Responsibilities

I've been thinking a lot lately about how stressed I am with school and by how often I post on here I'm sure you may have all gathered that I get stressed a lot.
I am the editor of the art and literary magazine called Montage on campus - I was honored to have been chosen as the editor at the end of last year - but I've found that I don't think I'm up to the task. Noone has told me that they think I'm not up to it - but I forget about meetings, I get confused easily, blah blah blah. Take fibro fog and stick it with trying to run a magazine at a college - which means having to remind every one of your members when the meetings are and what they are supposed to be doing as well as encouraging the students on campus to submit to the magazine. I'm starting to feel overwhelmed and have started debating about whether or not to relieve myself of the position and pass it on to someone else in hopes that the magazine will get the care that it deserves. I'm feeling overwhelmed by all my responsibilites on campus. I'm a Resident Assistant which is very stressful which is my paid job and other than that I'm the VP of two organizations and the editor of Montage. My advisor for Montage knows about FMS and is also my professor for one of my classes and is very understanding. I know he'd be supportive but if I give the position to someone else I know it would make me feel weak or like I was giving into the disease or something like that. But I also feel like I'm failing the organization because I'm not doing what I think the editor should be doing - I'm being forgetful and getting confused about things that really need to get done. I'm not quite sure what to do....any advice?

Hi, Lee!  Is this editor position causing you a lot of stress?  Do you enjoy the "job"?  Since no one has said anything to you, you are probably doing an excellent job!  Even though you have forgotten some things, you probably are doing a better job that someone without fibro would do.  They would let you know if there was a problem.

 

I have found that nearly all of us are Type A personalities and are perfectionists.  This could be playing into your thoughts.  You may just be hard on yourself.  So, if you really enjoy being the editor and are getting the job done, stick with it.  If you are really stressed doing this work, then resign.  BUT, don't let fibromyalgia rule over your life.  Do what you REALLY want to do.  You can always work around fibro.

 

Let us know what you decide. 

 

Sherrine

Lee we are our worst critics. Sherrine is right. Write down all that you have on your plate and ask yourself one by one how important it is to you and if you really want to do it or your doing it cause you would feel like a failure if you quit. It may be time to do some weeding of your garden to lessen the stress. I know I had to do that with my life and being a self driven perfectionist it was hard at first. People without any medical problems can spread themselves too thin. My youngest son is very good at that. He wants to do it all but there is only 24 hrs in a day.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee