from these questions, and deal with them if (and when) they happen.

Your health is your number one priority, not thinking about what may or may not happen in the future. So try to find some way to get you (and maybe even your siblings) out of the house for a bit. Try joining more clubs or sports, or try going to see a school counselor. On the other hand, I also recommend bloging, journaling, drawing, exercising, etc to get these "questions" and "concerns" off your mind.

Go with the flow and deal with the issues as they come. Things will get better, but only if you believe they will.


Best wishes,
Chris