WHEN YOU ARE WORRIED, TALKING TO A STRANGER MIGHT HELP

Weirdly enough sometimes when I'm worried, talking to a stranger helps me put things into perspective.
For me I think that's less pressure. I'm not used to many people worrying about me...I'm the tough one...or maybe stubborn?...ha.
With my family I will automatically think about how I am causing them to worry and I don't feel good about that.
I also know that conversation will spread to other friends and family and having 25 people all trying to give me 25 different opinions on how to deal with things is counter productive with me.
In other words that would stress me out more than just worrying to myself about what's on my mind.
At Sick Kid's I found myself talking to strangers quite often about what Zarrah was going through at the time or about how I worried so much just before my kids had their yearly heart checks. Just talking to someone who didn't know me, only what I told them, gave me some sort of false sense of security...a release I guess because I didn't know these people except that they cared enough to listen.
It was a good thing and I know I'll do it again at some point.
It's also a 'one focus' conversation. A stranger isn't asking how your partner is coping or whether or not you got enough sleep last night and remembered to call Aunt Ally, Uncle Ken, Barbie and Peter.
Unknowingly a person that knows you well, especially close family, is like to give you questions like this that can cause you even more stress.
A stranger doesn't have all this information so they won't ask extra personal questions...that's just how it goes.
Now this doesn't work for some people because they only trust friends and family...and that's ok. To each his/her own.
So if you feel pressured like me sometimes when talking to your loved ones about your sick child, try talking with a stranger about it.
You'd be surprised how much better they can make you feel when you are close to hitting rock bottom.
At least you'll know what works for you...and that's what's important here. Doing whatever you need to make the best of an unpleasant situation.
Keep your head up and don't stop smiling.